Catholic Life and Mission

Oscar Romero Award

At St Philomena's Catholic Primary School, we are proud to be a Participator School in the Oscar Romero Award. This recognises our commitment to living out Catholic Social Teaching through prayer, learning and action, following the example of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who dedicated his life to standing up for justice, peace and the dignity of every person.

The Oscar Romero Award encourages our whole school community to place Gospel values at the heart of everything we do. Through acts of service, charitable outreach, care for creation and a commitment to social justice, our pupils learn that faith is something to be lived each day.

Building on this achievement, we have now submitted our evidence for the Developer Award. This reflects our continued commitment to embedding Catholic Social Teaching across our curriculum and school life, empowering our pupils to become compassionate, courageous and active citizens who work for the common good.

Class Saints

At St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School, each class has a special saint who accompanies and inspires the children throughout the year. These saints provide a wonderful example of faith, courage and love, reminding us that everyone is called to grow in holiness and follow God’s path.

Through learning about the lives of the saints, children discover how they used their gifts, trusted in God and lived out the teachings of Jesus. Their stories encourage us to reflect on our own choices and how we can share God’s love with those around us.

Our class saints also help us to explore the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, showing us how faith can be put into action through kindness, service, compassion and care for others. They remind us that even small acts of love can make a meaningful difference in our school and wider community.

Reception – St Francis of Assisi

Feast Day: 4 October
Patron Saint of Animals and Creation

St Francis of Assisi was chosen for our youngest children because he had a special love for God’s creation and all living things. He saw the beauty of God in nature and treated all creatures with kindness and care.

Catholic Social Teaching link:
St Francis is a wonderful example of Stewardship: Care for Creation, reminding us that the world is a precious gift from God and that we all have a responsibility to protect and care for it.

Year 1 – St Bernadette of Lourdes

Feast Day: 16 April
Patron Saint of the Sick

St Bernadette was chosen for Year 1 because she showed great humility, faith and compassion. Through her experiences at Lourdes, she became a symbol of hope and healing for people throughout the world.

Catholic Social Teaching link:
St Bernadette inspires us to live out Human Dignity and the Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable by showing compassion, kindness and care for those who are sick or suffering.

Year 2 – St Joseph

Feast Day: 19 March
Patron Saint of Workers and Families

St Joseph was chosen for Year 2 because he was a loving and faithful man who cared for Jesus and Mary. Through his work as a carpenter, he showed the value of responsibility, dedication and service.

Catholic Social Teaching link:
St Joseph reflects The Common Good and Participation, teaching us that everyone has gifts to share and an important role to play in building a caring community.

Year 3 – St Anthony of Padua

Feast Day: 13 June
Patron Saint of Lost Things

St Anthony was chosen for Year 3 because he was a great teacher who used his knowledge and faith to help others. He dedicated his life to sharing God’s message and guiding people towards Christ.

Catholic Social Teaching link:
St Anthony demonstrates Participation and Solidarity, showing us that we are called to use our talents and knowledge to support and serve others.

Year 4 – St Thomas More

Feast Day: 22 June
Patron Saint of Teachers, Lawyers and Public Servants

St Thomas More was chosen for Year 4 because he was a man of courage, wisdom and integrity. He remained faithful to his beliefs and stood up for truth and justice.

Catholic Social Teaching link:
St Thomas More inspires us to live out Promoting Peace and Distributive Justice by standing up for what is right and working towards a fairer world.

Year 5 – St Paul the Apostle

Feast Day: 29 June
Patron Saint of the Church and Mission

St Paul was chosen for Year 5 because his life shows the power of transformation and the importance of sharing the Good News. He travelled widely to spread the message of Jesus and build Christian communities.

Catholic Social Teaching link:
St Paul encourages us to live out Solidarity, reminding us that we are one global family called to share God’s love with others.

Year 6 – St Joan of Arc

Feast Day: 30 May
Patron Saint of Courage and Young People

St Joan of Arc was chosen for Year 6 because she showed great courage, faith and determination from a young age. She trusted in God and used her voice to bring about change.

Catholic Social Teaching link:
St Joan of Arc reflects Participation and Human Dignity, reminding us that every person has a voice, unique gifts and the ability to make a difference.

Living as a Community of Saints

Our class saints remind us that we are all called to follow Jesus and live lives of love and service. Through their examples, our children are encouraged to put Catholic Social Teaching into action and become compassionate, courageous and faithful members of our school and wider community.

Charity Work

Serving Our Community Through Charity and Action

At St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School, our mission calls us to serve our community by following the example of Jesus through love, compassion and generosity. We believe that faith is lived out through action, and that every member of our school community has a part to play in caring for others.

Our approach to charity is rooted in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. We encourage our children to recognise the dignity of every person, show compassion towards those in need and understand that service is not only about giving money. Charity is also expressed through kindness, sharing, prayer, time, friendship and practical support.

We are mindful of the many requests placed upon families and our wider community, and we aim to support charitable causes in a thoughtful and meaningful way. Our focus is on helping children understand why we give, who we are supporting and how even small acts of love can make a difference.

Throughout the year, our school community supports a range of charities and causes. Our Lenten Walk raises money for the Catholic Children’s Society, helping children to understand the importance of supporting others facing difficult circumstances. Through our pre-loved uniform initiative, we support families within our own school community while promoting sustainability and care for creation.

We take part in community and national events such as the Greenwich Mini Marathon, raising funds for a local hospice, Children in Need, the Poppy Appeal and our Christmas charity jumper day. These opportunities help children see that they are connected to a wider community and can make a positive difference beyond our school.

We are proud to support CAFOD and to help children develop a sense of global responsibility by learning about the lives of people around the world. Our Harvest collection allows us to share our blessings with local food banks, supporting those in our local area who may need additional help.

Our service also extends to acts of kindness that do not involve fundraising. Following our Crowning of Mary celebration, children share flowers with residents in local care homes, bringing joy and building relationships with members of our wider community. Children also take part in prayer, environmental projects and everyday acts of kindness that reflect Jesus’ call to love and serve others.

Through all of these experiences, our children learn that they have the ability to make a difference. At St Philomena’s, we strive to nurture hearts that are generous, compassionate and ready to serve — living out our mission by caring for one another and our wider community.