MORE than 940 staff, governors, guests and students participated in a Mass of Thanksgiving at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College in Worcester.

The mass was to celebrate the life of the college and the retirement of the principal, Sean Devlin, assistant principal, Sue Price and area leader for mathematics, Lorraine Chapman.  Between them they have served the students at the school for 85 years.

The college was honoured to welcome the Rt Rev Robert Byrne as principal celebrant along with other celebrants including Fr Brian McGinley and Fr Michael Glover of St George’s Parish, Fr Andrew Berry of St Joseph’s in Warndon and Fr Paul Johnson from St Ambrose in Hall Green, Birmingham.  All the priests are or have been college/year chaplain in the college.

Bishop Robert reminded all at the mass of the importance of God’s gifts, which are not rights such as education, food, electricity, health services and clean water.

The college choir enhanced the singing of hymns including ‘How Great Thou Art’, ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘Lord of All Hopefulness’ and concluded with the college hymn ‘This Little Light of Mine’.

Two former students Grace Whyte and Louise Ridge returned to sing ‘Pie Jesu’. 

All the guests with Bishop Robert and other celebrants enjoyed a buffet in the college library after the mass.

Frank Doran the first headteacher of the college was able to attend.  He was headteacher from 1963-1985 and laid down the foundations of the school.