The Parishioner - Edition 21

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Blessed Pierre Toussaint Words and Ilustration by Charlotte Cassidy, Artist Blessed Pierre Toussaint was born a black slave on June 27th 1766 on a sugar plantation owned by wealthy Jean Berard and his wife, in the French colony of St. Dominique (now known as Haiti). Years earlier, Pierre’s enslaved parents had been transported from Africa to Haiti and were devout Catholics. They taught their children to always love God throughout their lives. As a young boy Pierre was educated by the Berard children’s tutors. He was also spared the gruelling manual work in the plantation fields with the other slaves and instead given lighter tasks as a domestic slave in the Berard mansion. In 1787, when the Haitian people began a rebellion against slavery, Jean Berard, concerned for his family’s safety amid the increasing unrest, decided to send his children to relatives in France and his wife to America. Pierre, now aged twenty-one, accompanied Madame Berard on the voyage to New York along with his younger sister, Rosalie, and three other slaves loyal to the Berards. In a letter to Madame Bernard her husband directed that Pierre, although still a slave, should have a profession in New York City. Pierre was then apprenticed to a renowned hairdresser. While learning his profession Pierre also attended Mass each morning at the parish church of St. Peter’s on Barclay Street, New York, where he would spend some time praying before the Blessed Sacrament. Eventually, Pierre became one of New York’s leading hair stylists to rich socialite women and he was making a great deal of money. His piety, integrity and gentle disposition led his clientele to confide their problems to his and to seek his advice. Often, he would give them spiritual guidance and console them with the beatitudes and the wisdom of Jesus. He would also encourage them to pray and trust in the Divine Providence of God. Pierre would never disclose to anyone the confidences his clients told him. When people would try to prise from him some scandalous gossip about society women, Pierre would reply, “Toussaint dresses hair, he’s no news journal.” Pierre became engaged to a young local, slave girl named Juliette. He purchased her freedom and also the freedom of his sister, Rosalie. At the same time of Pierre’s engagement, Madame Berard received a letter from Haiti containing devastating news. Her husband, John, had died unexpectedly from pleurisy at the family mansion in Haiti. In the intensifying slave rebellion the sugar plantation had been completely destroyed. Madame Berard also learned that she had lost the entire fortune her husband had invested over the years for her provision. Now widowed and facing a future of extreme poverty in New York City, she became deeply depressed. Saddened by the news of his master’s death and concerned for Madame Berard, Pierre immediately postponed his wedding to Juliette. Although he now had enough personal wealth to have purchased his own freedom from slavery, he decided to voluntarily remain a slave to care for Madame Berard. He did not want her burdened by daily domestic decisions and took complete charge of running Madame Berard’s household. He bought weekly groceries and paid all the household expenses. To preserve Madame Berard’s high social status in New York’s wealthy circles, Pierre organised and paid for lavish parties for her. He also dressed as her butler and served her affluent guests. When his sister, Rosalie, disapproved, asking Pierre how he could financially support Madame Berard while still her slave Pierre replied, I’ve never felt enslaved by her. She’s a lonely woman who needs compassion.” Although he became extremely wealthy from hair dressing, Pierre unfortunately suffered immense discrimination in his life. He was not allowed to ride in a carriage or dine in most New York restaurants and he was once barred by an usher fron entering a church because of his race. Pierre endured all this appalling bigotry with great dignity. Some years later Madame Berard remarried and Pierre continued to financially support her throughout her marriage. In the Spring of 1807 she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and confined to bed. Three months later, a few hours before she died, Madame Berard finally gave Pierre his freedom. Pierre thanked God for giving her the courage to free him and that he was able to prevent her from ever knowing the deprivation of poverty. Free at last from slavery at the age of forty-one, Pierre married his long time fiancée Juliette. He now wanted to share his wealth with the poor people of New York and embarked on many charitable works. Pierre and his wife opened their home to care for orphaned children and as a guesthouse for destitute people and priests visiting the city. Pierre provided food and shelter for New York’s poor people of every nationality. He opened a school to educate and teach African-American boys a trade. He gave financial assistance to the Oblate Sisters of Providence. He ran a credit bureau from his home and helped refugees find employment. Pierre also raised funds to restore a large Catholic church in New York, now known as St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. When an epidemic of yellow fever spread throughout the city, Pierre, without regard to the risk to his own health, personally attended to many sick and dying impoverished people of New York. When friends complained to Pierre, saying that he always put other people before himself as though he was still a slave, he answered, “ I’ve never felt a slave to any man or woman. I am a servant of Almighty God who made us all. When one of his children is in need, I am glad to be His slave!” Pierre was loved by the poor people of New York and called