Celebrating a remarkable Jubilee Year for Catholic schools

Young people during their recent trip to the Vatican, Credit: CAFOD

Source: CAFOD

Throughout this year, hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren have boldly embraced the Jubilee call from Pope Francis to become 'Pilgrims of Hope'. Over 1,000 schools in England and Wales took the Jubilee pledge, making a long-term commitment to building a better world. Some were invited to the Vatican.

On 21 November, schools came together online to celebrate all that's been achieved this year. The livestream was a moment of thanksgiving, reflection, and looking ahead with renewed hope.

Natalie - a pupil from All Saints' Catholic Voluntary Academy in Mansfield - was recently invited to the Vatican in recognition of the outstanding response to the Jubilee year and said: "I don't have the words to describe it. I have never felt so close to my faith and so close to God which was a really lovely feeling. Just to be in Rome surrounded by everyone, with that atmosphere, was incredible."

Clare Lund, Lay Chaplain at the Mansfield Academy, who travelled with the students to Rome, said: "The Jubilee Year has empowered young people to see themselves as global citizens with the capacity to make changes that renew and restore God's world, driven by Gospel values. Students from All Saints, and across the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, have been committed to learning about social justice, ways to advocate for change and ways to put Catholic Social Teaching at the heart of all they and we do. It's our mission to embody Our Lady's example, responding with a powerful 'yes' to God's call, so I'm incredibly proud of all of the students in the schools we're so privileged to serve."

Bethany Friery, CAFOD's Jubilee for Schools lead, said: "We've been thrilled to see the enthusiastic response from children and young people this Jubilee year. Climate change and debt justice are clearly issues Catholic schoolchildren feel passionately about, and they are keen to find ways to make a difference. It was wonderful to see students from Blessed William Howard school in Stafford receive a reply from the Prime Minister recently in response to their letter on global debt. As the Jubilee Year comes to an end under Pope Leo, its impact is ongoing. It serves as a launchpad for long-term transformation in how Catholic schools live out their mission. We're excited to join schools as they build a legacy of hope beyond the Jubilee Year."

'Jubilee for Schools' is a framework of activities, liturgies, events, and resources provided through a partnership between the Catholic Education Service, CAFOD, Caritas Social Action Network, and the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation, to help schools on their Jubilee journey as Pilgrims of Hope.

LINKS

https://cymfed.org.uk/wys/

https://cafod.org.uk/jubilee-schools