Pupils gather at Schools Mass to mark start of year

Around 700 pupils and teachers from Catholic schools across the Diocese of East Anglia gathered at St John’s Cathedral in Norwich today (September 21) to mark the start of another school year.

They took part in a Schools Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Alan Hopes, and organised by the schools in the St Benedict’s pyramid in West Suffolk

In his homily, Bishop Alan said: “Like St Matthew Jesus calls each one of us, like Matthew he calls us for a purpose and like Matthew we are called to be loyal and faithful to Jesus.

“Jesus expects and wants something from you, Jesus hopes in you. He wants you to make a real difference to the world in which we live. He wants you to offer the best of yourself for the world, then like St Matthew you will become living evangelists – bearers of the good news of Jesus Christ to our world.”

Maria Kemble, Executive Head, St Edmund’s and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Schools, who helped to organise the Mass, said: “The Mass was about celebrating the schools in the diocese and coming together in our shared faith to begin the new year and dedicate it to God.

“Being the feast of St Matthew the evangelist, the theme was that the children are our new evangelists taking forth the good news as they grow up as Christians.

“I hope that they will take away from today the three things that the Bishop talked about in his homily.  The idea that we are all called to follow God, that we are all called for a particular role that God has for us and that we will be faithful to him throughout our lives.”

The schools in the St Benedict’s pyramid led the readings, prayers and music under the direction of Daniel Justin, the Diocesan Director of Music.

Afterwards everyone enjoyed a huge picnic in the cathedral gardens and Narthex visitors centre.

Click here or see below for a full picture gallery of the Mass.

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