On 23 September, St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School in Acton welcomed Cardinal Vincent to open, bless and dedicate their new Sacred Hearts’ Hall. Pupils created a large mosaic in the new hall which portrays the flags of the variety of countries of origin of the pupils and the emblem of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, whose two parishes in Acton serve the school, guided by a local artist, Mrs Sophie de Souza.
During the ceremony, Cardinal Vincent formally installed the Blessed Sacrament into the school’s St Damien of Molokai Chapel. Damien, the leper priest, of the order of the Sacred Hearts’ Fathers, sacrificed his life for the lepers on the Island of Molokai. He was beatified in June 1994 and canonised on 11 October 2009, with his feast day celebrated on 10 May.
The pupils and choir of St Vincent’s led the liturgy with representative members of staff, parents and governors. Mrs Tina Cleugh, Headteacher, congratulated all members of the school community for their dedication and commitment to the liturgical and Catholic life of the school.
The tabernacle in the new Chapel, has been hand carved in Equador, and the stained glass window depicting the six ‘House Saints’ associated with the charism of the school, include its founding order, the Sisters of Charity of St Jeanne Antide. These with the stained glass Cross window in the front of the new building are beautiful and exquisite examples of the Catholic links across the school and its history.
