Chaplaincy

Religious Life at St Edmund’s

The 450th Anniversary Mass in Douai– September 2018

Before dawn on Saturday 29th September 2018, a fleet of coaches left St Edmund’s and headed down the A10, bound for the small town of Douai in northern France. The coaches carried a majority of our students and staff as well as some foirmer students and some staff from the Prep School. The reason for this mass exodus and this one-day return journey to Douai was to attend the Mass to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the founding of the English College, Douai – or Douay as it was spelt in those days – our first foundation, on the 29th September 1568. Our Schola Cantorum and some sports teams had travelled to Douai some days earlier. This trip was the brainchild of Paulo Duran, then Headmaster of the College, and had been a very long time in the planning.

Nothing now remains in Douai of the English College, known in France as the “College des Grands Anglais” except the tabernacle from the chapel. This had been restored, largely due to the financial efforts of generous Edmundians, and was due to be blessed during the Solemn Mass which was the focus of the celebrations.

The Mass was celebrated in the Collegiate Church of Saint-Pierre by the Archbishop of Cambrai, Monseigneur Vincent Dollman, who had only been in office for six weeks. It was his predecessors who had ordained many of the students of the English College before they left for the English Mission and almost certain martyrdom. He was assisted by Archbishop Patrick Kelly, Archbishop Emeritus of Liverpool, who represented Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of St Edmund’s, and the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. The Archbishop of Lille was also present and among the concelebrants were old Edmundianpriests and priests of the Archdiocese of Westminster.

Our Schola Cantorum, under the direction of Mrs Karen Salter-Kay, then Director of Music, provided the music for the Mass with great flair, Mr Chris Benham, our College Organist, accompanied on the organ and the serving was in the capable hands of our College Servers, assisted by some seminarians from Allen Hall, the Westminster Diocesan Seminary. After the Bidding Prayers the restored tabernacle from the English College, now installed in the Church of Sainte-Pierre, was blessed and it was moving to

hear at that moment a verse of Adeste Fideles, our College Carol, sung by the Schola. The Mass ended with a stirring rendition of ”Sing England’s Sons” making it an unmistakably Edmundian occasion.

A lunch followed the Mass at the Ecole de Saint-Jean, after which we re-embarked on our coaches for the return journey to St Edmund’s. It was a long but unique day which will go down in our annals as a fitting celebration of the 450th anniversary of the foundation of our College which, because of its noble history, is truly a school like no other.

The Year of the Word (2020)

In January 2020, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales declared 2020 the ‘Year of the Word’. This was to mark several significant anniversaries, among them the 1600th anniversary of the death of St Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin. The Year of the Word gave us an opportunity to focus anew on the word of God. Each tutor group nominated a Scripture Champion who helped to lead reflections each week based on the Sunday readings, and to assist in the organisation and delivery of worship specific to this exciting initiative.

Scripture Champions: Challoner: Tanisha Chudasama, Roisin Devonald Smith, Sophia Jay, Ellis Kontkowski, Edward Marshall, Lenny Schwarz, Alexander Simpson, Joseph Yagudaev. Douglass: Shyanna Asante-Adjei, James Banful, Erin Bowen, Francis Butterworth, Oliver Howell, Ahana Matharu, Ogorchukwu Ozor, Xifan Wu. Pole: Isabella-Danielle Antoniou, Esther Burton, Fabrizio Ciraolo, Leah Edwards-Amor, Jackson Howe, George Keogh, Scarlett Mitchell, Caspian Plummer, Cornelia Scott. Poynter: Brendan Baldeh, Lily Brown, Adriana Cassera, Alicia Chugh, Pierce Chugh, Bethany Curtis-Copeland, Martina Giordano, Chloe Hoban. Talbot: Ngola Ginga, Cosimo Gualandi, Dillon Jones, Zak Jordan, Guy Omotosho, Soraya Omotosho, Abisah Pwamang, Ivayla Rusinova, Zoe Stephens, Witney Udigwe.

