A special Diocesan Mass of Thanksgiving for those retiring from Catholic education was celebrated on Wednesday, July 10, at the Metropolitan Cathedral. The Mass, concelebrated by Archbishop John Sherrington, brought together staff, students, and school communities from across the archdiocese to give thanks for the dedicated service of colleagues who have faithfully contributed to Catholic education.

In his homily, Archbishop John reflected on the vital role of Catholic schools, describing them as “an ecosystem helping children to grow.” He emphasised that everyone involved in the life of a school contributes to the formation of the whole child — spiritually, morally, intellectually, and emotionally. “All play a part,” he said, “in the education of the child as a whole person.”

The Cathedral was filled with school staff, governors, family members, and friends, many of whom had come to celebrate and support those receiving retirement awards. It was moving to witness the strength of community around so many of the 64 award recipients. Their service, commitment, and vocation were acknowledged with deep gratitude as Archbishop John personally presented each award.

Those who were unable to attend the Mass will receive their awards in person at a later date.

Joan McCarthy, Director of Education for the Archdiocese, spoke of the importance of recognising the impact of those who have served in Catholic schools and colleges. “All of them have played a part,” she said. “It is important that we, as a diocese, say thank you for this vocation. Their contribution has been significant, and it deserves to be honoured.”

She also thanked the Archdiocesan Education Department for their hard work in organising the event, which was a joyful and moving occasion for all.

Music for the Mass was beautifully led by the choir from St Mary’s Catholic High School, under the direction of Danny Townley from the Cathedral. Their contribution added greatly to the prayerful and celebratory spirit of the evening.

The full list of retirees can be found here:

·       Philippa Agate St Cecilia’s  

·       Helen Ahmed Sacred Heart Leigh

·       Peter Alcock St Mary's Blackbrook  

·       Simon Anten St John Rigby  

·       Julia Ashton St Mary's Blackbrook  

·       Debbie Aspinall All Saints CPS Golborne  

·       Pauline Baker-Houghton St Teresa's of Lisieux CPS  

·       Ann Bamber St Teresa's of Lisieux CPS  

·       Linda Bannister St Anne's CPS, Knowsley

·       Pete Barnett St Teresa's of Lisieux CPS  

·       Paul Bennett Cardinal Heenan

·       Sharon Birch St Nicholas Catholic Academy  

·       Pat Blackhall Saints Peter & Paul CPS  

·       Karen Bolland All Saints CPS Golborne  

·       Louise Bowman St Michael and All Angels  

·       Cathryn Brady St Oswald's CPS

·       Carolyn Braithwaite St Nicholas Catholic Academy

·       Liz Bryne Sacred Heart CPS  

·       Wendy Burns St Brigid's CPS

·       Rebecca Carter Our Lady & St Swithin’s  

·       Peter Chapman St George's CPS  

·       Denise Christopherson Christ the King CPS  

·       Patricia Coulthard Sts Peter and Paul    

·       Bernadette Dalley Great Crosby CPS  

·       Ann Daniels Archbishop Beck  

·       Mike Davidson Archbishop Beck

·       Bernadette Davies Broughton Hall  

·       Ginette Doherty Sacred Heart Chorley  

·       Carol Doran Archbishop Beck  

·       Jim Doyle Holy Cross CPS  

·       Julie Duffy St Marys Birchley

·       Jane Dugdale St Bartholomew's CPS

·       Clair Fealy All Saints  

·       Cathy Flaherty De La Salle

·       Tony Ford Corpus Christi  

·       Linda Frediani-Bellis Our Lady Star of the Sea  

·       Bev Gaskell Sacred Heart CPS  

·       Anne Georgiou St Stephens  

·       Susan Green Our Lady of Lourdes CPS

·       Joanne Grimes St Cuthberts CHS  

·       Cathy Harper Our Lady Star of the Sea  

·       Susan Haydock All Hallows Penwortham  

·       Joan Heath St Paul and St Timothy's CPS  

·       Philippa  Hible Hope Academy

·       Miriam Higgins Archbishop Beck

·       Carol Hogan Archbishop Beck

·       Louise Hough MBE Resonate Music Hub, Notre Dame Catholic Academy  

·       Sue Houghton Great Crosby CPS  

·       Catherine Hughes St Gregory's CPS, Netherley  

·       Mike Hurle St Basils CPS  

·       Sr Margaret Jenkins SND Notre Dame Catholic Academy  

·       Brenda Jones Notre Dame Catholic Academy  

·       Gail Jones Runnymede St Edward's CPS  

·       Dominic Jones St John Rigby  

·       Liz Kelly Emmaus School

·       Steve Kenny Archbishop Beck  

·       Christine Kenny Notre Dame Catholic Academy  

·       Margaret Kerbey St Edmunds and St Thomas CPS  

·       Joan Maguire All Saints  

·       Pauline Maguire Great Crosby CPS  

·       Julie Marston All Saints CPS Golborne  

·       Helen McCahey St Julie's CPS  

·       Peter McGhee St John Rigby  

·       Pamela McGuffie Our Lady of Perpetual Succour CPS  

·       Margaret McKenna St Monica's CPS  

·       Patricia McKenna-Smith St Patrick's Catholic Primary School  

·       Leon McMullen Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Engineering College  

·       Susan Morgan St Teresa of Lisieux CPS

·       Tricia Mulholland Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School  

·       Sheila Murphy Saints Peter & Paul CPS  

·       Ken Murphy St Chads  

·       Bernadette Murphy St Joseph's Chorley  

·       Elaine Neary Notre Dame Catholic Academy  

·       Theresa Poskitt Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Engineering College  

·       Julie Price St Marie's CPS

·       Christina Pritchard St Matthew's CPS  

·       Sue Quane Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Engineering College

·       Martin Quinn Sts Peter and Paul Haresfinch  

·       Yvonne Quirk Christ the King CPS  

·       Anne Radford Holy Name  

·       Alyson Rigby St Michael's CPS

·       Sandra Russell All Saints CPS Golborne  

·       June Scally All Saints CPS Golborne  

·       Sue Scrutton All Saints

·       Bernadette Sefton St Cuthberts CPS  

·       Catherine Sergeant Our Lady Immaculate  

·       Julie Shipley St Margaret Mary’s Junior School  

·       Marie Smith Archbishop Beck  

·       Sheena Smith St Augustine of Canterbury  

·       Christine Smith St Basils CPS  

·       Lorraine Styles Notre Dame Catholic Academy  

·       Jane Talbot-Davies St Marys Birchley  

·       Chris Temple Great Crosby CPS  

·       Andrew Tremarco St Teresa of Lisieux  

·       Louise Vose St Mary & St John

·       Patsy Wade St Austin's  

·       Sharon Walton Saints Peter & Paul CPS  

·       Sue Warburton St Columba's CPS

·       Julie Wellens De La Salle  

·       Bridget West Our Lady of Lourdes CPS  

·       Lesley White Hope Academy  

·       Lesley Whitfield St Marys Junior  

·       Rebecca Wilkinson St Margaret Mary’s Junior School  

·       Susan Williams Our Lady of Perpetual Succour CPS  

·       Bernadette Wood St Oswald's CPS, Longton  

·       Christine Woodhouse Blessed Sacrament  

·       Shirley Woods St John Bosco Arts College  

·       Gillian Yorke St John Rigby