Bishop Philip writes about his visit to St Bernadette’s and St Patrick’s Catholic Primary Schools.

Last Thursday, I visited two impressive Catholic schools in Farnborough, both primary schools and now federated together: St. Bernadette’s in Tile Barn Close and St. Patrick’s in Avenue Road. St. Bernadette’s is led by Peter Lynch and his staff and here I am pictured with some of the school’s student chaplains. The visit there was in the morning, and it began with a Holy Half Hour of Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction in the school hall, attended by staff, governors and the children of Years Four, Five and Six. After a brief tour of the school, I then met with the Senior Leadership team and Chair of Governors. Both schools are one-form entry. At St. Bernadette’s, about 66% of the pupils are Catholic and 33% of the staff and support staff. I then went over to St. Patrick’s for the afternoon, following a similar programme. This time, it was Years Three, Four, Five and Six who joined us for Eucharistic Adoration and prayer. St. Patrick’s is led by Alison Tong, the Headteacher and her team. Again, about two-thirds of the pupils are Catholic and about 60% of the teachers and support staff. Ged Owens, who is the Head of Salesian College, is generously the Chair of Governors for both these schools. It was a joy to visit them and I was very impressed in both with the children’s enthusiastic singing of the O salutaris and the Tantum ergo, and even more with their total silence and concentration during Adoration. The sense of prayer was palpable. Our gratitude and thanks to the head teachers and others, and also to Canon PJ and Catherine Hobbs, who helped make these two schools visits so successful and memorable.