St Gregory’s Catholic College welcomes Bishop Bosco

St Gregory’s Catholic College was honoured to welcome Bishop Bosco to the school on Wednesday, June 26th, 2024. The visit marked the Bishop's first to the school with the day filled with meaningful activities that celebrated commitment to sustainability and community.

The highlight for all was the blessing of our Rain Garden, a project initiated by Year 9 students in collaboration with Wessex Water during their sustainability day last year.

The weather was perfectly fitting for the occasion, allowing all of Year 9, who were instrumental in the formation of the garden as part of the SUDS project, to bask in the sunshine as Bishop Bosco led a service that emphasised the importance of nature and the significant impact our cultural changes can have on the environment.

The liturgy included a reflection on ‘Pope Francis’ call to action on the environment,' highlighting the importance of our common home, as demonstrated by his updated document Laudate Deum. One of our new prefects, Lydia, read poignant sections from Psalm 103 (104), reminding us of the beauty and majesty of God’s creation:

"Bless the Lord, my soul!
O Lord, my God, how great you are!
You are clothed with majesty and glory;
wrapped in light as in a robe!

You have set the earth firmly on its foundations,
and it will never be moved.

You placed the ocean over it like a robe,
and the water covered the mountains.

You make springs flow in the valleys,
and rivers run between the hills.
They provide water for the wild animals;
there the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

In the trees nearby,
the birds make their nests and sing.
From the sky you send rain on the hills,
and the earth is filled with your blessings."

During his address, Bishop Bosco shared with our students and staff the imagery of two significant gardens in the Bible: Eden and Gethsemane. He spoke of how the Garden of Eden represents harmony between God and humanity with creation at the centre, while the Garden of Gethsemane reflects the struggle and challenges faced by the divine and humanity. These gardens serve as a reminder of Pope Francis’ message about the interconnectedness of humanity and our world.

The day concluded with a tour of the school and a tea party, attended by students, staff, governors, and other esteemed guests, providing a warm and welcoming environment for Bishop Bosco.

Mrs George expressed the collective sentiment of the St Gregory’s community: "We are overjoyed to welcome Bishop Bosco to St Gregory's and we wish him much happiness in his new role within our Diocese.

We are incredibly grateful for Bishop Bosco’s kindness, words, and time. May the eagerness to care for our common home continue to spring up and be nurtured in the hearts of our students, just as the rain garden has flourished over the past year.”

Krakow Pilgrimage

Lay Chaplain, Matt Robinson, reflects on a memorable trip by staff and students of St Gregory’s to Krakow.

At the end of term 5 I was honoured as Lay Chaplain of the school to finally be able to accompany a group of students on pilgrimage to Krakow, walking in the footsteps of one of our house saints, Edith Stein, and the Jewish people who lost their lives at the hands of the Nazis. 

For many years I’ve wanted to give students the opportunity to experience visiting Auschwitz, so that the emotion of the place can find a connection with the next generation and encourage our young people to speak out against evil.  Our pilgrimage took in the harrowing former concentration camp, but also the former ghetto of Krakow, Divine Mercy Sanctuary (home to Sr Faustina), the awe-inspiring modern artwork of Wyspianki in the 13th Century Basilica of St Francis, Wieliczka salt mines and so much more. 

I was told repeatedly by year 10’s that we were walking too much, but in my defence we were only averaging 20-23,000 steps a day and ensuring they got to see and experience the breadth, beauty and historical struggles of the city in our five days there. 

Our first full day in the city was devoted to Auschwitz, and I’ll allow one of our students, Hoi Lo, to recount her experience of the day:

On my trip to Krakow, Poland last  month, I was very lucky to have the chance to visit Auschwitz, the biggest concentration camp in Poland.  I got to learn about the Shoah (the holocaust) since it was a part of the history GCSE curriculum, so I thought I already had a rough idea of what I would be seeing before actually going.  But what I actually saw was so much more than what I expected.  

