Wednesday, 4th October has been a most special day in our St Mary’s school community, as we celebrated the Opening-of-our-New-School-Year Mass for this brand new academic year of 2023/2024.
The children and staff were delighted to be joined by parents, grandparents and other special people within our families, members of our school’s Board of Governors, former students and staff, and friends and members of the wider parish community, in St Mary’s Church, as our parish priest - Fr Alwill - led us in our celebrating of the Mass.
As we came together to welcome the beginning of our school year, we prayed that our eyes, hearts and minds may be open to the new challenges, exciting opportunities and new friendships that lie ahead.
We marked, too, on this day, and in our Mass, the closing of the ‘Season of Creation’ and the feast day of St Francis of Assisi. As we listened to and reflected on the words of Fr Alwill and the life of Francis, we are grateful for his life and legacy. Inspire in us his love of peace, care for the poor and protection of creation.
May our whole school community know peace, good health, friendship and many blessings in the months ahead.
We thank Fr Alwill for leading us in our Mass. Likewise, a sincere word of thanks to all our school staff who worked tirelessly in so many ways, as we prepared for this special day, and who participated so meaningfully in the Mass, as all our wonderful children. A particular word of gratitude and appreciation, too, to everyone within our families and community who joined us for this most joyful and uplifting celebration of the Mass through music, hymns, readings and prayer, and for light refreshments in our school, afterwards.
