This week in our school community: 3 April 2025

Our goal as followers and disciples of Jesus is to become like Jesus (Luke 6:40)

 

The Spirit is at work to transform us to become like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). Paul emphasised this was his goal in his ministry and that he worked with every ounce of energy that God supplied him to accomplish that goal (Colossians 1:28-29), and he invited people to imitate him as he displayed Christ in his life (1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1; Philippians 3:17, 4:9). To become like Jesus, we must know who he is and then pursue him with all we are. Jesus as our Lord, the righteous character, the faithful, loving kindness and gracious compassion of our Lord should come alive in us (Galatians 5:22-23). Holy Week teaches us more about this than anything else.

This year Holy Week is still some way off and we return the day after Easter Monday. The incredible journey of Holy Week will take place whilst our young people are wholly with you. Our final liturgy focused upon Jesus’ journey to the cross, with a special Stations of the Cross devotion that put the journey towards hope of refugees at the centre of our prayers. During Holy Week we are all asked to follow Jesus on his way to Jerusalem. His adversaries revile him, his people reject him and crucify him. However, God will resurrect him.

During the ups and downs of Holy Week we hear that he would be the guest of his Bethany friends, be anointed by Mary and another Mary, make his heroic entry into Jerusalem, teach from the Mount of Olives, share the Last Supper with his apostles, experience betrayal, denial, endure one mock trial after another, then finish his mission on earth on a cross. This week would be endured because of the victory to be celebrated on a single day of the week to follow. On the first day of that week, Sunday, what we call Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday, would come the joyous news that He is not here; He is risen; He is risen indeed! Like him, and because of him, we live and die to live again.

Let us not allow it to pass us by, but to embrace the deep tradition contained within the Triduum (Maundy Thursday liturgy to Easter Vigil on Saturday) and allow the greatest act in history to find a place in our hearts. Buying chocolate Easter eggs is a great treat, but we cannot allow societal customs to overtake the true meaning and message of Lent and subsequently Easter.

Krakow Trip, May 2026 (Year 10 & Year 12 students next year)

We are delighted to be offering the trip to Krakow again in May 2026 for students currently in Year 9 and any Year 11s who will be returning to the sixth form. A key part of the trip will be to journey in spirit with those who lost their lives at Auschwitz Concentration Camp and beyond. We will visit Auschwitz, the Jewish areas of Krakow and commemorate them with a Jewish meal one evening with live entertainment in the form of a Klezmer Band. The trip will also take in some incredible architectural gems such as historical and modern Churches, Wawel Castle, the awe dropping Wieliczka Salt Mines, water park and gaming museum. Letters with full details and a link to sign up have been emailed home and sent out via ClassCharts.

Mr Robinson

Lay Chaplain