St Bonaventure's

Our school proudly hosted the official launch of the Sir David Amess Children's Parliament National Mace Tour. The event brought together staff, students, and both former and current Members of Parliament to mark this special occasion.

A highlight of the day was the formal swearing-in of seven newly elected Child MPs from partner primary schools. These young representatives will participate in a historic debate in the House of Commons Chamber in October 2026.

The day carried special significance for our school community, as Sir David Amess himself once studied here. It was during his time at school that he first discovered his passion for politics.

Headteacher Christopher McCormack commented: "It is both a privilege and a responsibility to launch this national initiative in memory of Sir David. He believed children should learn not just how democracy works, but why it matters. Today, we celebrate that vision with the same optimism and dedication he showed throughout his life."

Anna Firth, Patron, former MP of Southend West and Leigh, said: “As Patron of the Sir David Amess Children’s Parliament UK, I am proud that young people across the UK are taking Sir David’s passion for democracy into their own hands through this national mace tour, carrying his values of service, kindness and public duty into every community it visits.”

This term has been a particularly rich time for the spiritual life of our school community. Through prayer, charity, dialogue and pilgrimage, students have had many opportunities to deepen both their knowledge and understanding of faith, while also reflecting personally on what the Gospel means in their lives.

Stations of the Cross

During this term, every class from Year 7 to Year 10 had the opportunity to visit the church during one of their Religious Education lessons to participate in the Stations of the Cross. This was an important experience for students as they reflected prayerfully on the Passion of Christ. Through the Stations, students were able to connect their classroom learning about the events of Holy Week with a more reflective and spiritual encounter with the story of Jesus’ suffering, sacrifice and love. It was a powerful way for students to move beyond simply knowing the story of the Passion to engaging with it prayerfully and personally.

CAFOD Soup Lunch – Family Fast Day

As part of the CAFOD Family Fast Day, the school community came together for our CAFOD Soup Lunch. Students were invited to donate the cost of a lunch and instead share a simple bowl of soup in solidarity with those living in poverty around the world. This initiative was a wonderful collaboration between CAFOD and the Chaplaincy team, helping students reflect on Catholic Social Teaching and the importance of supporting our global neighbours. We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Olive Dining, who very generously donated the soups and supported this meaningful event.

SACRE and Interfaith Dialogue

One of our RE students also had the opportunity to contribute to the work of SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education) by recording a video reflecting on the interfaith learning they have experienced in school. In the video, the student shared how studying different religions has helped them understand the importance of interfaith dialogue, respect, and cooperation in today’s world. This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to represent the school and demonstrate the importance we place on understanding and respecting different faith traditions.

The highlight of the term for many students was undoubtedly the Rome Pilgrimage. This special journey allowed students to experience the richness of the Catholic Church’s history, spirituality and global community.

One of the most powerful moments was visiting the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs), where many students chose to kneel and ascend the steps in prayer, reflecting on the Passion of Christ. During this visit, students also saw a relic believed to be part of the bench from the Last Supper, which deepened their reflection on the final days of Jesus’ life.

Students celebrated Mass at the Archbasilica of St John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, and visited the Church of St Bonaventure, reflecting on the spirituality of St Francis and the Franciscan tradition.

The pilgrimage also included a special visit to the Venerable English College, where students received a tour and participated in Mass, taking part actively in the liturgy. Students were also able to visit the Vatican, where exploring St Peter’s Basilica was a particularly memorable moment. The beauty and the history of the Basilica made a profound impact on the students.

The pilgrimage concluded with a visit to the Basilica of St Mary Major, where students prayed before the crib of Jesus, traditionally believed to contain relics of the manger from Bethlehem. Students also eagerly approached the tomb of St Francis, where they were about to pray.

