The week beginning 18 th June St Alban

The week beginning 18 th June

St Alban is the Patron Saint of our school. But, what does the term ‘Patron Saint’ mean? Patron saints are chosen as special protectors or guardians over areas of life. These areas can include occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, causes - anything that is important to us. The earliest records show that people and churches were named after apostles and martyrs as early as the fourth century. Recently, popes have named patron saints but patrons can be chosen by other individuals or groups as well. Patron saints are often chosen today because an interest, talent, or event in their lives overlaps with that special area. A patron saint can help us when we follow the example of that saint's life and when we ask for that saint's intercessory prayers to God. There is a patron saint for everyone. We challenge you, like St Alban who pursued a better understanding of Christ, to find a saint who is patron of something you love. Find out more about them and pray for their intercession.

Let us Pray Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

The week beginning 18 th June (Tuesday)

On 26 th May 2016, some of our school community went on a pilgrimage from school to St Albans, which is roughly 15 miles. As well as celebrating our 90 th year as a school they were taking up the opportunity to do what thousands of pilgrims have done before them. A pilgrimage is a journey or search of moral/spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith. People go on pilgrimages to places like Lourdes, The Camino de Compostela, Fatima etc. These journeys are the physical representation of our life’s ultimate pilgrimage, which is our journey to heaven. Like all pilgrimages, great planning is involved. Let us reflect this morning on these questions; How close are you right now to Christ on your journey in life? What is your plan to

Let us pray; You call us, Lord, to leave familiar things and to leave our “comfort zone”. May we open our eyes to new experiences, may we open our ears to hear you speaking to us and may we open our hearts to your love. May you help us to see ourselves as we really are and may we strive to become the people you would have us be. Amen

The week beginning 18 th June (Wednesday)

working in a town called Verulamium. One day, he met a rather unusual man, Amphibulus, who was a Christian priest. He must have been one of the very first in England. The Romans were hunting Amphibulus, as it was illegal to be a Christian. Alban felt sorry for the hunted man and took him into his home, to hide him from the Romans. Over some time, Alban and Amphibulus talked about being a Christian, and Alban decided that he would like to follow Jesus. He was baptized in the local river, and became a Christian. Some time later, the Romans discovered where Amphibulus was hiding. Amphibulus always wore a cloak and Alban did a very brave thing: he swapped cloaks with Amphibulus, which meant that Amphibulus escaped, and Alban was arrested. Alban was taken to the Roman courthouse, where he was questioned. The governor realised that he wasn't Amphibulus, so he asked him who he was. Alban is said to have replied, 'I am Alban, and I worship the true and living God. ' So he sealed his fate - he was condemned to death. The executioner killed him by cutting off his head with a sword, and it is said that the executioner's eyes fell out as he killed Alban

Let us pray through the intercession of St Alban; O Holy St Alban, by the grace of God you gave up your life for your friend, and you were the first in this land to shed your blood for Christ. Pray for this school that we may be a community dedicated to the love and service of our Lord Jesus Christ and that we strive for the graces and virtues which you displayed in both your life and your death. Through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.

The week beginning 18 th June (Thursday)

Read this quote and reflect on what this means to you

As we have heard this week already, St Alban made the ultimate sacrifice, much like Jesus, to die for the sake of someone else. Let us take a moment of prayer, thinking about how we can make small sacrifices for others this week. Let us pray: Merciful God, you gave your only Son to be both a sacrifice for sin and an example of godly life; help us gladly to receive all that he has done for us and follow in his footsteps; through Jesus Christ our Saviour who is alive with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen

The week beginning 18 th June (Friday)

Happy St Alban’s Feast Day! Today is a day of celebration, a time to praise God for the truly inspiring man that is St Alban. He has given us the inspiration this week to put others before ourselves and to seek understanding of our faith. The greatest compliment we can give to St Alban today, is to be more like him in our day-to-day lives. Whether that is in the way we commit to our faith, in the actions we do to support our friends and teachers or how we show pride in being a member of the God’s Family and the FCHS community. Let us take a moment today to reflect; How can we be more like St Alban today?

Let us bring together all our personal prayers as we pray for our community: Father, Pour out your Spirit Upon our community at Finchley Catholic High School, Grant us to work worthily in your sight As we build up our school within an atmosphere of honesty and trust, For your honour and glory. May we pray and work together, Consecrated in your service, So that you may bless our endeavour and aspirations and make our school a better place for all of us who teach, work and learn within. We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son, and in unity with the Holy Spirit, Who lives and reigns with you Forever and ever.