Saints

Saint Catherine of Siena

Feast Day – 29th April

Born: 1347 Died: 1380

Catherine was born at Siena, Tuscany in Italy. Catherine was the youngest in a family of twenty-five children. When she was six years old Jesus appeared and blessed her. Her mother and father wanted her to be happily married. But, Catherine wished only to be a nun.

To make herself as unattractive as possible, she cut off her long, beautiful hair. Her parents were very upset and scolded her often. They also gave her the most difficult housework to do. But Catherine did not change her mind. Finally, her parents stopped bothering her and allowed her to become a nun.

St. Catherine was very honest and straightforward with Jesus and scolded him when he was not around to help her in her struggles and temptations. Jesus told her that because he was in her heart she was able to win her struggles by his grace.

One night, when the people of Siena were out on the streets celebrating. The little baby Jesus and his mother Mary appeared to Catherine who was praying alone in her room. Mary took Catherine's hand and the infant Jesus put a ring on the saint's finger and she became his bride.

In those days the Church had many problems. There were fights going on all over Italy. Catherine wrote letters to kings and queens. She even went to beg rulers to make peace with the pope and to avoid wars.

Catherine asked the pope to leave Avignon, France, and return to Rome to rule the Church as it was God's will. He listened to St. Catherine and did as she said.

Catherine never forgot that Jesus was in her heart. Through her, Jesus helped the sick people she nursed and comforted the prisoners she visited in jail.

This great saint died in Rome in 1380 when she was just thirty-three. She is the patroness of Italy, her country. Hundreds of years later St. Catherine was named a Doctor of the Church. She received this great honour because she served Jesus' Church boldly during her short lifetime.

House Saints

At St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School we have a house point system, which involves four houses. The children in each house group voted to choose their patron saint. The children have chosen four inspirational Saints: St Andrew, St David, St George and St Patrick. Each pupil is allocated to a house which is represented by a different colour.

A pupil can obtain house points in various ways: for excellent class and homework, being polite, showing kindness, being a good example, trying their best in class, good manners in the dining hall, just showing a little extra effort, good behaviour in and out of the classroom, using initiative.

Each week the points are counted and the results read out in Friday's assembly. A half-termly prize is awarded to the winning house. Each term the points are totaled and also at the end of year.

Saint Andrew

Patron Saint of Scotland

Feast Day – 30th November

Prayer to Saint Andrew

Brother of Simon Peter, you heard John the Baptist say:

"Behold the Lamb of God," and you chose to follow Jesus.

Leaving your nets, you became a successful fisher of souls.

Lover of the Crucified Christ, you too were crucified like him.

Teach us to live and suffer for Him and to win many souls for Christ.                                                                              

Amen.

Saint David

Patron Saint of Wales

Feast Day – 1st March

 

Prayer to Saint David

Almighty God, who called your servant David to be a faithful and wise steward of your mysteries for the people of Wales:

Mercifully grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the gospel of Christ, we may with him receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.  

Amen.

Saint George

Patron Saint of England

Feast Day – 23rd April

Prayer to Saint George

Almighty God, who gave to your servant George boldness to Confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.                                                             

Amen.

Saint Patrick

Patron Saint of Ireland

Feast Day – 17th March

 

Prayer to Saint Patrick

May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
- Against the snares of the evil one.

May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!

May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore.

Amen

 

 

NURSERY

Saint George 

Patron Saint of England

Feast Day – 23rd April

RECEPTION

Saint Patrick

Patron Saint of Ireland

Feast Day – 17th March

YEAR 1

Saint Catherine of Siena

Patron Saint of Firefighters & Nurses

Feast Day – 29th April

Prayer to Saint Catherine of Siena

God of Wisdom you made our sister Catherine burn with divine love in contemplating the Lord's passion and in serving your Church. With the help of her prayers may your people, united in the mystery of Christ, rejoice forever in the revelation of his glory, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

YEAR 2

Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Patron Saint of Doubters

Feast Day – 5th September

 

Prayer to Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all. Obtain from the Heart of Jesus for the children in Year 2.  

Teach me to allow Jesus to penetrate and possess my whole being so completely that my life, too, may radiate His light and love to others. Amen.

YEAR 3

St John Paul II

Patron saint of Poland

Feast day 22nd October

Prayer to St John Paul II

Oh, St. John Paul, from the window of heaven, grant us your blessing! Bless the Church that you loved and served and guided, courageously leading her along the paths of the world in order to bring Jesus to everyone and everyone to Jesus. Bless the young, who were your great passion. Help them dream again, help them look up to the heavens again to find the light that illuminates the paths of life here on earth.

Oh St. John Paul, from heaven’s window, where we see you beside Mary, send God’s blessing down upon us all.

Amen.

YEAR 4

St John Henry Newman

Patron saint of poets

Feast day 9th October

Prayer to St John Henry Newman

May the Lord support us all the day long, Till the shades lengthen and the evening comes,

and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done.

Then in his mercy may he give us a safe lodging, and holy rest, and peace at the last.

Amen.

 

 

YEAR 5 

St Josephine Bakhita

Patron saint of Sudan and modern slavery

Feast day 8th February

Prayer to St Josephine Bakhita

St. Josephine Bakhita, you were sold into slavery as a child and endured untold hardship and suffering. Once liberated from your physical enslavement, you found true redemption in your encounter with Christ and his Church.

O St. Bakhita, assist all those who are trapped in a state of slavery;

Intercede with God on their behalf so that they will be released from their chains of captivity.

Those whom man enslaves, let God set free. Provide comfort to survivors of slavery and let them look to you as an example of hope and faith. Help all survivors find healing from their wounds.

We ask for your prayers and intercessions for those enslaved among us.

Amen.

YEAR 6

St Maximillian Kolbe

Patron saint of journalists and prisoners.

Feast day 14th August

Prayer to St Maximillian Kolbe

O Lord Jesus Christ who said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” through the intercession of St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose life illustrated such love.

Grant, O Lord Jesus, that we, too, may give ourselves entirely without reserve to the love and service of our Heavenly Queen in order to better love and serve our fellowman in imitation of your humble servant, St. Maximilian Kolbe.

Amen.