The major highlight for many students was attending the Papal Audience, where our group joined thousands of pilgrims from around the world, experiencing the truly global nature of the Catholic Church. This moment had a profound impact on the students — not only because they were able to see the Pope, but because they were present to listen to his message, receive the general papal blessing, and even hear our school acknowledged with a shoutout among the gathered pilgrims. For many students, this was a deeply memorable moment that brought the experience of being part of the worldwide Church to life in a powerful and personal way.

Throughout the pilgrimage, our students were outstanding ambassadors for the school. We received numerous compliments about their conduct from members of the public, religious communities, Jack Petchey representatives and even airline cabin crew, all commenting on the kindness, respect and maturity shown by our students.

It has been a term full of opportunities for students to pray, serve, learn and grow in faith, and we are incredibly proud of the way they continue to live out the values of our Catholic community.

Students recently had a meaningful pilgrimage trip to Rome and Vatican City, immersing themselves in the rich history, traditions, and spiritual significance of the Catholic Church. Throughout the journey, they explored iconic sites, deepened their understanding of faith, and experienced moments of reflection and connection.

To capture the impact of this unforgettable experience, we spoke with a few of the students and asked them two questions:

• What is one new thing you learned about the Catholic Church during your visit to the Vatican?
• And what moment from the trip will you remember the most?

Deen - Year 7

• I learned that, in ancient Rome, Christians were persecuted and sometimes executed in venues such as the Colosseum as a form of public spectacle.
• The most memorable moment of the trip for me was seeing the Holy Father, Pope Leo.

Alex - Year 8

• I learned about where Pope Francis is buried and how he chose to break tradition by not being buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of his life.
• Visiting the Vatican was an incredible experience, and seeing Pope Leo was truly amazing.

Jeff - Year 9

• I learnt that St. Peter's Basilica was the biggest church in the world and Pope Francis was the only Pope in history not to be buried there. He wanted a simple life, and he felt closer to Mary, which is why he was buried in St Mary Major.
• I will remember my first time in St. Peter's Basilica because it was massive, and I felt shocked by the sheer size and gold that the church had, and the beauty of it.

Marcin - Year 11

• Pope Francis Broke Centuries of tradition by choosing to be buried in St Mary Major
• Being part of the Papal Audience.

Aoife - Year 12

• I learnt how special it is to be a Catholic. Being surrounded by all the Catholics at the Vatican and being blessed by the Pope himself really made me feel something greater than myself.
• I will remember spending the best week of my life with my two best friends on this pilgrimage.

We are preparing to celebrate the school’s remarkable 150th anniversary with a series of inspiring and memorable events that bring together current students, staff, alumni, former staff members, friends, and supporters of our community. These celebrations will honour our rich heritage while looking ahead to an exciting future of growth and innovation.

If you would like to stay informed about key announcements or be involved in upcoming events, please sign up for our mailing list.

We are creating a Commemorative Legacy Wall, made from beautifully engraved bricks, as part of our celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the school. Each brick will feature the name of a student, alumnus, former staff member, or individual who has been personally connected to St Bonaventure’s and its community.

This wall will stand as a lasting tribute to those who have helped shape St Bonaventure’s over the years. It will be a place where current students, future generations, and visitors can pause, reflect, and feel connected to our rich history.

This initiative is open to:

• Current and former students
• Past and present staff
• Individuals with a personal connection to St Bonaventure’s

Each engraved brick costs £25, and only a limited number are available, so we encourage you not to miss this unique opportunity.

• 13th April - First Day of Summer Term
• 15th-29th April MFL Speaking Exams
• 16th April - Newham Citizens Accountability Assembly
• 23rd April - Year 7 Parents Evening
• 27th April - 1st May Year 10 PPE Exams
• 5th May - Parental Drop in
• 6th May - Public Exams begin
• 7th May - Crowning of Our Lady on the Friary Lawn
• 21st May - Year 10 Parents Evening

This year, for Holy Week, Fr John Mary Jesus will be preaching the annual Holy Week Retreat. The theme of the retreat will be: ‘Jesus Saviour of the World’.