What I have been seeing and reading in textbooks and hearing from my teacher was right in front of my eyes.  I was walking through the hallways and paths where many innocent people also walked as they were on their way to gas chambers or to forced labour.  The feeling was indescribable; as much as I wanted to take pictures to capture my visit, I couldn't help but stop myself as I thought it was wrong to take pictures of the places where many had been unfairly tortured and murdered.

What really struck me was the women’s hair, it was cut off after they were murdered by the Nazis, then weighed and sold to German companies as haircloth and felt.  I found this incredibly disgusting as they were not treated as humans but as objects and material, it really showed me how they dehumanised the Jewish people and other victims.

As I was walking out of those doors, I felt guilty, knowing that day I was going to go back to my hotel, to have a full delicious meal, to sleep in a comfortable bed, and to go on and continue my normal daily life.  Millions of people walked in those doors and never had a chance to walk back out.

Going to Auschwitz was really a life changing experience, I have learnt so much and have learnt so much more than I could just in a classroom.   One thing our tour guide said has been really stuck in my mind – it was how the numbers we know of about the holocaust are all reports from the Nazis, this means that what we don't and might never know all the victims that were killed there and might never be able to pay our respect to all of those who were victims.

The maturity and respect shown by all our students was nothing short of exemplary and we were all the more proud when the tour guides commented on this, pointing out that our conduct, questions and respect exceeded most adult groups. 

After the emotionally draining Auschwitz experience, our next day took in the magnificence of the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, a Basilica built only 22 years ago as a symbol of the message of Divine Mercy and hope shared by Pope St John Paul II.  Part of the building includes a tower with the highest viewing point in the city which afforded us some impressive photos. 

We followed this with an afternoon at a local water park, full of gravity defying slides, water based climbing walls, water volleyball court and so much more. 

There were so many more highlights throughout the week, but we can’t forego mentioning the final evening when students and staff dressed up in their best glad rags, so that we could celebrate Jewish culture and people.  We caught the tram back into the former Jewish district and ate a scrumptious meal together in a Jewish restaurant which consisted of an onion soup, beef dish and Passover cheese curd desert. 

Alongside our meal we were entertained by a Jewish Klezmer band capturing Jewish culture in music for us – the majority of us even got up and danced along!   It seemed an apt way to end our time together in Krakow, remembering that every person and culture was lovingly created by God and our pilgrimage would conclude by celebrating the inherent dignity and identity of Jews. 

International visitors

Over the past two months, St Gregory’s has welcomed more than one hundred international students as part of our ongoing international integration partnerships. These students assimilate into our school community for the week, participating in lessons, attending off-timetable events, and spending time with our students, forming friendships that last a lifetime.

We believe that welcoming visiting students from abroad offers an enriching opportunity for our young people.

The first group, from Florence, stayed with us for one week and demonstrated remarkable levels of engagement and enthusiasm. Their excellent attitude toward learning was evident from the moment they arrived. They approached each activity and lesson with genuine curiosity and eagerness to participate, which not only enriched their own learning experience but also inspired our students and staff.

Following the visit from Florence, we hosted four groups from Beijing, each for one week. These students were exceptionally hard-working and exhibited impressive English language skills. They managed cultural differences with remarkable ease, demonstrating maturity and adaptability that was truly commendable. Their presence in our school provided a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange and fostered mutual respect and understanding among all students.

The international students brought fresh perspectives to our classrooms. Their diverse cultural backgrounds and unique viewpoints fostered rich discussions and collaborative learning. Our students had the opportunity to interact with peers from different countries, enhancing their global awareness and appreciation for cultural diversity. These interactions helped break down preconceived notions and stereotypes, promoting a more inclusive and understanding school environment.

The visits from the Florentine and Beijing students were a resounding success. They highlighted the numerous benefits of inviting international students to our school, from fostering cultural exchange and global awareness to enhancing the learning environment and promoting inclusivity.

We very much look forward to welcoming back our partner schools from Florence and Beijing, in addition to new integrations on the horizon as we look toward the next academic year.