Thursday 14^th May, 2026

Pupils joined the parish community at St Mary’s – Our Lady of Reparation in West Croydon for the 10.00am Mass celebrating the Feast of The Ascension, a Holy Day of Obligation.

The Feast of the Ascension holds deep significance for Catholics. It marks the completion of Jesus’ earthly mission, his triumph over sin and death, and his return in glory to the Father. Celebrated forty days after Easter, it reminds us of our belief that Jesus ascended body and soul into Heaven, promising the gift of the Holy Spirit and preparing a place for us. This feast offers a message of hope and our shared journey towards salvation.

Fr Leszek warmly welcomed our pupils and, in his homily, reflected on the importance of this special day. Drawing on the beautiful stained-glass windows above the altar, he linked key moments in our faith, including the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, and—particularly meaningful for our school—the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven.

We are privileged to have such an architecturally remarkable church alongside our school. Designed in the Gothic style by Pugin in the mid-19th century, the building itself offers rich symbolism. Fr Leszek drew attention to the intricate vaulted ceiling which, when viewed inversely, resembles the hull of a ship—reminding us of our journey of faith leading towards the altar and beyond to the tabernacle, where we encounter the presence of Jesus Christ.