Our Patron Saint is Saint Joseph, husband of Mary and foster-father of Our Lord.
We know that he was a good man who took care of Mary and Jesus. Tradition says that Joseph was a carpenter. He is the Patron Saint of all workers.
Saint Joseph, Patron Saint of our School, pray for us. Amen
“Justitia sine timore”
You will see these words written on our school badge and on our letterheadings. This is our school motto. It is a latin phrase which means Justice without fear… We like to translate it as – “Be just and fear not” It reminds us that, like saint Joseph, we should always do what is right and then we will have nothing to fear.
Our Form Patrons
As members of the St Joseph’s community we all subscribe to the gospel values of caring, tolerance, patience and understanding. We actively and consistently promote the words of Christ when he spoke of the greatest commandment “Love God with all your heart, with all your mind and all your strength and love your neighbour as you would love yourself.”
Each morning begins with a collective act of worship within Form Groups or a whole Year Group assembly. Form classes are named after inspirational Christian role models of….
Saint Bernadette
Blessed Oscar Romero
Sean Devereux
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Martin Luther King
Saint Vincent de Paul
Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Saint Bernadette Soubirous
Bernadette Soubirous was born in 1844 in Lourdes, France. The 11th February 1858 marked the first of 18 apparitions of “the lady” to St Bernadette at the rock of Massabielle in Lourdes. The lady later confirmed herself as the Immaculate Conception – the mother of Jesus. Bernadette was 14 years old at the time.
Following the apparitions, St Bernadette joined the Sisters of Charity of Nevers and dedicated the rest of her life to God through service and prayer.
“Love overcomes and love delights.”
Sean Devereux
Sean was a teacher who in February 1989 went to Liberia as a Lay Volunteer working with the Salesian Commmunity. When his school closed in 1990 as a result of the Civil War, Sean stayed to work with the United Nations in relief operations.
On 2nd January 1993, Sean was shot dead,assassinated by a hired gunman at the age of 28. Sean died coming to the aid of children and had spent nearly five years helping the poorest of Africa’s youths.
“While my heart beats, I have to do what I think I can do – and that is to help those that are less fortunate.”
Martin Luther King
Dr. Martin Luther King was born in Atlanta, Georgia , USA in 1929 and never backed down in his stand against racism. As a Baptist Pastor he lived out his Christian faith by dedicating his life to achieving equality and justice for all Americans of all colours through peaceful means.
In 1964 he received the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated by James Earl Ray on April 4, 1968.
“Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase”
Saint Maximillian Kolbe
Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish priest and a prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp. When a prisoner escaped from the camp, the Nazis selected 10 others to be killed by starvation in reprisal for the escape. At this Father Kolbe stepped forward to give his life so that one of the men chosen could survive. His request was granted.
As the ten condemned men were led to the death Block, Father Kolbe supported a fellow prisoner who could hardly walk. Father Kolbe was the last to die on August 14, 1941.
“God dwells in our midst…He remains among us until the end of the world. “
Blessed Oscar Romero
Oscar Romero was Archbishop of San Salvador in Central America. He sided with the many poor people of his country and spoke out against poverty, social injustice and torture carried out by the new Government. In 1980 He wrote to the US president asking him to stop sending guns to his country as they were being used to kill innocent people.
He was assassinated on 24th March 1980 whilst saying mass.
He was beatified by Pope Francis on 23 May 2017 and so is now called Blessed.
“Aspire not to have more…but to be more”
Saint Vincent de Paul
Vincent was born in 1581 and at the age of 24 was captured and sold as a slave. In 1617 he founded the “Ladies of Charity” within his own parish, which was to be the first of his many charitable organisations established to aid the poor, to set up hospitals, to care for victims of war and to free slaves. Saint Vincent de Paul dedicated his life to serving the poor and the needy.
Vincent died in Paris in 1660, but in 1833 the ‘SVP’ society was started by Fredrick Ozanam which sees him as its Patron.
“Let all things be done with charity”
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Teresa was a teacher as a Sister of Loretto when she heard God telling her to leave and work with the poor, living among them. Mother Teresa started a school in the slums to teach the children of the poor and also learned basic medicine. In 1950, the group officially became known as the Missionaries of Charity.
Over the years the number have grown from 12 to thousands serving the “poorest of the poor” in over 450 places around the world.
“Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, for God speaks in the silence of the heart”
