Matthew 25:35 - 40

35- For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36- I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

We all have a part to play in building a welcoming and inclusive society.

This year we are aiming to achieve our School of Sanctuary status and be part of a growing network of more than one thousand primary and secondary schools, nurseries and sixth forms all committed to creating a culture of welcome, understanding and belonging for those forced to flee.

Driven by teachers, school staff, parents, governors and community groups, this network supports the thousands of children and young people seeking sanctuary in the UK, raises awareness of the experiences of people seeking safety, and plays a key role in building a culture of kindness and compassion.⁣

Schools are the heart of our communities and are central to building a better, fairer and kinder society – for everyone and at St Mary's we are making a difference!

🕊️ Sanctuary Prayer for St Mary’s Catholic School

Loving God,

You taught us to welcome the stranger,

to love our neighbour,

and to show mercy to all in need.

We remember that Jesus Himself was once a child

seeking safety in a foreign land.

Help us to see You in every person

who is alone, afraid, or far from home.

At St Mary’s, may our hearts be open,

our words be kind,

and our actions reflect Your love.

Make our school a true place of sanctuary—

a home of peace, hope, and welcome for everyone.

Mary, our Mother and protector,

pray for all children seeking safety.

Guide us to walk with compassion and courage,

today and always.

Amen.

Autumn II

Still to come...

• Parent Advent Worship - welcoming and hope themed
• Posada Box - Joseph's family as refugees
• Carol Service - welcoming and hope themed

In Nazareth Class the Advent Liturgy Workshop, centred on the theme “Make Room for Others.” The children led a thoughtful and prayerful worship that reminded us that Advent is a time of preparation—not only for the coming of Jesus as a baby, but also for preparing our hearts to welcome those who need to feel safe, valued and included. We reflected on how the Holy Family themselves were refugees seeking shelter, and how we too are called to make space for others in our lives.

Following the liturgy, families took part in two creative activities. First, children and parents worked together to decorate a star for our class Advent calendar, each one representing an act of kindness or a way we can “make room” for others during this season. Our second activity was making a “Happy Holidays” card for a child in our class and his family, who are refugees and currently far from their wider family. This simple gesture helped us live out our theme in a meaningful and compassionate way.

It was a wonderful opportunity for our community to pray, reflect and create together as we begin our Advent journey.

This week, our KS2 pupils took part in a special prayer and liturgy focused on our journey toward becoming a School of Sanctuary. During the worship, children reflected on what it means to be a community where everyone feels safe, welcomed, and valued, especially those who may be new to the country, new to our school, or in need of support.

Through Scripture and prayer, pupils explored Jesus’ teaching: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” They discussed practical ways we can show kindness—such as inviting others to play, offering help, and making sure no one feels left out.

As part of the liturgy, pupils made a commitment to help build a school environment that shows compassion, peace, and hospitality. They were challenged to take this message into their day by choosing one action that helps someone feel safe and included.

Our worship reminded us that working toward the School of Sanctuary Award is not just a project—it is a way of living out our values every day.

As part of #RedWednesday, our school joined the global campaign led by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) to stand in solidarity with people around the world who suffer persecution because of their faith.

As a School of Sanctuary, we are committed to creating a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected. Wearing an item of red clothing became not only a visible sign of support and remembrance, but also a reminder of our shared responsibility to offer welcome, compassion, and understanding to all who face injustice.

During our worship, we lit a red candle as a symbol of hope and prayer for those who experience hardship, discrimination, or violence for practising their beliefs. Through this act of unity and prayer, we helped raise awareness of the importance of religious freedom and reaffirmed our commitment to supporting those who cannot worship freely.

By standing together, we continue to live out our mission as a School of Sanctuary—extending solidarity, promoting peace, and shining a light for those who need it most.

As a proud School of Sanctuary, we are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for every child. This week, our school community took part in Odd Socks Day to mark Anti-Bullying Week. By wearing odd socks, our pupils celebrated individuality and sent a clear message that everyone is unique and valued.

We linked this to our ongoing focus on mental health and wellbeing, reminding children that kindness, respect, and understanding all play a vital role in helping others feel safe and supported. Feeling accepted for who we are is essential to positive mental health, and events like Odd Socks Day help us reinforce this message in a fun and memorable way.

