The Educator Magazine U.K. Jan-April 2023. - Magazine - Page 51
Year 5 pupils at St Gregory’s Catholic
Primary School, part of the Romero
Catholic Academy, have created 32
prayer bags to provide comfort to
people suffering from illness in the
Wyken area.
The packages, which include a
prayer hand-written by pupils, a
hand-decorated prayer stone, a
small wooden cross and a pack of
tissues, are set to be distributed as a
show of support for families affected
by Covid-19.
The initiative was inspired by the
Year 5 pupils’ studies around the
Anointing of the Sick – the
sacrament given to people who
are suffering from illness – as well as
pupil’s own experiences with family
members who have been affected
by the virus, in a bid to provide
comfort through faith.
Emily Stirling, Year 5 Teacher at St
Gregory’s Catholic Primary School,
said: “The Year 5s have taken a real
interest in creating their prayer
bags as they know the difference
that small comforts and supportive
words can make to people who
are suffering from illness and are
potentially separated from their
families.
“Many of our pupils have personal
experience of supporting family
members who have suffered from
Covid-19, so to have the opportunity
to reach out to members of the
public with a show of good faith is
very rewarding from their
perspective.
“We hope that the recipients of the
prayer bags get as much positivity
and comfort from them as we did in
creating them.”
St John Fisher Parish Priest Fr Des
Devenney, who is helping to
distribute the prayer bags to the
community, said: “I joined the parish
during Covid-19 so have witnessed
the community’s response
throughout, and it’s brilliant that
the younger generation are so keen
to support others living in the area.
“It’s a lovely thought and a project
that will provide a lift to people
and Parishioners living in the local
area. It’s a privilege and joy to be
involved.”