St James' Catholic High School Chaplaincy

This week is very close to our hearts, as it is the anniversary of the beautiful Klaudia Domalaga, who passed away last year. Our Year 11 students will hold a Remembrance Mass this week in her memory. Ribbons will also be on sale throughout the week to raise money for Teenage Cancer Research.

This month we also remember all our family and friends that have passed away.  On Monday 14th November we will be holding another Mass of Remembrance in the school hall. All members of the school community are invited.  All registers have a list in which names can be written on.  These names will be made into a PowerPoint for the Mass.

Finally, on Friday we will have 1 min silence to remember those who have lost their lives.  Let’s keep all who have lots loved ones in our prayers.

Today Mother Teresa became a saint.  Below shows the process of Canonisation.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all. Obtain from the Heart of Jesus (here make your request). Teach me to allow Jesus to penetrate and possess my whole being so completely that my life, too, may radiate His light and love to others. Amen.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of Our Joy, pray for me.
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, pray for me.

Text © Missionaries of Charity

Love is a Verb.  This week let us love others through our prayers:

Pray for a friend who is ill, for a student who is depressed, for a teacher who is in conflict; for people in prisons, in hospitals, on battlefields; for those who are victims of injustice, who are hungry, poor, and without shelter; for those who risk their career, their health, and even their life in the struggle for social justice; for leaders of church and state.

Let us pray for our country post Brexit.

To pray for others means to make them part of ourselves.

To pray for others means to allow their pains and sufferings, their anxieties and loneliness, their confusion and fears to resound in our innermost selves.

To pray, therefore, is to become those for whom we pray, to become the sick child, the fearful mother, the distressed father, the nervous teenager, the angry student, and the frustrated striker.

To pray is to enter into a deep inner solidarity with our fellow human beings so that in and through us they can be touched by the healing power of God’s Spirit.

Theme for the week: Communication / Technology

World Communications Day took place last week. This is the day when Catholics are asked to reflect on the necessity of fulfilling the command of Jesus to preach the Good News of the Gospel to the whole world.

We are able to communicate like never before. This week let us reflect on how we use social media, how we portray ourselves online and how we use technology to enhance our prayer lives.

The shift happens video’s is a great way to allow students to see how technology has changed over the last few years

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcZg51Il9no

Let’s pray

Grant me the serenity to walk away from friends negative posts I cannot change

the courage to think before I tweet and then to do so with wit and grace

and the wisdom to know the difference between Pinterest and real life.  Amen

In his Homily, the Pope drew inspiration from the Gospel passage in which Jesus sends out his disciples to proclaim the Good News. A disciple of the Lord, he said, is called to set out on a journey that is not a “stroll” but a mission to proclaim the Gospel and spread the good news of Salvation.  The below video link shows us exactly what Pope Francis means in being a disciple in todays world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk8ERxqCZqQ

Pope Francis continues: “The journey of the disciple of Jesus is to go beyond [the limits] to bring this good news. But there is another pathway for the disciple of Jesus: the inner journey, the path within, the path of the disciple who seeks the Lord every day, through prayer, in meditation.”

If the disciple does not continuously seek God in this way, the Pope said, the Gospel that he takes to others will be weak, watered down – a Gospel with no strength.

We pray:

Lord, Help us to be lights in areas of darkness, may we bring hope in places or disperse. Help us to see the needs of those around us and spread love not hate, peace not anger and life not death – in our thoughts, words and actions.

We ask this in Jesus’ name

Amen

Prayer Before an Examination

Dear Lord, as I take this exam, I thank you that my value Is not based on my performance, but on your great love for me. Come into my heart so that we can walk through this time together. Help me, not only with this test, but the many tests of life that are sure to come my way.

As I take this exam, bring back to my mind everything I studied and be gracious with what I have overlooked. Help me to remain focussed and clam, confident in the facts and in my ability, and firm in the knowledge that no matter what happens today you are there with me.  Amen

Or

Loving God be with me now, as I prepare for my exams.

Thank you for the many talents and gifts you have given me and for the opportunity of education.

Calm my nerves and anxiety, help me to remember all that I have studied, to express it clearly and to answer the questions the very best that I can.

Holy Spirit, sit with me in my exam – and always.

In Jesus’ name

Amen