Description:

Pupils from Catholic secondary schools across Scotland, Wales and England  are joining in a  pilgrimage to Twickenham to participate in the Big Assembly of over 3,500 young people who will gather to meet Pope Benedict XVI when he visits on 17th September 2010. Head Teachers have been provided with details of this event and were asked to nominate their two pupils and to send their names and details to the Catholic Education Service.

The Big Assembly

The Holy Father’s first engagement on English soil will be a gathering of 3,500 school children and students that is being billed as ‘The Big Assembly’.  The theme for the event is “I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10)

 

This event will be a celebration of Catholic education in the UK and the outstanding work that takes place in Catholic schools, colleges and higher education institutions across the country.

 

‘The Big Assembly’ coincides with the start of the academic year and will highlight the way in which the Catholic Church works with the State and local communities to provide Catholic education in nearly 3,000 schools across the United Kingdom.

This unique partnership between Church and State ensures the provision of Catholic schools with a distinctive ethos for around one million British school children, and ‘The Big Assembly’ will showcase the strong positive contribution that Catholic schools make to society as a whole.

 

Head of the School of Education at St Mary’s, Geraldine Davies, said: “The School of Education is delighted to be involved with the preparations for the ‘The Big Assembly’, a unique and historic occasion for all involved in Catholic Education.

“We are very proud that our students will be both represented in the audience but also lead participants in the ‘The Big Assembly’ itself.  It has been a privilege for us to be able to contribute to the planning and delivery of the event”

 

Format of the Event

• The Holy Father will address the gathered young people and lead the congregation in the Lord’s Prayer

• Two award winning school choirs will sing for the Holy Father and lead the congregation in three hymns

• Prayer will be led by representatives from each phase of Catholic education and will be based on the writings of John Henry Cardinal Newman

• The links between Catholic schools in the United Kingdom and other schools around the world will be celebrated through a showcase of an English school’s collaboration with its partner school in the Gambia

• The John Paul II Foundation for Sport will be launched as a schools’ project following Pope John Paul II’s vision that sport and faith should work hand in hand

 

Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Twickenham in September is said to offer an opportunity for young people of all ages to learn about the Pope: who he is and what he teaches.  The Papal visit will receive extensive media coverage, providing endless possibilities for classroom discussion and activity.

Although attendance at the events at St Mary’s is by invitation only, there is no doubt that a whole host of pilgrims will make the journey to Twickenham in the hope of a glimpse of the Holy Father. Richmond Council has confirmed the Pontiff will arrive some time before 10am and leave before 1pm but the exact details of his route to St. Marys have not been released. It is believed that he will not travel in the  'Pope Mobile'.

Order of Events

Friday, 17 September

08:00	Private Celebration of Mass in the Chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature	London
10:00	Celebration of Catholic Education, St Mary's University College, Twickenham Prayer with Representatives of Religious Congregations in St Mary's Chapel Greeting: The Holy Father Gathering with Schoolchildren and Students, Sports Arena, including the inauguration of the John Paul II Institute for Sport Address: The Holy Father
11:30	Meeting with Religious Leaders and People of Faith, Waldegrave Drawing Room, St Mary's University College, Twickenham. Speech: The Holy Father
16:00	Fraternal Visit to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Palace Speech: Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury Speech: The Holy Father
17:10	Address to Civil Society, Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster Speech: The Holy Father
18:15	Celebration of Evening Prayer, Westminster Abbey Speech: The Holy Father Speech: Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

Saturday, 18 September

09:00	Courtesy Call from the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Archbishop's House, Westminster	London
09:20	Courtesy Call from the Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, Archbishop's House, Westminster
09:30	Courtesy Call from the Acting Leader of HM Opposition, the Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP, Archbishop's House, Westminster
10:00	Mass in the Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Westminster Pope Benedict will greet 2,500 young people gathered in the Piazza to welcome him Pope Benedict will greet the people of Wales Greeting and Homily: The Holy Father
17:00	Visit to St Peter's Residence for Older People, Vauxhall Speech: The Holy Father
18:15	Prayer Vigil on the Eve of the Beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman, Hyde Park Speech: The Holy Father

Sunday, 19 September

08:00	Farewell to the Apostolic Nunciature, Wimbledon	London
08:45	Departure by Helicopter for Birmingham, Wimbledon Park
09:30	Arrival by Helicopter in Birmingham	Birmingham
10:00	Celebration of Mass with the Beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman, Cofton Park, Birmingham Homily and Angelus: The Holy Father
13:10	Private Visit to the Oratory of St Philip Neri, Edgbaston, Birmingham
13:45	Lunch with the Bishops of England, Scotland and Wales and the Papal Entourage, Oscott College
16:45	Meeting with the Bishops of England, Scotland and Wales, Seminary Chapel, Oscott College Speech: Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien Speech: Archbishop Vincent Nichols Speech: The Holy Father
18:15	Departure Ceremony, Birmingham International Airport Speech: The Holy Father
18:45	Departure by air from Birmingham International Airport
22:30	Arrival at Ciampino Airport	Rome

Twickenham & surrounding areas of Teddington, Richmond, Whitton & Hampton will be a very busy part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. There will also be  a hive of media activity in the area. Be prepared !

The Highways Agency has warned of the likelyhood of extra traffic in the areas the Pope is visiting.

 Planning manager Jenny Moten said: “Highways Agency traffic officers will be on patrol in locations where there may be additional traffic, to ensure that incidents are cleared quickly.

 

“Because of the level of traffic expected, all road-users should take particular care to plan their journeys and check traffic conditions before travelling."