Love the Stranger
This is a publication by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales’ Department for International Affairs which articulates our Christian duty to look beyond labels and see the person who has left their homeland in search of a better life.
Rerum Novarum
In May 1891 Pope Leo XIII published an encyclical with the Latin title Rerum Novarum, the first papal document to address the issue of the plight of industrial workers. The letter was a key stage in the development of Catholic Social Teaching. An international conference in 2021 looked at the theology and historical background of what Pope Leo wrote and its continuing importance. The letter shows the Catholic community beginning to engage with the ‘world of work’, and this tradition has developed so much in the last 130 years; the conference also looked at these changes.
More information on the conference is available here.
To read the encyclical letter (PDF) click here.
Fratelli Tutti
Published in October 2020, Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, Fratelli Tutti (‘Brothers and Sisters All’) is available to read/download direct from the Vatican website here. Fr Ashley, now Parish Priest at West Wickham, described the encyclical as “a major teaching document in relation to the social teaching of the Catholic Church”. He has written a brief initial introduction to the Pope’s letter which you can read here.
Parish Schools
St. Mary’s Primary School – Our Parish School
St. Mary’s is a two-form entry Catholic Primary School situated in Beckenham; our school serves the parishes of St. Edmund’s, Beckenham, St. Mark’s, West Wickham and Our Lady of the Rosary, Hayes. For admission to Reception, 31 places are reserved for parishioners of St. Edmund’s. The school’s Section 48 inspection in February 2009 judged St. Mary’s as being ‘a warm, welcoming and inclusive community with an emphasis on teamwork’. Our staff is made up of experienced, caring teachers and teaching assistants who make learning interesting and enjoyable. For information regarding school admissions, please contact the school office on 020 8650 2355 or email. For more information, visit the school’s website: http://www.st-marys-catholic.bromley.sch.uk
The pre-reference forms for admission to Saint Mary’s are now available. They may be obtained from one of the clergy after any Sunday Mass. They are not available from the Office. Vacancies in classes other than Reception arise from time to time. To be included on the waiting list for a place at the school, please complete the Local Authority in-year admissions form and contact the school for a supplementary information form. Visit www.bromley.gov.uk and follow the link to admissions. Please contact the school by EMAIL or telephone 020 8650 2355 if you require further information or assistance.
Other schools
Catholic Secondary schools attended by parishioners include:
Coloma Convent Girls School, Addiscombe, tel. 020 8654 6228
The London Oratory, Fulham, tel. 020 7385 0102
The John Fisher School, Purley, tel 020 8660 4555
St. Joseph’s College, Beulah Hill, tel 020 8761 1426
Bonus Pastor Catholic College, Bromley, tel 020 8695 2100
Secondary School Transfer
The Pre-reference form for Catholic schools is available here.
Data Privacy Statement
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark Data Privacy Statement is available HERE.