In worship, we connected our actions to Jesus’ teaching to “love thy neighbour.” This message encouraged pupils to think about how they can show compassion in their daily lives—standing up for others, celebrating differences, and being a friend to those who need one.

Together, we continue to build a school community rooted in kindness, welcome, and love.

On Remembrance Sunday, we came together to honour and remember all those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

We would like to say a special thank you to Jacob, one of our Sanctuary Squad members and Head Boy, as well as Daisy, our Head Girl, as well as Mabel and Emily, who proudly represented St Mary’s at the Fleetwood Remembrance Service.

They joined pupils and staff from other local schools at the Memorial Park, where they paid their respects and laid a wreath on behalf of our school community.

As we continue our journey to become a School of Sanctuary, we reflect on the importance of peace, compassion and unity—values at the heart of both remembrance and our mission to make St Mary’s a welcoming and caring place for all.

We are very proud of the respect, dignity and empathy our pupils showed as they represented St Mary’s during this important occasion of remembrance.

To mark this important feast, our children attended Mass together as a school community. During the celebration, we gave thanks for the saints and prayed that we too can grow in holiness and follow their example. The children took part reverently and joyfully, joining in with prayers, responses, and hymns that remind us of our call to be saints in today’s world.

Back in their classrooms, the children learned about their class patron saint for the year. They enjoyed researching, creating artwork, and taking part in activities to discover more about the life and example of their saint. Each class saint has been carefully chosen to reflect our identity as a School of Sanctuary — every saint either experienced the need to seek refuge themselves or showed compassion and support for those who did. Through this learning, the children were inspired to think about how they too can show welcome, kindness, and courage in their daily lives.

R/1. St. Joseph

• Why: Fled to Egypt with Mary and the infant Jesus to escape King Herod (Matthew 2:13–15).

• Link: Patron for all who must leave home for safety.

• Message for children: God is with families who have to move or start again.

1/2. St. Frances Cabrini

• Why: Italian immigrant who moved to the USA; worked tirelessly for migrants and the poor.

• Patron Saint of: Immigrants and refugees.

• Feast Day: November 13^th 

   

2/3. St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa)

• Why: Cared for displaced people and refugees in India and beyond.

• Link: Compassion for the poorest and most vulnerable.

• Feast Day: September 5^th 

   

3/4. St. Oscar Romero

• Why: Advocated for justice for the oppressed and displaced in El Salvador.

• Link: Voice for those forced to flee conflict or persecution.

• Feast Day: March 24^th 

4/5. St. Raphael the Archangel

• Why: Patron saint of travellers and those on journeys.

• Link: Symbol of God’s protection and companionship for refugees.

• Feast Day: September 29^th 

5/6. St. Elizabeth of Hungary

• Why: Known for charity and generosity to the poor and displaced.

• Link: Welcoming those without homes.

• Feast Day: November 17^th 

Autumn I

In each of our classrooms, our reading corners are thoughtfully stocked with books that celebrate diversity and broaden our children’s understanding of the world. These books share stories of children from a wide range of cultures, faiths, and backgrounds, helping to develop empathy and appreciation for others.

Books that feature storylines or characters seeking sanctuary are marked with our special School of Sanctuary sticker, making them easy to spot and opening up meaningful conversations about kindness, safety, and belonging.

Viktoriia and Darcus came in from Lancaster County Council to deliver the Compassion Project with each class in school. The children learnt about what it means to be a refugee and the circumstances leading up to them being one. Viktoriia spoke about her own experiences in the Ukraine and the life that she's built in England over the last three years.

Our Sanctuary Squad, along with our Headboy and Headgirl went to The Pantry to deliver our schools' Harvest collection from our families to help support members of our community. This is something we do each year to help make a difference to the lives of others who are less fortunate.

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is at the heart of everything we do in our school. It is a set of principles, rooted in the Gospel, that guide us to live out our faith through love, respect, and justice for all people. CST reminds us that every person is made in the image of God and deserves dignity, safety, and hope.

One key principle of CST is the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable — the call to care for those who are most in need. This includes people who are seeking refuge or sanctuary because they have had to leave their homes due to conflict, persecution, or fear.

Through our learning, prayer, and community action, we help our children understand the experiences of refugees and how we can respond with compassion and welcome. We celebrate diversity, promote inclusion, and ensure our school is a place where everyone feels they belong — a true School of Sanctuary.