The Chronicle

Friday 8 June was an important day for six Crackley pupils as they celebrated their first Holy Communion Mass. Sam Bearman-Henderson, Saffron Hall, Amelia Hunt, Seamus Meakins-Owens, Francesca Voisey and Thomas Zanyi gathered together excitedly with friends, family and the whole Crackley Hall school community at St Francis of Assisi Church in Kenilworth.

The children have been preparing for this special day since the beginning of the year, meeting regularly to learn about their faith so that they understand what they are committing to. In March they took the Sacrament of First Reconciliation and then in May they celebrated the Passover Meal.

Father Kevin Hooper began by commending Crackley Hall’s long and strong association with the parish. He then led a joyful and celebratory Eucharist beautifully supported by the Altar Servers and Chamber Choir. He spoke about the nourishing love of God that would sustain the young communicants throughout their lives. The communicants then received the sacrament with the utmost sincerity and reverence and were a credit to their families and the school.

Following celebratory prayers, reflections and concluding hymns the six recipients shyly posed for proud parents and friends in front of the altar.

Special thanks were given to Mrs Jackson-Mayne and Mrs Simmonds who have supported the children in their journey this year and to Mrs Olden and the choir. It was a wonderful occasion bringing together pupils, teachers, family and friends from across the Princethorpe Foundation. The school was delighted to welcome Ed Hester, Princethorpe Headmaster, and Trustees Mrs Griffin, Mrs O’Farrell, Mrs Lane and Commodore Warner to the service along with Sixth Form prefects, Molly Geehan, Jasmine Rigg, Aimee Sen-Gupta and Meera Chauhan.

After the service parents, family and guests were invited to share in the special buffet lunch laid on for the communicants in the adjacent church hall. The traditional First Holy Communion cake was of course the centre piece with each of the children’s names iced on the top in Crackley Hall School colours. Bobbing helium filled balloons marked the table where the six boys and girls sat clearly delighted, to be joining in the party atmosphere.

On Saturday June 2 four pupils from the Princethorpe Foundation served Mass in St. Francis of Assisi Church Kenilworth. Andrew Gordon (J5V), Isabella Price (J5R), Andrea Zanyl (J5V), and her sister Erica from Princethorpe College had the privilege of serving this Mass at which the principle celebrant was the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Bernard Longley. Several priests also concelebrated this Mass.

It was a very special occassion, where a parishioner who works voluntarily and tirelessly for the Friends of the Holy Land was invested in The Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great.

The RE Book of the Week is awarded to Isabella Price for her diligent investigation and her stunning display of subsequent information regarding the Archbishoip Bernard Longley.