Ampleforth 2012 - Sorry seems to be...

...the hardest word. Well that was indeed the theme for our Lenten retreat at Ampleforth this year and what a wonderful and blessed experience we all shared. This was one of the biggest groups that we've taken on retreat during that time and what a fantastic group you all turned out to be! Group work, rounders,...

Ampleforth 2012 - Message To You All!

Water everywhere! Thank you for your kind and warm welcome yesterday at Ampleforth. I had a wonderful and moving time with you and the young people there. Hope springs eternal and yesterday proved that to me. Although some didn’t want to look too ‘uncool’ by acting as though they gave credence to what was...

Pancake Day Flipping Quiz

The 3 Parishes Youth Action Group celebrated Pancake Day by organising a Flipping Quiz to raise money for Mary’s Meals, a charity helping feed and educate children in Africa and across the world. Some of us found it hard to answer questions after eating far too many pancakes but it was all in a good cause...

Hartfields Games

Last week, students from English Martyrs went back in time to find out what being might have been like 50 years ago. As part of our project linking up EMS Houses with local parishes, St. Thomas More students visited Hartfields Retirement Village to play games that residents had played when they were younger....

Gambia Week - Day 5

We pray today in thanksgiving for everything we have. A roof over our head, food on our table, water in our taps, free education and medical help... the list is endless when you begin to think of things to be grateful for. Team Gambia will be living a different kind of life right now and they too will have a...

Gambia Week - Day 4

We pray today for those countries around the world that do not have peace or who live under oppression and do not know joy. Our brothers and sisters in The Gambia will be experiencing joy with those who have very little. Let us remember that we can be happy and have peace even when we don't have all the things...

Gambia Week - Day 3

Team Gambia will now be getting ready for their first day of activities. We pray for them as they extend the hand of friendship from us to our friends in The Gambia. May the friendships they create and sustain help to make a difference in our world, to show that we can all live as one, regardless of our cultural...

Gambia Week - Day 2

As we pray right now, Team Gambia are just about to take off. Let us be united in our prayer this morning and the rest of the week as they too will be praying with us on their journey. We journey with them in prayer today. Let us not forget them when we say our own prayers this week. "Bear with each other and...

Gambia Week - Day 1

Today, we pray for our staff and students who tomorrow will make their long journey to our link school in The Gambia. We are all on a journey though and already today we have made the journey here to school. As we begin our day, let us remember that Jesus is with us in every step we take. "Have I not commanded...

St Anne Line House Mass

Today saw the students of St Anne Line house at The English Martyrs School celebrate their annual mass. Students and teachers participated in the mass along with members of St Patricks and St Teresa's parish who had come along to share the celebration with us. During the week the students had also been collecting...

Candlemas BBQ 2012

A fire in the garden, a candlelit procession and Mass by candlelight with uplifting new music- what more could you want to celebrate this great feast day? Well, how about a delicious BBQ, brownies and custard, a funky sock competition and the excellent company of the Catholic community of Hartlepool? This...

Fancy a BBQ?

Last year people thought we were barking mad having a BBQ in the middle of Winter, this year that status has been downgraded to slightly bonkers! It's fair to say that last year was an amazing success and we never imagined so many people would turn out to celebrate Candlemas day in a way that none of us had...

Team Gambia 2012

Just under one week to go now until our Year 11 students head off to Africa once more and back to our partner school in Darsilami. The students and staff taking part this year are getting very excited about the trip and fundraising has been ongoing throughout the year. The team have hosted events such as a...