On the 20th of November 2025, Bishop Bosco commissioned 478 pupils to become members of the chaplaincy teams in their schools. The readings were based on the Jubilee Year of Hope. The schools were each given a pilgrim’s shell, and all pupils were given a special Jubilee passport to stamp at the Cathedral. Bishop Bosco celebrated the Mass and was joined by Mgr Liam Slattery, the Dean of Clifton Cathedral, Father Michael Thomas, Father Gary Brassington, Father Thomas Lawes and Deacon John Andrews.
During the homily Bishop Bosco talked about the role of the Chaplaincy team. He said they had been entrusted with something sacred, Christ’s mission to bring hope into their schools. He explained that one small thing, one act of kindness such as opening a door for someone, saying thank you, praying for someone, helping them and showing others kindness spreads like sunshine shining through clouds. Bishop Bosco used the words of St Augustine of Hippo to describe how God’s grace has the potential for ordinary people to love. ‘To fall in love with God is the greatest love, to seek Him is the greatest adventure, to find Him the greatest Human achievement’. Bishop Bosco encouraged the chaplaincy teams to return to school and show peace and forgiveness, care for creation and be a ‘People of Hope.’ He inspired them with a message that Pope Leo had said, echoing the words of St John Paul II, “Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!”
At the end of the Mass, Mandy Baker, the lay chaplain at St Peter’s High in Gloucester was presented with a certificate from Bishop Bosco. This was to thank Mandy, who is retiring in December, for her 22 years of dedicated and devoted service to the High school, the Catholic primary schools and Catholic parishes in Gloucester and Cheltenham.
The inclusive choir of St Gregory’s Catholic College led the singing during the Mass and sang acclamations in memorial of the former headteacher, Ann Cusack. A pupil from St Peter’s High in Gloucester proclaimed the first reading and pupils from St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary in Bristol read the prayers of the faithful beautifully. Pupils from Holy Family Catholic Primary, Swindon bought up the gifts during the offertory. Schools had the opportunity to have their photographs taken with Bishop Bosco and the Vatican’s official mascot for the 2025 Jubilee, Luce.
