The Trust once again held its Beginning of the Year Mass at the beautiful Aylesford Priory on Wednesday 27 September 2023; it was a wonderful, uplifting morning and attended by 30 schools from across the Trust and the county.
 

Bishop Paul Hendricks, the Auxiliary Bishop for the Kent Area of Southwark, very kindly celebrated Mass for us, with Father James Teeling and Deacon Gehad Homsey concelebrating, and Mass included the commissioning of all of the Trust's new Headteachers and also of our new pupils.
 

Pupils and colleagues from across our family of Catholic schools took part by reading, singing, leading prayers, and providing all of the wonderful music, and some very talented pupils from St Benedict's Primary in Medway led a special Gospel Reflection.

The event finished with a giant picnic on the Priory's lawn for all; it was a fabulous day, and there was an incredible atmosphere of celebration, as you'll see from the pictures below.

Our grateful thanks to the Priory for their generous hospitality, to everyone who supported and contributed to a wonderful day, and to Bishop Paul, and to all the clergy, for leading us today and all days; for their guidance and for their prayers.