St Mary's raises £1035 for CAFOD during Lent 2022

Students and staff raised an amazing £1035 during Lent for CAFOD’s ‘Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal’ and their ‘Walk against Hunger’.

Our school has a rich tradition of supporting CAFOD over the Lent period going back many years; this year there was special impetus because of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Students and staff donated coins each day during form time, and in the last week of term a non-uniform day added to the money raised.

Special assemblies were held to explain what our school community would be doing during Lent, with a focus on the crisis facing those fleeing war and persecution, not only in Ukraine but also because of other global conflicts. Our global school community has a special affinity with the plight of refugees and those seeking sanctuary. In particular, the verse from Matthew 25:35 is central to two of our school’s core values of ‘Welcome’ and ‘Service’.

'For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you took me in...'

In addition, Year 8 students took part in CAFOD’s ‘Walk Against Hunger’, walking almost 800km around our school playground in solidarity with our poorest sisters and brothers around the world. Our students' efforts were added to CAFOD’s total kilometres walked by Catholic schools during Lent, with the aim of a collective 44,000km walked, representing the circumference of planet earth.