Ash Wednesday Liturgy

3rd March 2017Mrs D Ferris
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On Wednesday 1st March the whole school came together to start our Lent journey with our Ash Wednesday Liturgy. At the beginning of the Liturgy, Mrs Hughes, Principal, spoke to the community about how important the day is, marking the start of a period of 40 days preparing for the joyful resurrection of Easter. She reminded us about the three things we can do during Lent, Praying, Fasting and Giving.

During the Liturgy Fr Mark blessed the palm leaf ash and marked out foreheads to remind us that we are created by God.

‘Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return’

In the book of Genesis, Adam was created from dust, this reminds and shows us of our human weaknesses and to receive the ashes with humility.

Students Testimony- St Joseph’s Catholic Church

1st February 2017Mrs D Ferris
st joseph catholic church wolverhampton

My Article About My Church Life

 

My name is Leah James and I’m a student in year 9. In October 2011 I started serving the Lord in mass at my parish church, St Joseph’s Catholic Church. As of October 2016 I had been an altar server for five years. I still remember the first time I got on the altar. It was on a Saturday and I remember asking my mum at the end if I did better than my sister. She said, “I don’t remember your sister’s first time but I’m pretty sure that you did better.” I was clearly satisfied. Throughout my years of serving at my parish church, I have served three different priests.

In July 2012, I took part in the ordination of Deacon Craig Fullard (now Father), our current parish priest. I personally thought that that day was the best day I had altar served. It was the first ordination that had taken place in St Joseph’s. At that time our church was just a small little parish but now, if you come along on Sunday masses, the church would be full to the brim.

What I love about our parish is the fact that everyone knows each other. After mass all the elderly will crowd together and coo at the new babies with us, or ask us how we are getting on at school. We’re like one big family and if someone’s not there one week, we’re always asking around for them. In our parish, all the parishioners get along with others. Throughout my time I have had cakes made for me and even a party! Due to everyone being so close to each other we all get invited to their grandchild’s christening or child’s wedding. Other times they invite us round for tea and biscuits in the parish club.

As an altar server I’m always busy. During the fares, I help out on stalls or if  I’m trustworthy enough (which I always am), I sometimes have my own stall to look after. The luckiest part about being an altar server is that in the fares you can persuade the stall holders to give you 50% off the item. My favourite season in the church has to be Lent. The forty days leading up to Jesus’ death is the best time of year. I think this because I’m always at church either helping out or having rehearsals for the forthcoming service. Christmas isn’t too bad either. We get mince pies and the masses are so joyous that there is no other place you could feel more Christmassy.

Altar serving feels like it’s always been a part of my life, even if I’ve only done it for five years. Serving for the Lord may sound very intimidating but it’s really simple, once you know why you’re doing it. Since year seven I have been a proud member of the chaplaincy team. I would love to give a massive thank you to Mr Ferris and Fr Mark for all the things they’ve done for me, and an even bigger one to all the parishioners and Fr Craig

To summarise being an altar server in three words, it has to be “an extraordinary job.” It has been an amazing five years and I wish for many more to come.

By Leah James 9CH

Alton Castle Retreat

1st February 2017Mrs D Ferris

On the 23rd January, 35 students from Year 7 & 8 along with Mr McArdle, Mrs Badham and Mrs Ferris went on Retreat to Alton Castle in Staffordshire. They shared their time there with Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School in Birmingham and explored the theme ’Who am I?’

They took part in many activities from trekking, bike riding, archery, survival skills, and ventured around the adventure course. They took a tour of the grounds and learnt about the history of John Talbot and Augustus Pugin. The staff were very proud of all the students especially when they attended Mass when some of our student Alter Served, read and took part in the offertory. A good time was had by all and we have already booked for next year.

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6th Form Chaplaincy Team Support Shoe Box Appeal

25th November 2016Mrs D Curtis

6th Form Chaplaincy Team have been working alongside Mrs Ferris, Lay Chaplain, this year and are delighted to announce 57 boxes were donated to Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Appeal.

Members of the Chaplaincy Team worked tirelessly wrapping shoe boxes, collecting money and donating goods.  Many of the tutor groups idonated a box or some items for the shoe boxes.  Lots of staff help fund postage by giving a £ 3 donation for every box.
The School Caretaker and the Lay Chaplain delivered the shoe boxes on their next journey to a warehouse in Fordhouses and felt humbled to see the many volunteers checking and sorting the boxes.
Some of the students and parents from Uplands School also made donations so a special thank you to all concerned for such kindness.

