St Margaret Clitherow’s belongs to Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust which is part of the Diocese of Middlesbrough.

Bishop’s Visit

We were fortunate to be visited by Bishop Terry. He came to visit each class and gave the children a special blessing. He was very interested to see our jubilee work about being Pilgrims of Hope and was very impressed by the children’s knowledge of the Holy Doors in Rome.

Lourdes links

We have a number of staff and parish members who travel with the Diocese each year on the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes and, as a school, we have a great devotion to Our Lady. Throughout May, children and family members are invited to write petitions which are then taken to Lourdes on our behalf. Over the past few years, we have been delighted to help make the gift bags which await the supported pilgrims staying in the Acceuil. This year, with the help of parishioners, we made ‘Little Way beads’ which double up as a decade Rosary, which were placed in the bags. A talented staff member made lemon flavoured yellow rose biscuits to represent the golden roses on the feet of Our Lady of Lourdes. Canon Loughlin blessed the bags before they went off to Lourdes.

Further links with Lourdes have been a whole-school partaking in the ‘water gesture’, with water from the spring in Lourdes, led by members of the Diocesan hospitalite. The children were so reverent and the hospitalite commented on how beautifully the children took part in the gesture. Families were also invited to experience the water gesture.

 

NPCAT events

Pupils proudly represent SMC at the annual NPCAT Carol Service at the Cathedral. We are also proud to have been part of other trust initiatives such as the recordings of the Laudato Si’ song and Trust song about Blessed Nicholas Postgate.

We were delighted to welcome Mary and Joseph and give them a place to rest on their journey, as part of the NPCAT Posadas. Each class was given time to pray with Mary and Joseph in their warm and cosy stable. We also learnt about how Mary and Joseph were refugees and took time to pray for all refugees, asylum seekers, the displaced and the homeless.