Our School and Parish
One Family in Faith
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is proud to be an integral part of the Parish of the Sacred Heart and St Oswald, under the pastoral care of our Parish Priest, Fr. Arockiya Seelan Poobalan. (Fr. Seelan)
Our relationship with the parish is central to our identity as a Catholic school. School, home and parish work together to support our children as they grow in faith and come to understand that they belong to a Catholic community much wider than the school itself.
Our children encounter the parish not as something separate from school life, but as part of the same family of faith: praying together, celebrating the Eucharist, marking the seasons of the Church's year and finding opportunities to put faith into action.
A School at the Heart of the Parish
Our relationship with the parish is particularly special because Sacred Heart is not only a parish school; our school is also a place where the parish regularly gathers to worship.
Every Sunday, we open our school to the parish community for the 12.00 noon Sunday Mass. The parish's current weekend Mass schedule includes this Mass at Sacred Heart School alongside Masses celebrated at St Oswald's Church.
This means that the school remains a place of prayer and community. The space in which our children learn, gather and pray during the week becomes a place where families and parishioners come together around the altar each Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist.
For us, this is a powerful expression of the relationship between school and parish. Sacred Heart belongs to its community and we are delighted to open our doors each week so that the Eucharist remains quite literally at the heart of our school.
A Shared History
The relationship between Sacred Heart School and the parish has deep roots.
The parish records that Mass has been celebrated at the school since it was built in 1990. In 1997, Dorothy's Chapel was built as an extension to the school hall through the generosity of Arthur Ganthart in memory of his wife, Dorothy. Sacred Heart subsequently became the first Catholic primary school in the Diocese of East Anglia to have its own chapel in which the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.
Following the joining together of the Sacred Heart and St Oswald communities in 2007, Sunday Mass continued to be celebrated at Sacred Heart School.
This history is important to us. It reminds our children that Sacred Heart is part of a living Catholic community whose story stretches beyond their own time at the school.
Growing in Faith Together
Fr. Seelan is a valued and familiar presence within our school community. Through our close relationship with the parish, our children experience the richness of the Church's sacramental and liturgical life and come to recognise the parish as a community to which they belong.
Throughout the year, school and parish come together to celebrate the Eucharist and significant moments within the liturgical year. Our pupils are encouraged to participate actively and reverently, developing their understanding that the Mass is not simply a school event but the prayer of the whole Church.
This partnership also supports our families as children prepare to receive the Sacraments. The parish provides sacramental preparation for children, including preparation for First Holy Communion and Reconciliation, reinforcing the important partnership between child, family, school and parish in nurturing faith.
Faith That Leads to Service
Our partnership is also about what happens after we pray.
The parish has a rich tradition of service and provides many opportunities for parishioners to use their time and talents in the service of others, including CAFOD, the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Peterborough Soup Kitchen, visiting those who are sick or housebound and other ministries.
These examples complement the work children undertake through our G.I.F.T. Team and School Council, helping pupils to see that Catholic Social Teaching is not simply something we learn about: our faith calls us to notice the needs of others and respond through love and service.
Everyone is Welcome
The parish describes itself as a welcoming and inclusive community in which people can encounter God and build meaningful relationships.
We share that welcome at Sacred Heart.
Whether families are longstanding members of the parish, are new to the Catholic faith, are returning to the Church, or would simply like to know more, we encourage them to become part of the life of our parish community.
Sunday Mass at Sacred Heart School: 12.00 noon
For current Mass times, parish news, sacramental information and opportunities to become involved in parish life, please visit: www.sh-so.org