A school prayer was written by Rhetoricians Edward Marshall and Francis Butterworth . This was displayed in every classroom and used as part of tutor group prayer:

Year of the Word Prayer By Francis Butterworth and Edward Marshall

Lord, In this, the Year of the Word, allow us to forge an ever closer relationship with you. Permit us new wisdom to understand your Word, so that we may grow ever closer to your eternal love. Not knowing the path you have set out for us, teach us to serve you and listen to your word so that we may understand it within the context of our own lives. Give us the perseverance to listen to your calling and gain a deeper understanding of your love for us, even in times when it may not seem clear. Allow us to be servants of Christ & preach your Good News. We ask through your Son Jesus Christ, Amen

Prefects’ Commissioning and Scholars’ Service

The Prefects’ Commissioning took place in September. The students dedicated their service to God and reflected on what it means to be a leader in the Edmundian community. Each prefect was called forward

by the Headmaster to sign the Prefects’ Book, which dates back to 1904. Held in the Shrine Chapel, this special occasion marks the beginning of the academic year and is always well attended by staff and parents.

The Scholars’ Service was also held in September to allow newly-appointed Scholars an opportunity to reflect on their God-given talents and the example of St Edmund as a Scholar himself. Each student was given a special certificate to mark this day.

Retreat Week

The weeks commencing 15th October 2018 and 7th October 2019 marked our annual retreat week. Students reflected on themes such as Forgiveness, Peer Pressure and Who is Jesus? The NET ministry team brought their usual joy and enthusiasm to the week. It provided lots of opportunities for reflection, prayer and fun. The students also enjoyed chatting to team members during the lunch break.

“I really enjoyed the dramas as they had a deeper meaning” “I liked the silent reflection, it made me get real with myself” “I loved getting to know people’s faith journeys” Prayer corners are gradually being fixed in every classroom. These dedicated spaces allow students to focus more easily on Morning Prayer. Each tutor group has a worship monitor whose responsibility it is to ensure that the area is kept tidy and uncluttered. Students are also given the opportunity to write prayers to be used in their tutor groups.

CAFOD Fast Day and Food Bank Collection

On Friday 1st October 2018 and Friday 4th October 2019, the College marked its annual CAFOD Fast Day. All staff and students opted for an economy lunch of bread and soup, with all proceeds going to the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. This is an important opportunityfor students to stand alongside those affected by famine and malnutrition. We were delighted to be able to donate £5,335 to CAFOD as a result of this initiative. In addition to this, as part of our harvest thanksgiving, we collect food for a local foodbank. Once again, individuals and families showed tremendous generosity, and in October 2019 we were able to send 698kgs of food to the foodbank covering Ware and Hertford.

Red Wednesday

Every November, the College marks Red Wednesday as an opportunity for students to pray, and attend Mass, for those who are persecuted for their faith. This year, the ACN UK charity published small cards to promote the importance of Red Wednesday. Each card featured a photograph, name and personal story of Christians from all over the world who have had their human rights violated and faced persecution for their religious beliefs.

Students were encouraged to bring these along with them to a particularly poignant Mass that was held during Period 7, and offered up for those who do not enjoy the same religious freedoms as us.

In tutor time, each form group examined these stories in more detail, and were invited to express their solidarity in the form of a written postcard. These were posted on a board in the Ambulacrum as part of a wonderful display.

Each November we especially remember in our worship those who have died. Students were invited to write the names of the deceased on slips of paper and these names were placed in a basket on the High Altar and remembered in all our Masses throughout the month. Father Peter also arranged a short service for the “Blessing of the Graves” in the graveyard near the Chapel. As part of Racial Justice Sunday, students prayed for racial justice throughout the world. There was also an opportunity to write prayers on this theme. Several students also entered a competition run by the Columbian missionaries to design a poster on the theme of ‘Let’s Create a World without Racism’. Their entries were very thoughtful and mature, reflecting Catholic teaching on the dignity of the human being.

