In Easter message, Bishop of Leeds give thanks for “noble Vocation” of those who work in our Catholic schools

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

At this stage in the calendar, when we draw close to the summit of the Liturgical Year – the Sacred Paschal Triduum, we celebrate with reverence the passion and death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and we look forward with joy to celebrating at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night and on Easter Sunday morning his resurrection from the dead.

As we come to the end of this term, it also a time for many students in our schools which coincides with an intense period of study in preparation for examinations in the summer. For young people, it is a time of hope but can be a time of anxiety also. What is most important though, is that their time in school is a time when they can flourish: in mind, body and spirit. Christ came that we might have life and have it to the full. The flourishing of young lives through Catholic education is indebted to the years of dedication and commitment given by school leaders, teachers, learning assistants, chaplains and by all the staff and governors of our schools.

On the threshold of Holy Week, we catch sight of the new life in Christ which his death and resurrection holds out to us and to the world. It is a vision which we glimpse in the prayers and liturgy taking place in schools and churches up and down the land.

I give thanks to Almighty God for the noble vocation of all of you who work and serve in our schools. I pray that you, your families and your loved will receive many blessings from the Lord during this great Solemn Feast of Easter, and that it will be a time of joy and thanksgiving for you all.

With the assurance of my prayers, I remain,

Your servant in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rt Rev Marcus Stock

Chair of the Catholic Education Service

Bishop of Leeds

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The Catholic Education Service (CES) acts on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference to support Catholic education, working with the UK and Welsh governments to share the aims of high academic standards for all and increased parental choice.

Catholic schools outperform national GCSE averages for English and Maths by five percentage points, with more pupils from the most deprived backgrounds, according to the latest data.

The Catholic Church together with the Church of England accounts for a third of all schools and academies in England, and 98% of all those with a religious character. There are also four Catholic universities: Leeds Trinity University; Newman University, Birmingham; St Mary’s University, Twickenham; and Liverpool Hope University.