2025 Jubilee Year: Pilgrims of Hope
Every 25 years, the Catholic Church holds a Jubilee Year. All members of the global Church family are called to participate in this Holy Year. It is a time to grow in our faith and prayer life. It is also an opportunity for us to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another and with all of creation. The Jubilee Year, with the theme – ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, officially began on Tuesday 24th December 2024 and will run until Tuesday 6th January 2026. On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis performed the rite of ‘Opening of the Holy Door’ at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Please see below, the Jubilee prayers that we will be using in school:
Sister Anne
Throughout the year Sister Anne has led retreat sessions across the school for all year groups. She has helped us grow deeper in our faith as we prepared for Christmas and Easter by leading us in prayer. She has worked tirelessly to support us in our lessons by working with teachers on lessons to help us grow closer to Jesus. These were uplifted by including her entertaining stories and raps on parables such as “The Good Samaritan.” As part of their lessons, pupils in EYFS and Year 4 interviewed her to understand what it means to be a nun. School Chaplains met weekly with her to develop and enhance their role across the school. Every week she came in and supported pupils across the school accompanying groups on many occasions. Thank you Sister Anne for all of your hard work, dedication, and joy that you have brought to St Joseph’s. As she leaves us to return to Manchester one of the Year 5 pupils said,” “May God Bless you with happiness as you continue to bring the Lord’s Word to life.”
A Visit from Bishop Nicholas Hudson
Rt Rev Hudson Thank you Letter
We welcomed Bishop Hudson to St Joseph’s. He visited the classes and spoke to the children about their work. In Year 4 Sapphire class one of the children asked “What is the most difficult things about being a bishop?” Bishop Hudson replied “When you have to tell a priest that they need to leave a parish and move to another one once they have become part of the community.” He attended an Irish bodhran drumming workshop and watched Indigo class perform “Imagine” in song and sign language. Bishop Hudson commented that throughout the school there was a lovely energy and atmosphere between staff and children. “The colourful and vibrant environment gives everyone visiting a real sense of a Catholic community.”
