Bishop John Sherrington visited St Monica’s Catholic Primary School in Palmers Green on 27th February, during which he led an assembly for all the children showing and explaining the meaning of the symbols of a bishop’s office, including the crosier, stole, cope, mitre and ring.
He also read the Gospel of the day and, as this was the Monday of the first week in Lent, he spoke to the children about the significance of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Following the assembly, he visited every classroom and answered insightful questions from the children. The children learnt that Bishop John had studied maths at Cambridge but after a few years of working in management consulting, he felt a calling to the priesthood, so that he could share the message of God’s love to more people.
He told them his favourite Saint is St Joseph who cared for our Blessed Lady and Jesus and is also Patron Saint of the dying. He explained to the children that he asks for St Joseph’s intercession every night before going to sleep.
He revealed that, in June 2011, the Apostolic Nuncio told him that Pope Benedict had appointed him an Auxiliary Bishop. His ordination followed in September of that year. As Area Bishop for North London, he has oversight of 45 parishes and schools, which he visits in turn.
Staff and pupils at St Monica’s shared their delight at Bishop John’s visit and expressed the hope that he would visit them again next year for the school’s 70th anniversary.
