House Saints
We have four House Saints, and each child will be part of one of these saintly communities. Our House Saints are St Teresa of Calcutta, St Pope John Paul II, St Josephine Bakhita, and Blessed Carlo Acutis. Each saint serves as a role model, inspiring our children to grow in faith, kindness, and perseverance.
St Teresa of Calcutta
Feast Day: 5th September
St Teresa of Calcutta, known to the world as Mother Teresa, was born in 1910 in Skopje (now North Macedonia) as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. From a young age, she felt called to serve God and help the poor. At 18, she joined a religious order and moved to India, where she taught in a school for many years.
While travelling through the streets of Calcutta (now Kolkata), she saw the extreme poverty and suffering around her. She felt God calling her to leave her school work and instead live among the poorest people, helping them directly. She began the Missionaries of Charity, a group of sisters who cared for the sick, homeless, and dying.
Once, she was asked to take care of a very sick man who had no family and was very dirty and weak. Many people were afraid of him, but she showed courage and love, cleaning him and caring for him until he was comfortable. She always forgave people who were mean or unkind to her and kept helping everyone with patience and kindness.
Her work spread all over the world, inspiring millions. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and was declared a saint in 2016 because of her life of sacrifice, faith, and love.
How we can be like her:
- Care for those in need, even in small ways.
- Treat every person with dignity and respect.
- Give our time and attention to help others.
- Forgive those who are unkind and show patience.
- Be brave when helping people who need us the most.
Catholic Social Teaching link:
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable – Mother Teresa helped people who were very poor, sick, or had no one to care for them. She put their needs first.
- Life and Dignity of the Human Person – She treated every person with love and respect, no matter how poor or sick they were, because everyone is special to God.
- Solidarity – She stood alongside people who were suffering, sharing in their struggles and showing they were not alone.
Whole School Prayer to St. Teresa of Calcutta
Dear St. Teresa of Calcutta,
You cared for the poorest and the sick,
showing them God’s love through your hands and heart.
Help us to see Jesus in everyone we meet.
Teach us to be kind, generous, and brave,
even when it is hard.
Pray for us, so we may bring God’s love to the world.
Amen.
St Pope John Paul II
Feast Day: October 22nd
St Pope John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyła in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland, lived through the hardship of World War II. Despite losing his family at a young age, he kept his strong faith and hope in God. He studied secretly to become a priest when it was dangerous to do so.
He became Pope in 1978 and led the Church for 27 years. He travelled more than any Pope before him, visiting over 100 countries. He spoke about the value of each person, the importance of peace, and the need to forgive. In 1981, he was shot, but he forgave the man who hurt him.
How we can be like him:
- Forgive people who hurt us.
- Stand up for what is right and fair.
- Be a friend to people from all countries and backgrounds.
- Pray for peace in our world.
Catholic Social Teaching link:
- Dignity of the Human Person – He valued every life and taught that everyone is made in God’s image.
- Solidarity – He supported people all over the world and worked for unity and peace.
Whole School Prayer to Pope St. John Paul II
Dear St. John Paul II,
You taught us to be brave and joyful,
and to see God’s love in every person.
Help us to stand up for what is right,
to forgive those who hurt us,
and to bring peace wherever we go.
Pray for us, so we may live with faith, hope, and love.
Amen.
St Josephine Bakhita
Feast Day: 8th February
Josephine Bakhita was born in 1869 in Darfur, Sudan. As a young child, she was kidnapped by slave traders and sold into slavery. She endured many hardships, but through it all, she trusted God and kept her heart full of hope and kindness.
Eventually, Josephine was taken to Italy, where she was treated with care and eventually gained her freedom. She chose to become a nun and joined the Canossian Sisters, dedicating her life to prayer, teaching, and caring for others. She always forgave those who had hurt her and shared God’s love with everyone she met.
Josephine Bakhita was canonized a saint in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. Her life teaches us that even in the face of suffering, forgiveness, courage, and faith in God can guide us.
How we can be like her:
- Forgive those who hurt us, even when it is hard.
- Care for people in need.
- Trust God in difficult times.
- Live with courage, kindness, and faith.
Catholic Social Teaching link:
- Life and Dignity of the Human Person – every human being has value.
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable – support people who suffer or are disadvantaged.
- Solidarity – stand with others and help them in their struggles.
Prayer to St. Josephine Bakhita
Dear St. Josephine Bakhita,
You loved God and forgave everyone,
even when life was hard.
Please help me to be kind,
to forgive others,
and to remember that every person is special to God.
Pray for me so I can follow Jesus
with a happy and loving
Blessed Carlo Acutis
Feast Day: 12th October 2025
Blessed Carlo Acutis was born in London in 1991 but grew up in Milan, Italy. From a young age, he had a deep love for God, going to Mass every day and praying the Rosary. He was skilled with computers and used them to create websites about Eucharistic miracles, so more people could learn about Jesus in the Eucharist.
Carlo was also known for helping the poor in his community, including buying sleeping bags for people who had no home. When he was 15, he became very ill with leukaemia. He faced his illness with courage, saying, “I’m happy to die because I’ve lived my life without wasting a minute on things that don’t please God.” He was declared “Blessed” in 2020.
How we can be like him:
- Use our talents to serve God and others.
- Help people in need.
- Live in a way that makes God happy.
- Stay close to God through prayer and the sacraments.
Catholic Social Teaching link:
- Dignity of the Human Person – He showed respect and love for everyone, using his gifts for good.
- Family & Community – He encouraged others to take part in the life of the Church and help others.
Whole School Prayer to Blessed Carlo Acutis
Dear God,
Thank you for giving us Carlo,
who loved Jesus and the Eucharist.
He prayed to Mary and helped the poor.
Please help me to follow his example,
to love Jesus, help others, and be kind.
Let Carlo’s smile and joy guide us all.
Amen.
