You are invited to begin by making the Sign of the Cross.

Response: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

At a prayer service at World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 27th July 2013, Pope Francis once said these words,

“Dear young people, please, don’t be observers of life, but get involved. Jesus did not remain an observer, but he immersed himself. Don’t be observers, but immerse yourself in the reality of life, as Jesus did!”

As a Catholic community we are called to action, not to walk passively through life. Catholic Social Teaching calls us as young Catholics to be changemakers; to give preferential option to the poor, to be stewards of creation and to be peacemakers.

The traditional hymn ‘Make Me a Channel of Your Peace’ is based on a famous prayer of St. Francis of Assisi and it highlights some ways in which we might live in order to carry out this mission. You don’t need to be a Catholic in order to perhaps agree with some of the sentiments within the lyrics. As you listen to the hymn of St. Francis, reflect on what you think the world needs more of in order to become a better, fairer place.

Write your ideas down on a Post-it note and add it to your class scrapbook.

You are invited to begin by making the Sign of the Cross.

Response: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

At the end of this month, Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s church will host their annual Christmas Fair which has become a popular seasonal event, not just for the parish but for the local community too. Everyone is welcome! The Saturday afternoon session is particularly popular with members of the wider community.

Our school and parish are very closely linked. Over the past few years, we have developed strong links and parishioners talk fondly of the students of SSPP, commenting on their respectful behaviour in church, the talent of the choir and the positive communications they have in passing.

This week, your mission is to consider how you could support the parish Christmas Fair and in turn support our school’s efforts towards achieving the CAFOD Live Simply award. We are called to make small changes in our lives to help us live more simply, live sustainably and to live in solidarity with our global family.

Some relatively easy ways in which we can do this is to consider how we can reuse items, regift unwanted presents, reduce the amount we waste (e.g. clothes, shoes, food etc.) and recycle responsibly.

Have you got any unused or nearly new items at home that you are ready to part with that could be sold at the Christmas Fair? The parish are looking for donations of unused toiletries or donations of high-quality toys and games for the children’s stall. If you have anything to donate, please bring it to the community hub over the next fortnight.

In addition, if you enjoy a tub of sweets or chocolate over the coming festive season, bring your tubs into the Community Hub in the new year and we will ensure that they are recycled responsibly! We’ll remind you about this nearer the time too.

Please try to support our whole school effort towards achieving the CAFOD Live Simply award by donating what you can and by making small changes in your own life for the good of one another and for the good of our common home.

Calling all Year 10’s, 11’s and 13’s for FLAME 2027!

On Saturday 6th March 2027, thousands of young people from across England and Wales will fill the iconic OVO Arena Wembley for the biggest Catholic youth gathering in the country: FLAME 2027! A jam-packed day of live music, dance, motivational speakers, praise and worship in a way you’ve never experienced before!

See the posters around school for more information or pop in to see Lucy in the Chaplaincy Office/Community Hub to ‘sign up’. There’s only about 20 spaces available! Register your interest directly with Lucy or with your Form Tutor ASAP!

Are you looking for a quiet space to go at lunch time? Have you considered the chapel?

Our school chapel (at the bottom of the Humanities staircase) is a welcoming and inclusive space for everybody. You do not need to be Catholic to make use of the chapel. Although it is primarily a place of prayer and worship it is also a suitable space for quiet reflection and wellbeing. Come into this warm and welcoming space this term and sit a while. Listen to some calming music, do something creative or engage with some of our prayerful resources. The choice is yours!

Lucy will be in the chapel every Thursday lunchtime offering some wellbeing and mindfulness activities. Anyone is welcome. You don’t need to stay for the whole of lunch either, just call in for as long as you’d like to and make sure you eat before or after you come. Thank you.

Here are some resources to help you with the planning of Celebrations of the word.

Open Bible – Search the Bible by keyword for scripture suitable to your theme.

Planning sheets – Use the planning sheets on this page to plan your Celebration of the word. Remember that somebody else should evaluate on the same sheet (or on a second copy) during or shortly after your delivery.

Seasonal music – Hymns and worship songs recorded by members of the Trust Chaplaincy Team suitable for different seasons and themes throughout the liturgical year.

Introducing Scripture – It is very important that we give scripture the reverence it deserves. We should use translations taken from the English Standard Version at Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s. Ensure you choose this version if taking scripture from sites such as BibleGateway. Scripture should also be introduced and concluded correctly, depending on where in the Bible it comes from. A helpful guide can be found below. Please note the specific instructions and additions when scripture comes from one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John). Ordinarily, we stand for the Gospel and we stay seated for scripture which comes from elsewhere.