12 October 2022
Duchesne was the first of Woldingham’s Houses to celebrate its annual Mass and Feast this academic year. House Captains Pam and Teni organised an excellent pirate-themed afternoon tea on Thursday 6 October, complete with games and quizzes, and ‘lashings’ of sandwiches, scones and cake. Afterwards, Fr Gerry led Mass in the chapel, celebrating the life and work of House Patron, St Rose Philippine Duchesne, who travelled to the USA in 1818 and set up the first Sacred Heart School outside of Europe, in Missouri, founding many more in her 34 years in the country.
This week, Duchesne and Woldingham’s other three Houses started fundraising for their chosen charities for the year. Food has been heavily involved, with cake and cookie sales and a guess the number of sweets in the jar competition, along with the chance to name – and win – a cuddly toy sloth. All this fun is underpinned by the desire to support the good work of the House charities, which are:
Barat House - The Lily Foundation, the UK's leading mitochondrial disease charity and the largest charitable funder of mitochondrial research in Europe.
Digby House – Friends of Rosie, a volunteer-led charity that provides funding for children’s cancer research to get new ideas off the ground.
Duchesne House – Access Adventures, a charity which delivers life-changing adaptive sports & activities designed to challenge expectations and build self-confidence for people with disabilities.
Stuart House - Little Village, a charity which supports families with babies and children under five living in poverty across London.