On 19 September, Bishop Marcus celebrated the Annual Mass for Diocesan Leaders in Education.
The Bishop honoured retiring Head Teachers Anne Bradbury (St John’s Catholic School for the Deaf), Alison Ashworth from the Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust (BWCAT), Alix Lubomski of St Stephen’s, Skipton and Sue McManamin (Sacred Heart, Sowerby Bridge and St Joseph’s, Halifax), all of whom are receiving the Diocesan Medal for their outstanding commitment to Education in our diocese.
Describing their work as a ‘living page of the Gospel and embodiment of the Beatitudes’ in our local communities, the Bishop told the assembled Head Teachers that Catholic schools play a central role in the mission of the Church and as such, school leaders were were close collaborators with him as Bishop. With the unique responsibility of leading schools in communion with Christ and His Church, the Catholic school leader and their staff preside over the education of the whole child: intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual, in all areas of study of what is Good, True and Beautiful. This humble yet resilient ‘servant leadership’ takes as its model, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the leader and teacher of us all.
The Bishop, who will be attending the Second Session of the Synod of Bishops throughout October on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW), is hoping for an opportunity at some point (during the long hours of discussion in that windowless chamber in Rome!) to emphasise how Catholic schools have long led and embodied the ‘Synodal Journey’ of walking together as one ‘People of God’!
Leading the singing at the Mass this year were children from the Diocesan Schools Singing Programme at St Mary’s School in Halifax and St Patrick’s, Elland.
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