a saint in his lifetime. Although Pierre and his wife had no children of their own, when his sister Rosalie died, the couple adopted Rosalie’s infant daughter, Euphemia. Sadly, she would also die at the age of fourteen from tuberculosis. Even in his advanced years, Pierre continued his profession of hairdresser so that he could continue to help the poor people of New York. When a friend urged him to retire and enjoy his wealth, Pierre replied, “I have enough money for myself, but if I stop working I won’t have enough for others.” For forty-six years Pierre had regularly attended morning Mass at St. Peter’s church on Barclay Street, the same church where Mother Elizabeth Seaton worshipped. Later canonised for her charitable work caring for the poor, Pierre gave substantial financial assistance to Mother Seaton and her Sisters, helping to establish one of the first orphanages in New York. Pierre’s wife, Juliette, died in 1851 and two years later, at the age of eighty-seven, Pierre died on June 30th 1853. His last words were, “God is with me.” When asked by a priest if he wanted anything he responded, “No, nothing on earth.” Hundreds of mourners, rich and poor of every race, attended his funeral in St. Peter’s Church. In his eulogy, the officiating pastor praised Pierre’s kindness, love of God and zeal for his faith, reminding the mourners, “Many present would feel they had lost one who always had wise counsel for the rich, words of encouragement for the poor and all would be grateful for having known him.” Pierre was buried in a cemetery in lower Manhattan. For almost a century after his death Pierre’s grave remained abandoned and forgotten, until 1941 when a young Catholic priest, regarding this a great injustice to the memory of a former slave and generous benefactor, discovered his abandoned grave by chance. Pierre’s body was then transferred in October 1995 from the cemetery in lower Manhattan and interred in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, New York. Shortly afterwards in 1995, during an apostolic visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Blessed Pope John Paul II gave, with esteem, this profoundly poignant tribute to Pierre Toussaint. “Beneath the high altar of this Cathedral, there is buried the Servant of God, Pierre Toussaint, a married man and at one time a slave from Haiti. What is so extraordinary about this man? He radiated a most serene and joyful faith, nourished daily by the Eucharist and visits to the Blessed Sacrament. In the face of constant, painful discrimination he understood, as few have understood, the meaning of the words, “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.” Blessed Pope John Paul II beatified Pierre Toussaint on March 22nd 1998. Many faithful worldwide continue to urge the Vatican for the imminent canonisation of Blessed Pierre Toussaint, who many consider confounded the world by his kindness and generosity in voluntarily remaining a slave to care for and financially support the widow who had enslaved him. Well done, girls! By Peter Hipkiss, teacher and team manager OOn Saturday 19th May the St Francis’ Catholic Primary School girls’ football team finally took their place in the long-awaited National Schools Football Finals run by the English Schools Football Association. This moment was the final stop on a long journey that had seen them conquer all the teams in their path. Back in October, the girls won the Maidstone district 7-aside under 11s school football tournament for the third year running. This then lead them on to the Kent finals in Dover. Once again they emerged victorious, this time without conceding a single goal in the whole tournament, and in doing so booked their place in the London and Southern Counties tournament at Greenwich. Taking part in this round was a step further than their previous attempts and the girls were incredibly excited yet harboured apprehensions about the step up in the standard of opposition they would face. Yet it turned out that, despite a shaky start in the competition, the girls had no need to be fearful as they finally got into their stride in the group stage and eventually ran out 2-0 winners in extra time in the final against Lambourne Primary School from Essex. This amazing run of results, with the girls only losing one game in all competitions, led them to take their place representing London and the South East in the National Finals at Watford Academy. St Francis’ School supporters –parents, staff and friends – filled a whole coach to enthusiastically support and cheer the girls onduring the Watford tournament and it paid dividends as St Francis’ Girls’ Football Team 2011-2012 the girls put in some rousing team performances with captain Freya Bailes rattling the wood work in one match and scoring with an audacious Beckhamesque goal from well inside her own half in another. However, it was not all plain sailing for the girls as the standard of opposition was incredibly high, as would be expected at a National Final. At the end of a very difficult round of group matches, in which the girls were once again undefeated, the St Francis girls managed to progress into the semi-finals. The semi-finals saw the girls play some of their best football with some resolute defending and fluid attacking play. Eventually, they emerged 2-0 victors against Orchard Junior School from Southampton who had previously been unbeaten all season. In the final the girls played against Broadstone Middle School from Poole in Dorset, who they had previously drawn with in a hard-fought 0-0 draw in the first round of the group games. However, it was not to provide the icing on the cake for the girls as Broadstone eventually halted the St Francis’ winning run to claim victory. This did not spoil the day for the girls, however, as the magnitude of their achievement and the unerring support of the school buoyed their spirits and they took great satisfaction in being able to claim that they were now one of the top two under 11 girls’ football teams in the country. The Earth is degenerating these days. Bribery and corruption abound, children no longer mind their parents, every man wants to write a book and it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching. - Assyrian Tablet c.2,800 BC 6
