Thousands of Catholic school pupils across England and Wales came together on Friday 24 January in awe-inspiring fashion to celebrate the Jubilee Year Launch Day for schools and colleges and embark on their journey as 'pilgrims of hope'.
Pope Francis has invited all people of goodwill to stand in solidarity with those around the world suffering from poverty, injustice and conflict this Jubilee year, to build a better world for everyone and experience the joy which comes from acting together.
“We are delighted with the number of school communities that have taken up the Pope’s invitation to journey together in this special Jubilee year,” says CAFOD’s Head of Education Monica Conmee. “Children and young people have a vital role to play in putting Catholic Social Teaching into action and making change happen, bringing hope to an unfair world.”
Pope Francis has called upon the world to celebrate the Jubilee with ‘deep faith, lively hope and active charity’ and schools did just that, taking to social media to show how they marked the launch. One school embarked on a pilgrimage walk; another invited pupils to swap their uniform for the Jubilee colours; other pupils wrote letters of hope to a local homeless shelter; one school got their paint brushes out and painted the school windows in Jubilee colours; other pupils lit a candle of hope; others made a prayer tree, created a Hope collage, designed prayer flags, wrote acrostic poems; one school celebrated by making their own Jubilee cake!
“The excitement, creativity and enthusiasm has been absolutely inspiring,” says Monica.
Many schools tuned in to watch the Jubilee Launch Day film, which included a welcome from Cardinal Vincent Nichols who encouraged children everywhere to become "agents of change, agents of Christ as disciples of Jesus". This film is just one of many Jubilee resources from CAFOD, the Catholic Education Service and the Caritas Social Action Network, working together to support school communities in celebrating the Jubilee year. In addition, over 1,000 Jubilee banners were sent out in advance, as well as nearly half a million prayer cards.
A range of engaging materials are available throughout the year, encouraging pupils to stand in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in need around the world, sharing hope that’s rooted in love and faith. Through prayers, animations, activities and actions like CAFOD’s Big Lent Walk, children and young people will have the opportunity to explore and experience the vital role they have as agents of change, recognising that a better world needs all of us to participate.
On a journey which started with Friday’s Launch Day, schools will work towards Pledge Day in the summer where they will make a long-term commitment to the common good. A Celebration Day in November will mark all that has been achieved.
“We look forward to seeing pupils across England and Wales celebrating with continued energy as they journey towards the next milestone of Pledge Day in the summer,” says Monica.
Celebrate Jubilee in your school
Even if your school missed Launch Day, it is not too late to start a Jubilee journey.
We have a wealth of resources to support pupils in experiencing the ‘deep faith, lively hope and active charity’ of this special Jubilee year.