Friday 20th November 2020

National Youth Sunday (NYS) is also the feast of Christ the King as we end our liturgical year.  It is an opportunity to explicitly recognise young people - their gifts, talents and uniqueness. It also provides the Church with an opportunity to thank them for and affirm their contribution to the life of the local and universal Church. The theme for NYS is Together. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every part of our lives; from the way we work to the way we socialise with friends and family. One of the biggest changes we have all had to adapt to is social distancing. We know that measures put in place are to keep us safe but have resulted in many young people feeling isolated and marginalised. With this imposed distance from others, we may have felt an increasing distance between ourselves and God. However, in the midst of all these trials and hardships, God calls us to new opportunities and a life of hope. We look forward to a time where we can freely get together with family and friends. You can find more information at www.nationalyouthsunday.com. In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus (using the language and imagery of his time) describes what will happen when he comes again at the end of time. Like a shepherd who calls his sheep to follow him, Jesus invites people to be with him forever. The only requirement is that we should have loved our neighbour: that is, we should have looked after our neighbour in need. The Gospel reminds us that every act of kindness done to someone else is also done to Jesus, and it will be rewarded accordingly. For this week's Wednesday Word, please click the following link: https://www.paperturn-view.com/uk/wednesday-word/wisdom?pid=MTA101634&v=8.8

As you may be aware The Youth Sport Trust have taken the step to deliver a free virtual after school club as part of a national response to the second lockdown. The 30-minute club will take place at 5pm each weekday and be led by a different member of the YST's athlete mentor network. The first one aired on Thursday with world no.1 female inline skater and 10-time British Champion Jenna Downing. The After School Sport Club will run for five weeks until Friday 18th December, children and young people can take part live by visiting the YST YouTube channel. - http://www.youtube.com/user/YouthSportTrust.

Aimed mainly at primary-aged children, a different theme has been assigned for each day of the club - Adventure Monday, Tuesday Play, Wild Wednesday, Thinking Thursday and Fun Friday. The YST hope that this will provide support, capacity and inspiration to sit alongside the other great work and offers that are available for schools and children and young people to engage in.

Click on the following link to the NHS website for information on what to do if you or your child/ren show the main symptoms of Coronavirus. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-in-the-autumn-term

Due to the arrangments of the national lockdown which came into force yesterday, there will not be any further Class Masses for children in school.  Fr. Philip will livestream daily Masses from OLAS Church at 10am from Tuesday to Friday.  Our school will be watching the Mass on Tuesdays which will be more child-centred.  

Dear Lord Jesus, please help me to see you in everyone I meet, and be kind to all, especially to those that I sometimes find it difficult to love. Amen.

Children at St. Joseph's are growing to be: Intentional in the way they live and use the resources of the earth, guided by conscience; and Prophetic in the example they set to others.

Artificial Intelligence
We pray that the progress of robotics and artificial intelligence may always serve humankind.