Why choose St. Simon Stock Catholic School rather than a State Grammar School? Ibelieve that the Catholic community in Maidstone and Malling needs and desires a true Catholic Comprehensive School which aims to develop the potential ability of all students from Oxbridge level to those with Additional Educational Needs.To become a Catholic High School is not an option. However, with a number of Catholic parents choosing to select Grammar School places rather than support their Catholic Comprehensive School in the past few years, I have concerns that the true Comprehensiveness is being diluted. Academic Success In 2009, the School had two students who gained Oxbridge places. Since I arrived in 2010, four students have gained Oxbridge places in Maths, Physics [2] and Biology. Several students have gained places at the Russell Group of Universities e.g. the Universities of Warwick, Manchester, Bristol, and good universities such as East Anglia, etc. These students could have gained places at State Grammar Schools; others weren’t to the standard of a Grammar School place and have been nurtured at the Catholic School towards the leading Universities. Some of those Catholic parents selecting Grammar Schools for their child are ignoring excellent examination results. In 2009, St. Simon Stock Catholic School achieved better results than three of the Grammar Schools at Advanced Level. In the mid-2000s, the School was achieving 59%-62% of students gaining 5+ ‘good’ G.C.S.E. grades. Since 2009, the results have read 71%, 86%, 84% which is an increase of more than 20% in 3 years. The recent Government Raiseonline document shows the School to be very good-outstanding on a number of academic areas including the English Baccalaureate. If your child is academically able, they should and do succeed in attaining the grades for the highest Universities open to them. As the former Head of the highest achieving non selective School in Wiltshire, our 2011 G.C.S.E. results at St. Simon Stock would have placed us 2nd in the Wiltshire non-selective League tables. As the highest achieving non-selective School in Wiltshire only one student gained an Oxbridge place compared to the 6 places offered to St. Simon Stock between 2009-12. One of our Staff recently was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Kent Messenger awards. Sporting Achievements This year we have two students who have represented England at under-20 level for athletics and women’s football respectively. Our equestrian team beat leading Independent Schools and Schools with equestrian centres at Hickstead during the year with Katie McParland of Year Brendan J. Wall Headteacher 10 winning many competitions. The Year 8 team won the Regional Final of a national football competition before losing in the semi-finals [a victory would have meant playing at Wembley Stadium]. Representative honours for sports at local and County level are common amongst the best students. Our P.E. Staff were voted ‘Maidstone P.E. Department of the Year’ for 2010 and 2011. If you are able, you can reach the highest level in your sport by attending our School. Pastoral Care Government and Diocesan Inspectors have praised the pastoral care of the School as outstanding. We were selected as one of only 2 secondary schools in Kent to be Lead Behaviour schools supporting other schools with their behaviour and only one of 20 schools nationally. In 2007, the OFSTED team had concerns about the welfare of the vulnerable pupil in the School but in the 2010 inspection OFSTED felt the improvement was outstanding. We see ourselves as fulfilling the Christian message of the Good Shepherd in the care given to students. Recently I was a member of our School party trip to Austria and Germany and the behaviour of our students was excellent. Our children are known and loved by us. They are not simply an academic child to gain qualifications. Our aim is to develop the whole person and many students including 6th form students can testify to the support shown to them. Facilities Since 2010, we have received £450,000 from the Diocese to improve the roofs and windows of the site and another £200,000 from Kent L.A. for roofs. The health and safety of the School has been much improved. The Sports Hall and the 6th form facilities are impressive. In September 2012, the Governors have agreed to an ambitious two year programme that will provide • A new entrance and reception area for parents and visitors; • A new student entrance; • An auditorium for the main Hall which includes a lecture theatre facility; • New Food Technology rooms; • New area for Music; • Improved study facilities for the 6th form. Spiritual Life What does it profit a man to gain 5+ ‘good’ G.C.S.E.s/3 A levels and lose his soul? We offer a Catholic Christian education which views the whole person as a unique child of God. We try to provide opportunities for Christian growth which non-faith State Grammar Schools do not provide-where are the explicitly Christian assemblies, the prayers during the school day, the retreats, the voluntary Friday mass, the catering which ensures fish is served on Friday to meet the Church’s recommendation, the celebration of the Eucharist with 1,000 other students? At St. Simon Stock Catholic School, they have opportunities to seek the face of Christ and meet him in prayer and learn religious education