On Tuesday 20th June, Cardinal Vincent Nichols visited Welwyn Garden City on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Our Lady Catholic Primary School.
He celebrated Mass at Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church for the school community to give thanks for Catholic education and witness in Welwyn Garden City. Concelebrating were Parish Priest Canon Norbert Fernandes, and Fr Mark Connolly CSSp (pictured with the Cardinal and Canon Norbert).
Fr Mark was part of the first intake at the school 70 years ago in 1953. He also remembers the opening of the church in 1959, built on land formerly occupied by allotments, one of which was his father’s.
The school prides itself on its Catholic ethos, saying ‘We are dedicated to Our Lady, the mother of Jesus Christ, the mother of God. Our faith is strengthened through very close relationships to the local churches of Our Lady Queen of Apostles and of St Bonaventure. Our school does not however simply offer an education for Catholics but a Catholic education, welcoming children of all faiths and beliefs who are ready to embrace our values.’
On the same day, to mark the anniversary, the school posted this thought for the day on their Twitter: ‘An anniversary if a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday and the hopes of tomorrow.’
