Each Lent pupils and students raise funds for Catholic Care through a variety of ingenious and often wacky activities which they then present to Bishop Marcus at the Good Shepherd Celebration. The total raised this year was £29,818.12.

It’s lovely to hear the passion and enthusiasm the young people have for this great cause, and the ways in which they raise funds. This year there were some additions to the ever-growing list of fundraising activities, including: the ever-popular selling toast; bring a cuddly toy to school day; saints day dress down day; bend the rules day; culture day; pre-loved books sale; and (the teachers’ favourite) sponsored silence.

This was a special year for the celebration, recognising Catholic Care’s 160^th Anniversary from its humble beginnings in 1863.

The presenting school this year was St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Hunslet, Leeds. They read a number of readings emphasising the virtues of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Their singing was beautiful, as was that of singers from the Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

As groups left the cathedral to return to school, there were many happy faces and comments about how much everyone had enjoyed the celebration.

Photographs courtesy of Patrick Sice.