This year the Assistant Heads of Year have done an amazing job in helping with the collection of non-perishable goods for our local Wolverhampton Charity – The Brothers of the Good Shepherd.
We sincerely give thanks to everyone who has donated in any way, this year more than ever, in these very difficult times. We hope this helps in some way to provide some people with a meal this Christmas.
Yesterday our 6 formers helped load the school minibus with our donations and as you can Mrs Hazeldine, our Principal, and Mr White delivered them.
2 Corinthians 9; 10-11
‘And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God.’
(Pictured front to back: Assistant Heads of Year – Miss Eddowes, Mrs Fones, Mr Banks and Mr Randhawa)
Picture: Mr White and Mrs Hazeldine)
Charity Walk and Sports Week
One of St Edmund’s Catholic Academy traditions is the end of year charity walk. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, it is unable to take place, but as a school we still wanted to raise money for our three charities, voted for by the students.
The three charities this year are. Compton Hospice, Cancer Research UK and Plastic Oceans.
Students and staff are making their donations through Parent Pay. We thank everyone who has donated.
We have challenged the students and staff to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, from walking up and down the stairs, to dancing, gymnastics, walking etc.
‘Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies’ – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The power of Facebook and the joining of old friends happened this morning! Our Lay Chaplain saw a message on Facebook from an old friend she used to work with over 25 years ago, asking for donations of elastic, as she was making ‘facemasks’ for a Care Home.
Mrs Ferris sent an appeal out and today travelled to Northfield, Great Barr and West Bromwich to collect and deliver the much-needed elastic – meeting another old friend, she had not seen for 15 years. Good deed done, friendships re-established and smiles all round.
Lent
We are now in the season of Lent. Lent is an opportunity for us to examine our conscious, pray more, acknowledge what we have, be thankful and be generous. In order for us to grow closer to the Lord, build up our relationship and discover anew the joy of a deeper conversion of the heart.
Our PRAYER is a sign of our hunger and thirst for God
Our FASTING is a sign of sorrow for our sin and an openness to conversion and turning back to God
Our ALMSGIVING is a sign of our gratitude, for we have received mercy, and through generous giving show mercy.
Here at St Edmund’s the students have an opportunity to enter into this Holy Season in many ways. Here are few examples;-
1. through prayer-
• all this week the 6 formers have been creating a prayer chain all Year 7 Tutor Groups
• some classes will have an opportunity to follow the ‘stations of the cross’ or spend time in the Chapel to share prayers
• every Thursday the school can attend Lightfever, for prayers in the Chapel
• every t.v. screen showing a daily extract from the Walk with me booklet
2. through Fasting
• on Friday’s there will be no meat served in the canteen
• the students will listen to an assembly on Lent and be encouraged either to give something up for lent or give something back
• the staff will become Guardian Angels and participate in acts of random kindness
3. through Almsgiving
• During the weeks leading up to Easter, each year group has been given their own week, to have the opportunity to raise funds for our 3 nominated charities: a local, national and an International one
We wish you all blessed journey through Lent as we hunger to become closer to our Lord
Prayer
‘Lord, teach me to resist the temptation to doubt your love. Renew within me a sure and solid grasp of your loving plan for my life. May I grasp, in deeper measure, the depth of your love so I can walk with you day-by-day, knowing your peace in my heart. Amen.’
Two of our students attended a girls weekend retreat at Soli House. Here is Molly Kerins testimony of her time there.
Soli house weekend
During the 15th and the 17th of February Siwi and I went on a girls retreat to Soli House. The weekend was focused on our treasure, what is it, how we find it and how we use it. During the weekend we took part in multiple outdoor activities such as a scavenger hunt around Alton Castle, escape room and crate stacking. Additionally, we also had discussions about what we treasure in life and went to a mass on the Saturday evening where we all took part either through reading, singing or dancing. Over the whole weekend girls from all over the country were able to come together and discuss our faith and how we can use our talents to better our lives and the lives of others. I think that the weekend was an amazing experience and I look forward to going on another retreat soon.
On January 26th – 27th, young adults across the Diocese will be answering the call of Pope Francis and serving in mission projects over this weekend serving their local community. Following a weekend of mission, local groups will join together on Sunday evening at Ss. Peter and Paul in Wolverhampton to celebrate the closing Mass of World Youth Day, enjoy Panamanian food and tuning in to the Pope’s homily and the sights and sounds of Panama. All young people are welcome to join us. Please arrive at St. Peter and Pauls RC Church WV11RJ. at 6pm. Event finishes at 9pm.
The young people will be asking for people to sponsors them. All the money raised will go to Tabor House to support their project with homeless people. If you would like to sponsor the young people you can via parent pay at school.
Please keep in your prayers the 20 young adults, largely from parishes in disadvantaged areas of the Diocese, representing Birmingham in Panama with Pope Francis and the youth of the world!
pic 
Saturday 1st December was the Feast Day of our founder St Edmund. We marked the day with a celebration Mass for the whole community on Friday 3th November.
Monsignor Mark Crisp, our Chaplain was the celebrant at the Mass. He gave a great homily, helping us to recognise how lucky and privileged we are to be able to celebrate Mass together as a community without being persecuted for our faith, like people did in Queen Elizabeth 1 reign.
In 1580 Campion joined the first mission that was sent by the Jesuits, to minister to the Catholics of England, who were strictly forbidden to practice their religion. He preached at secret Catholic meetings in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Lancashire.
He was arrested by a spy at Lyford, Berkshire, on July 17, 1581, and taken to the Tower of London. When he refused, under severe torture, to recant his religious convictions, his captors invented charges that he had conspired to overthrow the queen. He was convicted of treason and executed. Throughout his ordeal, Campion exhibited religious zeal and great courage. Campion Hall at Oxford was named for him. He was canonized in 1970 by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
Many of our pupils took part in the Mass, Alter Servers, and the choir, people taking the Offertory and readers from our 6th form. We especially give thanks to John Smith who stood in at the last minute, and expressed the Reading of from St Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, so eloquently. Which ended in:
‘ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.’
On Saturday 1st December, three of our 6 formers gave up their Saturday to hold a stall at St Mary’s and St John’s Christmas Fayre.
Over the week, they made different Christmas decorations such as sleighs, stars, candleholders and wreaths. On the day, they met the Mayor of Wolverhampton and his wife, who thanked them for supporting the community and said they were a credit to the school. Their stall made £40 for the church. Well Done to all who supported this event.
Samaritans- Operation Christmas Child
At the start of November each tutor group was asked to fill a shoebox for the Samaritans Charity-Operation Christmas Child, and again students and staff came up trumps.
Over 40 shoeboxes have been delivered. The boxes were filled with items such as hats, scarves, tooth brushes, toiletries, writing pads, pens, toys and a Christmas card. Each box also had to be sent with £5. A huge thank you goes to everyone who donated in any way, with special thanks to the 6 form Chaplaincy and Charity teams for all their hard work in collecting and putting the boxes together.
You have all made a difference to a child’s life this Christmas, thank you for your kindness and generosity, God Bless.
