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Catholics across England and Wales will mark Education Sunday this weekend. Established 178 years ago in 1848, the day provides an opportunity to celebrate and give thanks to all those involved in Catholic education and to look forward in anticipation to the academic year ahead.

Catholic education is an essential part of the Church’s mission to make the person of Jesus known and loved, and to place Him and the teaching of the Catholic Church at the centre of people’s lives.

More than 37,000 children and young people are educated across 73 primary and secondary schools in our Diocese, supported by 4,400 teachers and support staff, 721 governors, and many more volunteers, parents, and carers. Reflecting on the significance of the day Bishop Marcus Stock, Bishop of Leeds and Chairman of the Catholic Education Service, said:

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“We give thanks to the Lord for the vocations of all who work within the Catholic sector [this Sunday]: the teaching and support staff, chaplains, school leaders and governors. It is through their commitment and hard work that pupils and students in our schools, colleges and universities can thrive and contribute to society, through their formation and education.

“In the academic year ahead, let us endeavour to give witness to the message of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace in the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and to pray that our Catholic schools, colleges and universities will be beacons of His good news in our communities.”

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You can access resources for the day including Bidding Prayers and a Reflection, on the CBCEW website.