House System

Houses

Bakhita

House Leadership

Ms Aslett - Head of House

Mrs Watson - House Manager

House Saint

Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in Africa in 1869, but this was not the name her parents gave her. She was born into a happy, wealthy family, but before she was 9 she was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Bakhita, which means “lucky”, was the name given to her by her kidnappers. She was re-sold several times. In 1883 she was bought by Callisto Legnani who was the Italian consul in Khartoum in Sudan. Two years later, Callisto Legnani took Josephine to Italy and gave her to his friend Augusto Michieli.

Bakhita looked after Augusto’s daughter, Mimmina. While Mimmina was being taught about what it meant to be a Catholic by the Canossian Sisters, Josephine felt drawn to the Catholic Church. In 1890 she was baptised and confirmed, this was when she chose the name Josephine.

When the Michieli family wanted to take Josephine back with them to Africa, she refused to go. This led to a court case and during this the Canossian Sisters spoke up for Josephine. The judge decided that because slavery was illegal in Italy, she had actually been free since 1885.

Josephine now became a Canossian Sister. She lived in Italy, helping in her religious community by cooking and sewing, for 45 years. Bakhita said, “If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and Religious today.”

In 2000 Bakhita was canonised by Pope John Paul II.

St Bakhita’s Feast Day is 8th February.

Francis

House Leadership

Mr Jukes - Head of House

Miss Back - House Manager

House Saint

Francis was born at Assisi in Umbria, Italy, in 1181 into a wealthy family, but he gave up his wealth to lead a simple life. He said life was not about what you have, but what you give away. Our school prayer is the Prayer to St Francis.

Francis founded the Franciscan Order. He said, “Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received – only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.” He believed that all of God’s creation had the same rights to help and protection, that includes all people, animals and the environment. It was Francis who designed the first Nativity set. He is also the first man ever recorded to receive the Stigmata (the wounds of Christ). Francis died on 3 October 1226. He was canonised as a saint two years after his death on 16 July 1228 by Pope Gregory IX. St Francis said to “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you will be doing the impossible.”

St Francis of Assisi’s feast day is 4th October.

Kolbe

House Leadership

Mrs Davies Head of House

Mrs Hyde House Manager

House Saint

Maximilian Kolbe was born in Poland on 8th January 1894. Kolbe was a Franciscan Friar who was devoted to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Kolbe was strongly influenced by Mary from 1906 when she appeared to him in a vision. This is how he described that vision, “That night I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both.”

Kolbe was ordained a priest in 1918.

In 1941 the Nazis imprisoned Fr Maximilian in the Auschwitz death camp. There he offered his life for another prisoner. He was starved to death, and died on 14th August 1941.

Kolbe said, “The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him to the greatest extent of our powers.”
In 1982 Kolbe was canonised a saint by Pope John Paul II.

St Maximillian Kolbe’s Feast Day is 14th August.