Senior Citizens’ Christmas party

St Edmund’s continues to host an annual Christmas Party for local senior citizens, many of whom would otherwise spend the festive season alone and isolated.

I am delighted to report that in December 2019, we had more guests and student and staff volunteers than ever before. As I hope the photographs will attest, it was a wonderful morning of food and drink, laughter, Christmas carols and festive party games. My thanks to all of those who gave their time to ensure that the party ran smoothly and help to create such a joyous atmosphere.

Holocaust Memorial Day

During lock-down, we commemorated this significant day virtually. Each tutor delivered an assembly on this day focussing on the theme “Be a Light in the Darkness”. It presented an opportunity to reflect on the depths to which humanity can sink, but also the ways in which individuals and communities can resist that darkness to ‘be the light’ before, during and after genocide. Students were then encouraged to draw or make a candle which they could put in their window at home.

Lucy Boyling and Beth Sherlock ware given places on the Lessons from Auschwitz project. This involved studying the lives of ordinary Jewish and German people in the run up to World War 2. Visiting the concentration camp at Auschwitz and then working on a project to ensure that the lessons learned are passed onto the College and local community. It was a difficult but profoundly moving experience for the students involved.

Charity Week – Noah’s Ark

In Lent 2019, the College raised £16,682.25 for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, a charity that supports children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and ensures that they and their families receive the support they need. This money went towards a brand new stateof-the art facility which was opened by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, in September 2019. ‘The Ark’ is set in a 7.5 nature reserve in Barnet, and offers inside and outside activity play areas, as well as invaluable bereavement and counselling services for families. St Edmund’s students were invited to visit the site as The Ark was being constructed, whilst Mrs Peirce also attended the grand opening.

In Lent 2020, the College raised £14,000 for the Catholic Children’s Society Emergency Fund, which seeks to provide immediate financial support for families facing a crisis in their lives. Parish Priests and Headteachers can apply to this fund on behalf of a family and they aim to respond within 24 hours. This support can make a huge difference to families in desperate situations, when often they have nowhere else to turn. For example, it can cover funeral costs or provide a grant to buy a bed.

The students involved showed great initiative, for example arranging such events as the talent show, ‘splat the teacher’, ‘Art for Auction’, cake and sweet sales, and not least our first ever Dog Show. In May 2020 one of our Catholic charities, ‘Million Minutes’, launched a new local award, the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Award. This award celebrates and recognises inspirational young people across the country who are making the world around us a better place, ultimately contributing to the Common Good.

Pier Giorgio Frassati was a young Italian man who devoted his life to social action, charity, prayer and the local community in Turin in northern Italy. Giving up his spare time to look after the poor, sick and needy his selflessness saw him die in 1925 at the age of just 24 from poliomyelitis, an infection which he had caught from those he tended to. The people he supported made several pleas for canonisation, and he was eventually beatified by Pope John Paul II on 25th May 1990. ‘Million Minutes’ was inspired by Pier’s story, as throughout his short life, he always put the needs of others before himself, never seeking reward or recognition for his work; his family only knew about his impact when at his funeral the streets were lined with mourners who had benefited from his kindness.

The College community was delighted when Harry Jordan (Rhetoric 2 Talbot) received this award. Throughout the pandemic Harry, working in his garage, used his design and technology skills to create PPE kit for local NHS workers, and visors for his teachers to use in school. In addition to designing a "Hangie" which is a device used to hold onto rails in public transport without having to touch the rail.

Prayerbook Covers

Each term a new prayerbook is issued to each tutor group. The prayerbook contains readings, prayers and reflections based on the theme of the week. A competition was launched asking the students to design the prayer book cover. There were lots of really thoughtful and artistic entries and we are now working through the winning entries using them as our covers for the term. This allows all students to see the artwork and be inspired by it.

