Notre Dame High School Holds Prayer Vigil

In his letter to the Romans, St Paul urges the faithful to “rejoice in hope” and to “be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Inspired by these words, Notre Dame High School in Norwich marked the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 with a special prayer vigil on 11 July, bringing together students and staff in a continuous time of prayer for hope and peace in the world.

The school chapel was transformed into a place of profound stillness and beauty, illuminated by candlelight. Students lit candles of hope, each representing personal intentions entrusted to God. At the heart of the chapel stood a striking icon crucifix, generously lent by St John the Baptist Cathedral, which became a powerful focus for reflection, silent prayer, and adoration.

Around the chapel, the Stations of the Cross took on a renewed significance, each one reflecting a theme of hope for people in need across the world: for the homeless and those living in poverty, for victims of war and conflict, for the sick and vulnerable, and for the safeguarding of creation, that all may live as faithful stewards of God’s gifts.

Throughout the vigil, pupils and staff wrote prayers of hope which they placed in a petition box. This collection of heartfelt intentions was later presented during the offertory procession at the school’s end-of-term Mass on 18 July – a visible sign of the community’s shared faith and desire for a more hopeful future for all.

The Jubilee Year of Hope prayer vigil provided a precious opportunity to encounter God through silence, reflection, and communal prayer. It was a reminder of the strength that flows from prayer, described so beautifully by the late Pope Francis: “Prayer leads us forward in hope.”

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