St Bonaventure’s Roman Catholic School hosted a delegation of Franciscan brothers from the United States, including Fr Casey Cole OFM, who runs Breaking In The Habit on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, and is the author of many books. He visited the school on 22 April alongside Fr Jason Damon OFM, Fr Roberto “Tito” Serrano OFM, and Fr Yusuf Bagh OFM.
The day of mission and reflection, which was part of the school’s ongoing celebration for the Jubilee Year of St Francis, centred around talks with students across various year groups, sharing insights into the life of a Franciscan friar and the beauty of a vocation dedicated to service and the Gospel. The friars' message focused on the Franciscan way of life and its core values in humility, respect, and unconditional love, encouraging students to be instruments of peace in their daily lives with their families, friends, and people around them in the community.
The friars also joined students in celebrating Holy Mass at St Antony of Padua Church in Forest Gate, a beautiful moment of prayer and thanksgiving for the school and its foundations and Franciscan heritage. The friars are in the UK for the International Franciscan Conference in Durham, which members of the leadership attended. They have then been visiting university chaplaincies around the country before heading to London, including a personal pilgrimage to St Francis of Assisi Parish in Stratford, as one of the dedicated churches for the Jubilee year.
The impact of the friars' presence was deeply felt by students:
- "It was a great opportunity to meet the brothers and be inspired by their way of Franciscan life. They provided excellent insight into the reality of being a friar in the modern world and the work they do on a daily basis."
- "Seeing them in their traditional brown robes and sandals was striking because it showed they are not influenced by trends and gave me a clear understanding of the simple life they live. The best part was realising that they are humble, down to earth, and bring positive energy to those around them."
- "It’s always a privilege to discuss faith with those who are fully devoted to it. The experience felt like a mini spiritual retreat at school."
Christopher McCormack, Headteacher, said: "Our entire school community was deeply touched and inspired by the visit of these three remarkable Franciscans. As a school with a rich and deeply rooted Franciscan heritage, it was wonderful to witness that charism so vibrantly alive in the world today. The day offered a powerful and authentic example to all within our community. They reminded us that the Franciscan spirit is not simply a legacy of the past, but a living call to action, encouraging each of us to serve others with generosity, joy, and faith."
St Bonaventure’s was founded on its current site in 1877 by the Franciscan Friars, making it one of the oldest Catholic boys’ schools in the country. It is also one of the most successful schools in the London Borough of Newham, with 35% of Year 13 students securing places at Oxford, Cambridge or prestigious Russell Group universities in 2025. Next year the school is planning to celebrate its 150th anniversary with a series of events.
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