Annual Sleepout

Our Annual Sleepout in the Galilee Chapel remains an essential part of the College year. On Friday 8th February 2019, students from all year groups and many members of staff gathered for an evening of prayer and reflection before unravelling their sleeping bags and spending the night in the Chapel. In the week leading up to the sleepout, students focussed in their morning prayer on the problems faced by homeless people, and the call to respond to these to show the centrality of human dignity recognising that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. On the evening of the sleepout, students exampled a number of case studies and reflected on the circumstances of those homeless people they focussed on. Later in the evening, a candlelit prayer service was held before trying to get a few hours' sleep, despite the intense cold. The following morning, the students again gathered for prayer and reflection. The night was very cold, but we all survived until morning and as a result of our efforts raised £2200 for the St Vincent de Paul society which provides emergency packs for the homeless. The packs include hats, gloves, socks and an information card giving details of places that offer help.

Fairtrade Fortnight

For many years, the College has sold a variety of Fairtrade products, including biscuits, chocolate, sweets and juice. Apart from being delicious, they ensure that producers in developing countries to get a fair price for their products, leading to a reduction in poverty, providing for the ethical

treatment of workers and farmers, and promoting environmentally sustainable practices. Each year during Fairtrade Fortnight we reflect on the issues surrounding Fairtrade and the education of others. The focus for Fairtrade Fortnight this year was cocoa farmers in West Africa. Many are paid only 74p per day and actually need £1.86 in order to achieve a living income which means enough money to live a simple but dignified life, paying for essentials such as clothing, medicine and school. One of the highlights of the fortnight is a quiz, with winners receiving a section of Fairtrade goods. Students in the Chaplaincy committee also helped to organise a display board in the Ambulacrum, whilst resources promoting the importance of Fairtrade Fortnight were distributed for tutor groups to study in their PSHE lessons. Lenny Schwarz and Ellis Kontkowski dressed as Fairtrade bananas and distributed stickers. Some students showed an impressive amount of knowledge. The quiz was won by Leo Rumalean and Lara Chick.

Faith in Action Award

For the past couple of years, the College has been offering the ‘Faith in Action Award’, a programme developed by CYMFed (The Catholic Youth Ministry Federation) to reward their service to the Church and those in the wider community. We already have a number of students who have achieved their Bronze Award, which focuses on teaching them about the relationship between faith and service. To achieve this, participants need to regularly play a substantive role in school or parish events which show that they understand the responsibility that comes with belonging to a community. The Silver Award emphasises vocation and encourages students to take the lead in using their gifts and talents to serve others. ‘I organized a coat drive over a period of two months and collected almost 250 coats. I believe that all people should have access to the bare necessities of life and no child should go cold in the winter because they can’t afford clothing’ (Rudiments student) ‘I am extremely proud to be part of Faith in Action at school. It has brought me closer to God and is shaping the person I am becoming. I know service to God and the Catholic Church will be a big part of my future and the next step in this journey will be my Confirmation.’ (Rudiments student) ‘While taking part in this faith in action scheme over this academic year, it has led me to reflect more on my faith and what I am doing to strengthen my relationship with God and my support towards the world around me. I have found it very important to take time to stop and look back at what I have done to help others around me, whether it was helping by donating to the local food bank or supporting a local village of mine by providing care to their environment by taking an hour of my time to go litter picking.’ (Grammar Student)

Flame

On the 2nd March 2019, a number of staff and 24 students travelled to Wembley Arena for ‘Flame’, the largest gathering of young Catholics in the UK. 10,000 young Catholics from across the country gathered for a day of drama, music, talks, testimonies and prayer. The theme was ‘Significance’, with young people in attendance urged not to measure their worth by social media and Instagram “Likes”, but rather encouraged to reflect on the fact that they are made in the image and likeness of God. The students listened to a fascinating interview with Jean Vanier the founder of L’Arche and also a lively talk by Robert Madu from America. There was lots of music but the day ended with silent Adoration lead by Cardinal Vincent Nichols. It was a truly inspiring day, and something different to what our students are used to.