Thousands of children across the trust have answered the call of Pope Francis to pray for Ukraine, while also providing vital funds and practical assistance.

Children attending the 27 schools in Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust have continued to remember the people of Ukraine in their daily prayers throughout Lent after stopping their lessons to pray for peace on Ash Wednesday.

NPCAT schools and its head office stopped at 11am for prayer and reflection. As well as watching a moving video recorded by a Ukrainian woman living in the UK, they also prayed and listened to music that was specially written for the occasion.

NPCAT’s Catholic standards officer, Mark Ryan, said: “The message was deeply moving and so important, and we were pleased to be able to share it with our communities.

“We all need to spread love and kindness in our own communities and not wait for something terrible to happen to change our lives.”

Mr Ryan said that like all of us, children will be struggling to process what they are seeing on the news and hearing about from their friends.

“For very young ones, we have to be very sensitive because they will have very little understanding of what’s going on, so we focus on peace,” he said.

“Older children, who are more aware of what’s going on in the world, will have questions and thoughts and feelings.

“We have to be prepared to respond to those in a peaceful way. That’s what the Pope asks us to do, not to be people of war but to be people of peace.”

On Friday, Pope Francis will pronounce the Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Bishop Terry will pray the consecration prayer during midday Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, an act that bishops throughout the world will also carry out.

The NPCAT family join the Pope in prayer on this special day and every day for peace in Ukraine. Our schools have also been showing their usual generosity for those in need.

NPCAT was asked to help fill a container of vital supplies that is being driven overland to Ukraine.

Within five days, our secondary schools had collected a huge range of aid including clean bottled drinking water, dried non-perishable food, warm winter coats, blankets, sleeping bags, first aid kits, hot water bottles, flasks, baby food, nappies, toiletries and sanitary products.

Our primary schools have all been doing everything they can to help.

St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School in Ormesby have created a prayer wall on the fence outside of school, while children from St Pius X Catholic Primary School in Park End recorded a song to show their solidarity with Ukraine.

And St Margaret Clitherow’s Catholic Primary School in South Bank collected three carloads of aid, as well as donating money.

We will continue to pray and play our part in the relief effort for as long as the crisis lasts.

St Peter’s Catholic College in South Bank is looking forward to educating generations of pupils for years to come after a memorable celebration marked its 80th birthday.

The iconic school, famed for turning out a production line of young footballers that included Boro and England Golden Boy Wilf Mannion, has been at the heart of the community since it was built during World War 2.

Hitler’s Luftwaffe did its best to raze the school to the ground soon after its doors were opened, and a decade ago it was threatened with closure before a last-minute change in government policy.

But St Peter’s has stood the test of time and, after a significant recent investment programme from Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, its future now looks brighter than ever.

“St Peter’s has always been the rock for this part of the community,” said head of school Stephanie Garthwaite. 

“We still have some photos of the German planes flying over St Peter’s during the war and 1,000 people turned out to support the school when it was going to be bulldozed in 2010.

“But we’re still here and we hope St Peter’s will continue to be the foundation of this community and provide an outstanding Catholic education for many more generations of young people.” 

As well as Boro legend Mannion, Formula One engineer Rob Smedley and legendary folk singer Vin Garbutt also attended the Normanby Road school.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to be head of a school with such a rich tradition,” said Mrs Garthwaite. “Lots of pupils have gone on to do well in a wide range of professions and we’re very proud of every one of them.” 

Pupils took part in a variety of activities on a packed day of celebrations, including a cake sale, a careers convention attended by year 10 and 11 and a three-mile sponsored walk for CAFOD, while each tutor group buried a time capsule in the school’s gardens.

Bishop Terry was joined by hundreds of former pupils and members of the community attended two special events including three Masses to mark the momentous occasion.

They included Wilf Mannion’s son and daughter, former deputy headteacher Kevin O’Connor, 79, and 92-year-old Patrick Webster, who was a pupil when St Peter’s first opened. 

Former pupil Canon John Lumley, whose mother, Amy, was also in that very first intake, was among many clergy who attended the celebrations.

“It really has been a very special day and has left me with a very positive feeling,” he said. 

Bishop Terry celebrated Mass and guests took a trip down Memory Lane as they viewed an exhibition featuring photographs from St Peter’s rich history. You can view a collection of the photos from across the decades by clicking the image below.

The school looked absolutely resplendent from its recent facelift, which included the provision of purpose-built changing rooms, a brand-new fitness suite, an exhibition centre and a VR suite.

Head girl Megan Donaghy-Marshall said: “The improvement is massive since the trust has joined – not only the building, but the standard of learning is better.”

 

Local Media Coverage

The event was covered by both the Evening Gazette and BBC Radio Tees (available until 9 April 2022). The Gazette also created a photo gallery. Click the links to read and listen.

 

Event Feedback

Find out what’s been happening over the last term with the latest newsletters from our secondary schools for the Month of February 2022…

St Peter’s February 2022 Newsletter	Sacred Heart’s February 2022 Newsletter
St Patrick’s February 2022 Newsletter	Trinity’s February 2022 Newsletter

Please enjoy the Latest Issue of the Middlesbrough Diocesan Catholic Voice for March 2022, Issue 474

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