End of the Jubilee Year- Pilgrims of Hope

Date: 8th Jan 2026 @ 5:26pm

Over the past year, our school community has joyfully taken part in the Jubilee Year Pilgrims of Hope. As this special year draws to a close, we reflect on the hope we have shared and the many ways we have celebrated together.

We launched the Jubilee Year last January, with every child receiving an anchor- a symbol of hope -to begin our journey. These anchors were beautifully decorated by the children and displayed around the school throughout the year as a reminder of our shared mission. Our launch assembly focused on learning about the Jubilee logo and what it represents for us as pilgrims of hope.

On Ash Wednesday, we were blessed to receive the large Jubilee anchor that had been travelling around schools in the Salford Diocese. Children from St John Bosco brought the anchor to our school, and over the following days we celebrated it through a special Mass, prayer times in school, and gatherings with our parents. We then proudly walked the anchor to St Matthew’s as it continued on its journey.

Throughout Lent, we reflected on how we could spread hope through caring for our environment. The children took part in local litter picks, recycling initiatives, and walking to school, and we raised an incredible £968 for CAFOD.

Our Jubilee celebrations continued into the summer term, when the children in Key Stage 2 spent a day on a special Jubilee prayer trail. The final station in the prayer trail focused on how we can be ‘bridge builders’, as Pope Leo XIV calls us to be. The children prayerfully completed a Visio Divina based on the artwork Jesus the Bridge, reflecting deeply on how we can build connections of love and hope in our world.

During the Jubilee Year, we have also created new prayer spaces within school, including the KS2 prayer room and the Infant Prayer Shelter. These spaces help us grow closer to God and provide opportunities for quiet reflection. We were also delighted to work with artist Belinda John to create artwork that is now displayed around the school.

In the autumn term, we celebrated a special Harvest of Hope. We gathered in prayer, listened to Scripture, reflected on our many blessings, and considered the importance of sharing with others. Families generously donated food to support the Lalley Centre, continuing our commitment to charity and service.

This charitable work continued into Advent as we supported the Caritas Bee There campaign, donating both money (£200) and items to help those in need.

Now, as the Jubilee Year closes on the Feast of the Epiphany, we continue to reflect on how we can live as pilgrims of hope in all that we do, carrying the spirit of the Jubilee forward into the future.