Bishop Nicholas Hudson praises London school’s “200 years of faithful service”
Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Westminster, celebrated Mass on 20th September in St Aloysius church, Somers Town, for the 50th anniversary of Maria Fidelis Catholic School.
Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ has a long and interesting history dating back to the French Revolution when the Abbé Carron came to England to minister to the French exiles who had settled in Somerstown, North London. He opened schools in the area and named them after St. Aloysius, the young Jesuit scholastic, who was canonised at this time and who has been declared the patron of Catholic youth.
Maria Fidelis is descended from one of these schools.
In September, 1974, Maria Fidelis Comprehensive School was formed by the merger of St. Aloysius Grammar School with St. Vincent’s Secondary School which was run by the Sisters of Charity. The name Maria Fidelis was chosen because of the devotion of both religious congregations to Our Lady. Mary was faithful to her son, Jesus, right to the foot of the cross, and the motto of our school is just one word ‘Fidelity’.
Bishop Hudson opened the Mass by saying, ‘Heartfelt congratulations are due to Maria Fidelis on the 50th anniversary of the merger of St Aloysius and St Vincent’s Schools, and so your foundation. Still louder congratulations are due to the FCJs, the Faithful Companions of Jesus, who founded the School and will soon be celebrating 200 years of faithful service to the education of Catholics in this part of London. From the Faithful Companions of Jesus, Maria Fidelis derives its motto: Fidelity. Fidelity means, at heart, faithful service – faithful service to God, to your neighbour, to one another.’
Bishop Nicholas went on, in his homily, to describe inspiring examples of faithful service which he had witnessed in his own life. After Mass, he joined in a reception at Maria Fidelis School for FCJ Sisters, pupils, former pupils, teachers, former teachers, and governors.
