This week in our school community: 6 December 2024

Congratulations to all those who received the Sacrament of Confirmation

  

Confirmations 

Congratulations to all those who received the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Mary’s RC Church last Friday evening. It was an honour to witness so many young people from St Gregory’s take the next step in their Christian sacramental pilgrimage and we look forward to the spirit working in and through them.

Christmas Dress Up Day and Lunch 

It was delightful to see so many students and staff dress in their Christmas attire yesterday. The range of slogans and comedic Christmas jumpers was impressive, as well as plenty of Grinch inspired outfits (hopefully not a reflection on Christmas spirit).   It made it hard to judge a winner but for sheer endeavour to attach tinsel to any part of her clothes, hair or other limb a prize went to Libby M in Year 8. Congratulation also to the winners of the Christmas Quizzes that took place after our lunch.

Third Sunday of Advent - JOY 

Zephaniah, John the Baptist and Paul all shared one belief: that the Lord was very near. God’s nearness didn’t act as a threat to them, but funded them with a radical source of joy that no one could steal from them – not even the executioner. Their joy in the closeness of God gave an edge to their preaching exhorting other to make it ready; it gave them a vision to see the far side of disaster; it moved them to draw others into that sense of joy. None of them was enclosed in his own joy; each moved out hoping his inner joy would be catching.

The picture of John the Baptist as a man who moves in deep joy is not one you hear about very often. John is usually portrayed as a lonesome figure, with a weird wardrobe and weirder diet, who rants and raves at anyone with ears. But John was a magnetic character who intrigued people to seek him out and also follow him. People don’t journey into the wilderness just to get insulted; people don’t become disciples for the wardrobe and diet. In John’s person people could catch something of God. Which is why people ask him: “What must we do, then?”. And John’s answer is to challenge people’s generosity and sense of fairness so that others may have reason to rejoice.

Fr Denis McBride C.Ss.R.

Mr Robinson

Lay Chaplain