More than 250 school leaders, governors and members of the Diocesan Education Team have come together to begin the new academic year in prayer at a series of special Beginning of Year Masses across the Diocese of Shrewsbury.
Beginning the Academic Year in Prayer: Diocesan Schools Gather for Mass
The Masses were celebrated by Canon David Roberts, Director of Education, at three parishes: St Peter’s, Hazel Grove; St Patrick’s, Telford; and Christ the King, Bromborough.
The gatherings provided a valuable opportunity for those involved in Catholic education to pause at the beginning of a new school year, give thanks for the mission entrusted to them, and pray for the young people, staff, governors and families who make up our school communities.
The Masses also offered an opportunity to reflect on what makes Catholic education distinctive. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales highlights that a Catholic school is not simply an institution, but a “living environment in which the Christian vision permeates every discipline and every interaction.” Pope Leo XIV has also emphasised that education should be measured not simply by efficiency, but by “dignity, justice, the capacity to serve the common good.”
Catholic education seeks to nurture the whole person, helping young people to grow not only in knowledge and understanding, but also in faith, wisdom and a sense of their God-given dignity. As St Pope John Paul II reflected, Catholic education aims to communicate a “coherent, comprehensive vision of life”, rooted in the conviction that truth brings freedom.
For the Diocese of Shrewsbury, these Beginning of Year Masses were a joyful expression of the shared mission of Catholic schools and the commitment of those who serve them. By gathering around the altar at the beginning of the academic year, school leaders, governors and the Diocesan Education Team placed their work and the young people entrusted to their care into God’s hands.
As the new academic year unfolds, we continue to pray for all our Catholic schools and colleges: for pupils and their families, teachers and support staff, governors and school leaders. May our schools continue to be places where faith, culture and life come together, and where every young person is encouraged to discover their dignity, gifts and vocation in Christ.
Please keep all our schools and their communities in your prayers throughout the year.
.jpg)