• Monday, 30th March at 7:00pm - Needing a Saviour (the Old Testament)

• Tuesday, 31st March at 7:00pm - Are we already saved? (the Gospels)

• Wednesday, 1st April at 7:00pm - Our part in the work of Salvation (the Apocalypse)

Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood on Saturday, 23rd May 2026 in Walsingham. Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House. If you would like to come, please contact Valarie on 07590979343.

To all young people of the Parish, you are invited to participate in the KSC Easter Term Photography Competition 2026.

Photos to be taken from Saturday 4th to Sunday 12th April for the best photographic entries of either:

1- Easter or Altar Candles

2- Parish Backdrop / Sanctuary as seen at church

Photo shots to be taken by KS2, KS3, KS4, or KS5 pupils on any camera owned or borrowed with permission for the purpose. Please submit just your best, clear image, and write an appropriate verse from the Bible that depicts the scene.

Please email your photo as a PNG or JPEG file by Saturday, the 18th of April, to Bro Chris. Brooks: christopherbrooks631@gmail.com

Required details with your email entry, please state:

1. Your name and age.

2. The name and location of the Church with your image.

3. Bible Verse about the image.

4. Date the pics taken – e.g. Sunday 5th APRIL 2026

5. Name of your Phone or Digital Camera used. eg, Huawei P30 Pro / iPhone / Samsung / etc.

For KS Groups 3 & 4 – School Year Groups 7,8,9 & 10,11,12,13. Winning entries go forward to the National Final for judging after the provincial round.

Required themes

1) The entries should depict a scene of the entrant’s choice of an incident recalled during the period from the start of the Easter Triduum (Feast of the Lord’s Supper) to the Feast of Pentecost. NB - In addition to the important and popular scenes of the Last Supper, those recalling Christ’s Passion on the first Good Friday and the Resurrection, there are the Journey to Emmaus, Appearances in the Upper Room and on the Shore of the Sea of Galilee, the Ascension, and Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. Each tells a significant story! Also, close-up scenes can show good detail.

2) Write a short Bible chapter and Verse that best relates to your drawing on the painting or on the back of your painting.

The competitors’ entries will be their own freehand and colouring productions; the use of pre-prepared tracings is not allowed. They may be sized A4 or A3, on paper of quality and colour of the entrant’s choice. Schools and Parishes are asked, where possible, to make a preliminary selection of entries and choose no more than five to go forward to the competition, as there may be individual entries.

The following details should be shown legibly in full on the reverse of each entry: Name and age of entrant, School Year Group. Name and full address of School or Parish Group attended (eg Liturgy, Scout or Guide Group etc).

Entries should be sent by post, addressed to Christopher J. Brooks, 356 London Road South, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0BQ, Tel (01502) 563208, by FRIDAY 27th March 2026. It would be helpful if you make contact by email to: christopherbrooks631@gmail.com

The awards after Provincial judging will be:

• Copies of the winning entries in each group, signed Certificates and Cash Prizes of £10, £5, £3 (Charter Council) and £20, £15 & £10 (Provincial Co.) for 1st, 2nd & 3rd places respectively.
• Awards to winners after National judging are Certificates signed by the Supreme Knight and: 1st prize £75.00 and a personal trophy, plus £200 to the school/church attended. 2nd prize £50.00 3rd prize £25.00

Results will be announced to participating groups, and awards will be presented by arrangement with the winning school or parish, and all entries returned.

Saint Francis, our brother, you who eight hundred years ago

went to meet Sister Death as a man at peace,

intercede for us before the Lord.

You recognised true peace in the Crucifix of San Damiano,

teach us to seek in Him the source of all reconciliation

that breaks down every wall.

You who, unarmed, crossed the lines of war

and misunderstanding,

give us the courage to build bridges

where the world raises up boundaries.

In this time afflicted by conflict and division,

intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers:

unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ.

Amen

Email: info@stbons.org
Website: https://www.stbons.org/
Location: Boleyn Rd, London E7 9QD, UK
Phone: 020 8472 3844