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

 

YEAR 1

Saint Francis of Assisi

Patron Saint of all Animals

Feast Day – 4th October

 

Prayer to Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
&it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

 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

Saint Therese of Lisieux

Patron Saint of Missionaries

Feast Day – 1st October

  

Prayer to Saint Therese of Lisieux

O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love.

O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God to grant the favors I now place with confidence in your hands the children of Year 3.

St. Therese, help me to always believe as you did in God's great love for me, so that I might imitate your "Little Way" each day.

Amen.

YEAR 4

Saint Dominic

Patron Saint of Astronomers

Feast Day – 8th August 

 

Prayer to Saint Dominic

May God the Father, who made us, bless us.  

May God the Son, who redeemed us, send healing into our midst.

May God the Holy Spirit, who gives us life, move within us.

May God give us eyes to see to God, ears to hear God, and hands to bring God’s work into the world.

May we walk with God and preach the word of God to all.

May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last by God's grace to the eternal Kingdom.      

Amen.

YEAR 5

Saint Chad

Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of Birmingham

Feast Day – 2nd March

Prayer to Saint Chad

Lord Jesus Christ, who took the form of a servant to serve your brothers and sisters:

Strengthen us with the prayers and example of your servant Chad,

who became the least of all to minister to all;

through the Father and the Holy Spirit,

with whom you live and reign one God, now and for ever.

Amen

YEAR 6

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.