as agreed by the Catholic Church. The usual claim is that we can teach them the faith at home. In more than 30 years of Catholic education, very few are able to meet the content of a Catholic School where 10% of the curriculum is devoted to religious education [with spiritual development as part of other lessons and as part of the extra-curricular on offer]. This term our pupils have had retreats, represented the School at Southwark Diocesan Youth events and links with Catholic Schools belonging to the Carmelite and De La Salle religious orders. The key aspect of catholic education is the journey from pre-school playgroup to leaving School at 18 years as an educated Catholic student ready to share our Christian beliefs and values and be able to combat atheistic, humanistic and agnostic views in University life. Parents who decide not to send their child to the Catholic School weaken the all age vision of Catholic education offered by the Church. It can lead to a spiral of reducing the comprehensive nature of our schools. In short, St. Simon Stock Catholic School was a good school with outstanding features on my appointment in September 2010 following a successful OFSTED inspection and remains so as we move towards becoming an outstanding Catholic School. We have different things to offer compared to the Grammar Schools but we need all of our Catholic parents with children of all abilities to support our Catholic School. The success of St. Simon Stock as a beacon amongst the apartheid of Grammar and High Schools has occurred because the highest ability have helped those of lesser ability to succeed who in turn have taught the more able about aspects of academic life such as resilience, overcoming obstacles to learning, developing at a different rate. Those of middle ability when they started the School have matured and grown to become top set students as they progressed through the School. I am genuinely astonished that Catholic parents choose to go to the Grammar Schools at a time when St. Simon Stock Catholic School has the best academic results in its history; outstanding pastoral care for individuals; an outstanding opportunity for Catholic Christian spirituality and improving facilities. Above all, our students are happy and successful. Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire to Irish parents [Father came from Waterford, Mother from Mayo] Brendan Wall is the eldest of three boys [one brother lives in Dublin and the other brother in Spain]. Married, Brendan has three grown-up children-the eldest girl is a lawyer in the City of London, the boy works with a Church of England parish in London and the youngest girl is studying Theology at King’s College, London. Educated at De La Salle in Sheffield and Kintbury in Berkshire, at aged 13 years he left home and trained to become a De La Salle Brother taking temporary promises until he left the Brothers in his mid-20s. Following a degree in Religious Studies in 1980, Brendan joined the teaching staff at a De La Salle school and two years later became Head of R.E. at an independent school for girls in Reading. T wo years later, he became the Head of R.E. at one of the largest Catholic C omprehensive schools in Kirkby, a poor area outside Liverpool, for five years. In 1989 Brendan became Deputy Head [for 10 years] and later Head [for 10 years] of the highest achieving non-selective school in Wiltshire. During his time as Head, he became interim Director of Clifton Catholic Schools and Colleges; Chair of Wiltshire Headteachers Secondary and Special Schools; gained six ‘outstanding’ grades for Leadership and Management by Catholic and State inspectors between 2001-2010; became a National Leader for Education. Archbishop comes to St Francis’ School On Wednesday, 2nd May 2012, Archbishop Peter visited St Francis Primary School, Maidstone, to bless the new extension to the school buildings. Archbishop Peter with Mr David Bray (Headteacher), Mrs Angela Black (Chair of Governors) and Canon John Clark (Vice Chair) The Archbishop chatting to some of the children The Catenian Association was founded in Manchester in 1908. It is a brotherhood of over 10,000 practising Catholic men. The Catholic faith and the family are the bedrocks of the Association. There are Catenian Circles in Africa, Australia, Ireland, India and the UK. Maidstone Circle was founded in 1948. A core aim is to advance the interests of young Catholics and assist them in their choice or pursuit of their career. The Catenian Bursary Fund helps young Catholics between 16 and 25 to take part in a community-based project at home or abroad, which has a clear benefit for others as well as widening the life experience of the participant. The Catenian Association gives an opportunity to: • Meet socially with other Catholic men with similar values • Become part of a close, yet international, community offering lifelong support and friendship to members and their families • Enjoy interesting and varied social events for families • Provide collective support for the church and clergy • Receive spiritual and practical support in times of difficulty Maidstone Circle has 35 members and meets monthly. It has a wide range of social events for Brothers and families. Parishioners of Catholic Churches in Maidstone, Bearsted and West Malling are most welcome to come along to our events. There is no obligation to join the association. The St. Francis Church web site www.stfrancisparish.org.uk has all the information about the Catenians and who to contact about the Bursary Fund, our social events and joining the Catenians. 7
Page 1 and 2: Parishioner ST FRANCIS’ CHURCH IS
Page 3 and 4: Parish Trip to Margate and the Turn
Page 5: TwoGoldenWeddings Two couples from

The Parishioner - Edition 21

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