On Tuesday 9 February, Cardinal Vincent visited Divine Saviour Catholic Primary School in Abbots Langley to celebrate Mass as part of their commemorations of their 50th Jubilee year.
The school was opened in 1966 by the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Saviour, part of the Salvatorian order, who lived in the convent on whose land the school was built. As well as being joined by the Cardinal, the school was also joined by representatives of the Sisters of the Divine Saviour, now based in Bristol, clergy from the Watford Deanery Parishes including Fr Paul Harris and Fr John Vallomprayil of the Salvatorian Order, previous headteachers of the school, parents past and present and members of the wider school community.
During the Mass the Cardinal spoke to the children about the importance of the Lenten season and made the link between the Corporal and Spiritual acts of mercy displayed on the school’s new door of mercy and Christ’s challenge to us in Lent to take up something additional to help us on our journey of faith. He also taught the children a Pancake Day rhyme that he had learnt as a boy! The children responded with great enthusiasm throughout the Mass and sang with great gusto in thanksgiving for their beloved school.
At the end of Mass, Cardinal Nichols led the school in the opening of their Door of Mercy situated at the back of the school hall, through which the children and staff will now enter each and every in school Mass, assembly or liturgy as a reminder of the call for us all to be the face of Christ’s mercy to all we meet.
Speaking after the Mass, Mr Stephen Wheatley, Executive Headteacher, said that it was an honour for the school to receive a visit from the Cardinal on this special occasion, showing the children and the school community, just how important our Catholic Schools are in the eyes of the Church. The school now looks forward to the next 50 years and beyond.
