Mrs Lovesey is the Assistant Headteacher responsible for the Catholic Life of the school. She is also an RE teacher. Mr J Bonner is our School Chaplain. He is based in the Prayer room which is placed at the heart of our school community. It’s one of the first building that you will see as you approach the school.
Mr J. Bonner works four days a week and is the Chaplain for Our Lady’s Primary School in Wellingborough one day a week . The Prayer room is open for drop in visits or to attend a regular prayer event, class visit or club. Mr J Bonner receives considerable support from the Chaplaincy team and other staff at St Thomas More who work with him throughout the year in delivering chaplaincy initiatives.
Parish links
We work closely with the parishes of the Bedford Deanery and receive support and regular visits from our local Priests who celebrate a voluntary Mass with us on a weekly basis. We also work closely with the local Bedford St Vincent de Paul (SVP) Conference supporting our SVP activities in school.
Sacramental life
As a Catholic community our Sacramental life is of great importance to us. We have the Blessed Sacrament in School every week for Adoration and quiet prayer. Students visit with their form teacher, through RE lessons and staff and students can also drop in during the day for this special time of prayer. On Thursday morning we celebrate Mass in the Prayer room supported by our local Bedford Priests.
Cross curriculum working
The Chaplaincy team find innovative ways of utilising and enhancing curriculum time. The students visit the prayer room for “mini retreats” during RE lessons. Mr J Bonner will work with other departments across the school with various other projects or topics.
Diocesan activities
Throughout the school year we regularly join with the wider Catholic Diocesan community, highlights include the Diocesan Schools Mass at the end of Catholic Schools week in October and the Year 10 Faith in Action Day in July. Last year we hosted our First Diocesan 6th Form RE conference.
Ecumenical activities
The St Thomas More Community welcomes students from a range of cultural and religious backgrounds. It is a source of great joy to share their journey and to welcome members of their communities to our school for example the Impact Christian Schools Work Trust and Woodside Church providing a worship group for our Easter celebration evening. We also support the work of All Nations Church Brickhill through their annual Christmas in a Box appeal.
Form Faith Ambassadors
Throughout the year we encourage St Thomas More students to get involved in our ethos. Every form has a Faith Ambassador who takes on a leadership role in the form, supports faith based activities and works closely with the chaplaincy team. As the year progresses these students develop their own interpersonal skills and faith experiences.
The St Thomas More community is one of twelve Schools in the Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Academies Trust (OLICAT). To find out about how chaplaincy works across the OLICAT, please click here