 

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From left to right……
Henna Devi, Logane Stanley, Sahibpreet Singh, Isobel Casey
Juliet Ebot, Niamh Young and Rajbir Singh

YMCA Interfaith Workshop

25th November 2016Mrs D Curtis

On Thursday 17th November 6 of our students, accompanied by Mr Katumba, were invited by Beverley Momenabadi, Participation Co-Ordinator for YMCA Black Country, to a YMCA Interfaith Workshop at St Peters Café.

The event was to celebrate Interfaith Week, which is part of an initiative called ‘Love thy Neighbour’. Students took part in games and activities whilst learning about different faiths.  A question and answer session also took place and they ended the evening with foods linked to different faith groups.

Leah James, Year 9, said she really enjoyed it and was delighted to have her picture taken with the Lord Mayor, Councillor Barry Findlay.

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Featured on the photograph are Leah James, Year 9 with the Mayor and Mayoress of Wolverhampton.

 

 

Wolverhampton and Dudley 5 A Side Tournament

25th November 2016Mrs D Curtis

On Saturday 5th November many of the students from St Edmund’s took part in the Wolverhampton and Dudley 5 A Side Tournament organised by Kenelm Trust. It was held at St Edmund’s  in the Kristian Thomas Sports Centre.

Vicki Chatten, Youth Ministry Development Worker from Birmingham Catholic Youth Service, sent certificates  for all our students and said, ‘ The boys are a credit to you’.

Well done to all the students who took part.

By Debbie Ferris

The Year of Mercy Mass at St Peter and St Paul’s Church

27th June 2016S Huynh

On Friday 11th March 15 pupils from St Edmund’s Catholic Academy were chosen to take part in the Year of Mercy Mass, which was held at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Wolverhampton. We were joined by other schools such as The Giffard and St Mary’s and St John’s Catholic School.

As it is The Year of Mercy, Pope Francis chose St Peter and St Paul’s Church to have a special door. When walking through the door, you are encouraged to pray for three virtues.

After the service had ended students were led by Fr Mark Crisp to walk through the door again. However, this time Fr. Mark told students to pray for three special things.  The experience was made more special for students as the Pope chose SSPP Church for this occasion.

St Edmund’s student Leah James in Year 8 was very honoured to walk through the door, especially in this Year of Mercy.

Fr Mark said: “The door is always going to be open and anyone is welcome to come and sit inside the church and pray.”

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Euro 2016 – Students hold a charity cake sale

16th June 2016S Huynh

In support of the Euro 2016 and to celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday, students at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy have been selling ‘football’ and ‘birthday’ cupcakes in aid of raising money for charity.

Quxah in Year 12 said: “As a Sixth Form we decided to do a fundraiser where we did a cake sale.

Half of the cupcakes were a celebration of the Queen’s 90th and the other half were for the Euros. It was great to see students getting excited for the game as well as remembering the Queen’s Birthday. This was for a good cause and all money raised will go to The Haven charity In Wolverhampton.”

Pupils and students are all getting into the football spirit here at St Edmund’s this afternoon by watching the match on the big screens!

Come on England!

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“Laudato Si” inspires St Edmund’s to make some exciting changes

13th June 2016S Huynh

Jess Bradley (year 9) has recently delivered a series of assemblies to groups of students at St Edmund’s motivated by the Holy Father’s encyclical letter “Laudato Si” on care for our common home. Pope Francis invites us all to take seriously how we protect and nurture our planet and to act more responsibly to preserve the earth’s resources for generations to come. St Edmund’s students and staff are looking closely at how we use resources and how we can avoid waste.

One way we can make a significant saving is if we move across from a printed newsletter to a more eco-friendly e-newspaper – available on our website. We will be launching our new e-paper in July and not only will this be more environmentally friendly, it will be run by the students of St Edmund’s Academy! We are very excited about this new initiative and hope it will “engage” students of all ages as well as their families. We will be looking for budding writers, editors and photographers soon but to get us started…..we need a name!

Look out for the competition to name our new paper – posters in tutor groups are coming soon and there are great prizes to be won!

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