Friday 8th May 2020

This Sunday's Gospel presents Jesus as the guide in life, as the 'way, truth and life'. The Christian centre is the person of Christ. Our work for Jesus and our love for people, no matter what our calling in life may be, flow from this. This centre always holds, it cannot be unhinged. It is a deeply personal relationship. We are led by Jesus 'one by one', known by name, not as just one of a group. We follow Jesus as one we know, not as we might follow a stranger. We have come to know him by studying his life and times, getting to know the places and events of his life, becoming familiar with the gospels and getting to know him in the heart in prayer. This is the way of keeping our centre of conviction focussed and our motivation strong. As this happens freedom grows and we begin to find him everywhere.

Since 1945 the end of World War Two in Europe has been marked by Victory in Europe Day, better known as VE Day. On 8th May 1945, Prime Minister Winston Churchill made an announcement on the radio at 3pm that the war in Europe had come to an end, following Germany's surrender the day before. Today the 8th May 2020, will mark 75 years since the first VE Day! Until the current Covid-19 crisis struck, there had been plans to stage celebratory events and street
parties in many places. Sadly, this has all had to be cancelled but many have chosen to celebrate virtually! Holding video parties, decorating our homes or baking to celebrate whilst we are all in lockdown! It is a time to be thankful for all those who sacrificed so much to bring about peace among nations.  On Saturday, it is the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Channel Islands which were the only British soil occupied by the Germans during the Second World War. The impact of this event in the Islands' history is still evident today with the concrete walls and fortifications positioned around the Islands as part of Hitler's Atlantic Wall.  A great deal of suffering and hardship was endured by the population of these Islands under the Occupation by the German Forces but they were resilient and resolute in their cause to one day be free.  We also think about the sacrifice by those of our armed forces during other conflicts since this time and pray for peace around the world.  

Next year's School term dates and allocated In Service Training Days (INSET) for staff are now available on the school website within the 'Key Information' section on the school webiste.  This can be accessed through the landing page of the website.

Thank you all for sending in the fantastic photo's of all the wonderful work you are doing at home, please keep sending them in.  We are now posting all of the photo's in the Children's Area, please click on Gallery in your child/ren's year group to view.

The weekly edition of the Wednesday Word can be accessed through a link on the school website.  This can be found within the 'Children's Area' under the 'Our Community' tab from the school landing page. The link will be refreshed on a weekly basis.  Please share with your child the Gospel reading on Sunday and the key discussion points that accompany the newsletter.  

Please follow the direction below for a link to many ebooks for your children. More fantastic free resources.

Key stage 1 and progress books (for SEND) are available to access.

https://connect.collins.co.uk/school/Portal.aspx

Please click onto the TEACHER sign in with the following details:

Username: parents@harpercollins.co.uk

Password: Parents20!

Completely free for all children and families, the extraordinary collection of short stories, poems, essays and pictures has contributions from more than 110 children’s writers and illustrators, including Lauren Child, Anthony Horowitz, Greg James and Chris Smith, Michael Morpurgo, Liz Pichon, Axel Scheffler, Francesca Simon and Jacqueline Wilson. The collection, published by Bloomsbury, is dedicated to the doctors, nurses, carers, porters, cleaners and everyone currently working in hospitals. To access this book please click on the follwoing link: https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/9-12/book-hopes/

At the Birmingham Diocesan Education webiste there is a webpage containing links to Prayer and Learning Resources for both home and school. This includes the CAFOD Virtual Sunday Children's Liturgy and a child's prayer for Spiritual Communion. More resources will be added as they become available. https://www.bdes.org.uk/des-support-for-schools-through-the-coronavirus-outbreak.html

May the memory of wars strengthen our efforts for peace;
May the memory of those who died inspire our service to the living;
May the memory of past destruction move us to build for the future;
O God of Peace, O Companion of our souls,
O Builder of Love and Justice in this world.
Lord, we commit our time, our energy, our talents, our gifts,
even our limitations, failures and very selves to the cause of
justice, peace and human development.
We join our lives with those who support the struggle for life.
Amen

Pupils at St. Joseph's are growing to be: eloquent and truthful in what they say of themselves, the relations between people, and the world.

For Deacons: We pray that deacons, faithful in their service to the Word and the porr, may be an invigorating symbol for the entire Church.