Flame 2012

On March 24th the young people of Hartlepool travelled down to Wembley Arena to take part in Flame Congress 2012. We joined up with the rest of the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese at Darlington where we boarded the Flame Train and this was a fantastic way to travel down to London in style for such a big event. Here's a little video review of the day, make sure that you check out the outtakes for our Bishop Seamus Cunningham giving us a rendition of Danny Boy!

Year 7 Retreat Day 2012

On Thursday Year 7 enjoyed their retreat day held in school. Each form group had their own role to play in the day and this culminated in the celebration mass which was a fantastic occasion for all involved. The groups and their tutors had a great time and here's a small video showing just a few highlights... check out the opening rap!

Triumph of the Cross

This morning we prayed for those in our lives and those throughout the world who suffer in any way. We remembered especially Christians who are persecuted for their faith and those who are not allowed to wear public signs of their faith in Jesus.

We wrote our own prayer intentions and pinned them into crosses, symbolising that Jesus is with us and that we unite our suffering with his. We ended with the words of St Julian of Norwich, "All will be well, and all manner of things will be well."

Washout Summer

You may have noticed that 2012 was the wettest summer in 100 years! Sadly this disrupted many of our plans- The Big Beach Ball and It’s a Knockout 2 were cancelled (Washington were delighted to have the excuse!) and we had to move the St. Cuthbert’s Youth Group BBQ indoors (no photos, I’m afraid, due to the smoke). But we never give up and will try to restage these events again in the coming year, though probably in February sometime when the weather is more predictable!

St Cuthbert's Family Fun Club Bicycle Treasure Hunt

During a short gap in the rain, the St. Cuthbert’s Family Fun Club headed off to Summerhill for a treasure hunt. Clues hidden in the playground were matched up to gave a map grid reference for where the treasure was hidden, a short bike ride away and excitement mounted as the two teams leaped on their bikes to be first on the scene, one following the path and another going cross country.

After a frantic search, the treasure chest was eventually uncovered under one of the climbing boulders by Jimmy who kindly shared out his gold with everyone else! Sadly, Bradley Wiggins and the rest of the GB Team would have loved to be there but were chasing gold elsewhere. They’ve promised to make it next year!

A Coach's Prayer

The London 2012 Olympic Games are now upon us, we have had the opening ceremony and we're now heading into the serious competition. We all hope that Team GB can bring some success to our shores over the next few weeks in both the Olympics and Paralympics but it's worth reminding ourselves of how each and every person can be a champion, medal winner or not. This Coach's Prayer sums that up perfectly, have a read for yourselves and see what you think...

Build me an athlete, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me an athlete whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be, an athlete who will know You and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storms; here let him learn compassion for those who fall.

Build me an athlete whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high; an athlete who will master himself before he seeks to master others; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, never to take himself too seriously.

Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. Then, I, his coach, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain."