At St Joseph’s all the children are grouped into houses, and each house has a patron saint.  Our House Saints were carefully chosen to represent the cultural heritage of our pupils.  Information about them can be found below.

Saint Margaret Clitherow

Born      c. 1556 York, Yorkshire, England

Died: 25 March 1586 (aged 29–30) York, Yorkshire, England        

Fears Day: 25 October (together with the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, in Wales)

Patron: business woman, converts, martyrs, Catholic women's league, Latin Mass Society

Margaret risked her life by harbouring and maintaining priests. Margaret was arrested and called before the York for the crime of harbouring Catholic priests. She was sentenced to death and was executed on Lady Day, 1586, (which also happened to be Good Friday that year) in the Toll Booth at Ouse Bridge.

St Margaret Clitherow inspires us at St Joseph’s to stay true to our faith even in very hard times.

 

Saint Oscar Romero

Born: Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez 15 August 1917 in El Salvador

Died: 24 March 1980 (aged 62)

Feast Day: 24 March

As archbishop, Romero spoke out against social injustice and violence amid the escalating conflict between the military government and left-wing insurgents that led to the Salvadoran Civil War. In 1980, Romero was shot by an assassin while celebrating Mass,

St Oscar Romero teaches us that it is important to speak out when we see injustice and hurt.

 

Saint Bernadette

Born: Bernadette Soubirous 7 January 1844 Lourdes, France

Died: 16 April 1879 (aged 35) France

Feast Day: 18 February (France) / 16 April (elsewhere)

On 11 February 1858, St Bernadette, then aged 14, was out gathering firewood with her sister near the grotto when she experienced her first vision. She continued to see ‘the vision’ for many days after.

She described the lady as wearing a white veil, a blue girdle and with a yellow rose on each foot – compatible with "a description of any statue of the Virgin in a village church".

St Bernadette teaches us that we must open our hearts and minds to allow our faith in.

 

Saint Anthony

Born: 15^th August 1195 Lisbon Portugal
Died: 13^th June 1231 Padua Italy

Feast Day: June 13

Patron:  of Lost Things

 

Anthony of Padua was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. He was born and raised by a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, and died in Padua, Italy. Noted by his contemporaries for his powerful preaching, expert knowledge of scripture, and undying love and devotion to the poor and the sick.

St Anthony inspires us to ensure the poor and sick are cared for and looked after.

 

Saint Pope John Paul II

Born: 18^th May 1920  in Poland
Died: 2 April 2005

Feast Day: 22^nd October
Patron: Families, Young Catholics

 

John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI in the 16th century, as well as the third-longest serving pope in history after Pius IX and St Peter.  John Paul II attempted to improve the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the spirit of ecumenism. He put emphasis on family and identity, and he was one of the most travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate.

St Pope John Paul II inspires us to spread the word of God wherever we go. Our message of love and peace is an important one.