25 November 2020
Mrs Emma Love, Head of Stuart House
On Tuesday 24 November, Stuart House gathered for our annual Mass and Feast in celebration of our House patron, Janet Erskine Stuart. In a change to previous years because of COVID restrictions, Mass took place in the chapel for the Marden girls and was live-streamed (thanks to Mr Skelly and Mr Cooper) to surrounding classrooms for the other year groups. Communion was administered in the chapel by Ching, our Sacred Heart Ribbon, and in the quad by Father Gerry so the whole House community was able to receive either communion or a blessing. Our readers were Year 7s Vaishvi and Felicity, and our House Captains, Lara and Charlotte. Miss Pendlebery and I shared the address where we spoke about the life and philosophies of Mother Stuart. Music was provided by Mr Hargreaves, with the assistance of Sephora in Year 9 and Cherry in Year 10. It was slightly odd not being able to sing the hymns all together, but a great opportunity for Mr Hargreaves and Father Gerry to show off their voices!
After the service, we processed in our bubbles to various rooms in Main House where a boxed tea had been laid on by catering. The finger sandwiches, very chocolatey cookies and doorstop wedges of Victoria sponge cake went down a treat! It was a really enjoyable afternoon and several people commented that they preferred the event being less formal and more sociable than in previous years – perhaps a positive outcome of current circumstances, and the beginning of a new tradition.
Comments from Mardeners included: “The best bit of the Mass was the older girls singing because it just made me feel so happy and relaxed.” “The House feast was amazing.” “The best bit about the tea was being able to just relax and socialise with my friends.”
Huge thanks to all who helped make this such an enjoyable event.
