The church is decorated with Heart symbols created by the different schools. Last Monday was also Valentine’s Day and so we might be tempted to think that the heart symbol was chosen with that in mind. No it wasn’t. Shortly before Mass started Cardinal Wiseman Head teacher, Mrs Helen Knight, explained it was in direct reference to Blessed John Henry Newman: Heart speaks unto Heart and asked ‘have you the heart’. Many of the inscriptions had been placed there by primary school children about to make their confirmation. When Blessed John Henry Newman was appointed as a Cardinal in 1879 he had to choose a motto to go with his coat of arms. He chose the Latin words Cor ad Cor loquiter – heart speaks unto heart, from St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) a French Bishop and great spiritual writer whom Newman revered.
The church was packed, with extra seating being brought in from the hall. All the primary schools were represented together with Cardinal Wiseman and Bishop Ullathorne Secondary Schools.
Following the Gospel Fr Christopher Jamison gave the sermon. He immediately established contact with the youth in the congregation by asking what schools were represented. He continued by asking about the star of the film ‘Never say never’. All the children knew it was 16 year old Justin Bieber. Fr Christopher told us that Justin Bieber had prayed before accepting his recording contract and continues to pray each day seeking God’s guidance.
He compared this with the boy Samuel in the First Reading who one night, around the age of 13 heard God’s voice calling his name but didn’t know it was God calling and assumed it was the voice of Eli (a Jewish High Priest). Eli had to help Samuel realise that it was God calling him and he told Samuel how to respond with those powerful words: ‘Speak Lord, your servant is listening.’ Fr Christopher made a very inspirational point: that all those years ago Samuel needed help to realise God was calling him and we need that same help today from each other, so he encouraged us to join discernment groups around the country where we could listen to what God wants to speak into our hearts and find the vocation God is calling us to. Heart unto heart. The National Vocation website can be found at: www.ukvocation.org
After Communion the children from Sacred Heart Primary School performed a sacred dance on the theme of God’s love. This was followed by a period of silence.
After Mass there was a retiring collection for the Malawi Project that Cardinal Newman school are involved with. Malawi is one of the poorest counties in the World. The school has been involved with various projects for around three years with Bunda LEA School. More information is available on the school website www.cardinalwiseman.coventry.sch.uk
Fr Tony Norton, Parish Priest, said ‘This occasion made me really proud of our Catholic schools and reminded me of just how lucky we are to have them’. Fr Christopher Jamieson also commented on how touched he was by the whole event and has taken away happy memories of Coventry. It was a truly wonderful occasion.
