St Mary's Parish

We have very close links with St Mary’s Church, Cadogan Street.

Father Shaun Middleton (our Parish Priest and Chair of Governors) is a regular visitor to the school and leads Masses and services with the children, where we pray and sing together.

Children attend Mass according to the church's liturgical year and also on Holy days of Obligation and certain feast days (e.g. St Joseph's Day).

Many classes also visit St Mary's Church as part of the RE curriculum to develop their knowledge and understanding of the church and important signs and symbols. 

A good number of our children take First Holy Communion lessons at St Mary's and take their First Holy Communion in May/June each year. 

During Lent, Mr Stacey (Head of School) leads weekly Children's Stations of The Cross for children at St Joseph's and the parish.

A number of our families minister at the church as catechists, welcomers, readers or extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.

The vast majority of altar servers at St Mary's are current or past St Joseph's pupils. 

Our Advent Carol Service and Summer Concert take place in the church each year.

Sometimes, Key Stage 2 children join the 12 noon Parish Mass although usually the celebration of Mass is either a stand alone whole school Mass in St Mary's or in the school hall.

When we have school Masses and services in the church, St Joseph's families are always invited and attend in very good numbers.

Our Pupil Chaplaincy Team are involved in organising and updating the St Joseph's Catholic School noticeboard at the back of the church.

Fr Shaun and our Environment Team collaborated over a project funded by CARITAS, whereby our team plant and look after certain plants in the church garden. 

Fr Shaun often visits St Joseph's and talks to the children about their Religious Education and Prayer life'.

Click here to view link to St Mary’s Church Website. 

In December 2023, singers from St Joseph's Senior Choir sang with the Guildhall Singers at St Mary's Advent Carol Service. 

Past and present members of St Joseph's served Mass for Bishop Mark's visit to St Mary's Church in January 2024.

Classes regularly visit St Mary's to enrich their learning in RE. Here Year 4 asked Fr Shaun lots of questions about the parish and 'community'.

Year 3 visited St Mary's and Fr Shaun showed them onto the sanctuary. Fr Shaun explained what he could see when he was stood behind the altar. He also talked about other roles people have in the church, like Readers, Eucharistic Ministers and Greeters.                                                                                                                                

Mr Stacey leads Children's Stations of The Cross weekly for children and families during Lent in St Mary's Church.