Assisi
Head of House: Mr A Islam
The house is named after St. Francis of Assis, founder of the Franciscan orders. Born in Italy in 1181, Francis of Assisi was born to a prosperous silk merchant and a noblewoman. Indulged by his parents, Francis lived the high-spirited life typical of a wealthy young man where he became renowned for his drinking and partying. One interaction with a beggar began to change his life, in this account, he was selling cloth in the marketplace on behalf of his father when a beggar came to him and asked for alms. At the conclusion of his business deal, Francis abandoned his wares and ran after the beggar. When he found him, Francis gave the man everything he had in his pockets. His friends mocked him for his charity; his father scolded him in rage. Later in life he was captured during a war between Assisi and Perugia and imprisoned for a ransom. He spent nearly a year in prison awaiting his father’s payment. During this time, he began receiving visions from God. Francis heard the voice of Christ, who told him to repair the Christian Church and live a life of poverty.
Consequently, he abandoned his life of luxury and became a devoted Christian, his reputation spreading all over the Christian world. Later in life, Francis reportedly received a vision that left him with the stigmata of Christ (marks resembling the wounds Jesus Christ suffered when he was crucified) making Francis the first person to receive such holy wounds.
He was canonized as a saint on July 16, 1228. Francis is remembered for his willingness to sacrifice worldly luxuries, his devotion to the poor and his desire to care for the beautiful environment entrusted to us by God. His life story has many teachings that we could all benefit from.
Goretti
Head of House: Mrs C Beetham
The House is named after Saint Maria Goretti the patron saint of purity and forgiveness. Maria is one of the youngest saints to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Born in 1890 into a poor farming family Maria was the third of six children. When she was nine her father died of malaria and the family moved in with a neighbouring family who had a son named Alessandro. When she was just 11 years old Maria was attacked and stabbed 14 times by Alessandro for rejecting his advances. She was taken to hospital but unfortunately died from her wounds. On her death bed Maria openly forgave Alessandro and expressed a wish for him to repent. Alessandro went to prison and during his time there he had a vision of Maria which ultimately led to him repenting for his crime and on leaving prison he actually became an active part of the Catholic Church. Maria’s story provides us with important lessons about faith, purity and forgiveness.
Kolbe
Head of House: Mrs S Tautavicius
The House is named after Saint Maximillian Kolbe. Kolbe was born in Poland in 1894 and was ordained as a priest in 1919. During the second world war, Kolbe was arrested and sent to Auschwitz. Despite the awful conditions of Auschwitz, people report that Kolbe retained a deep faith, equanimity and dignity in the face of appalling treatment. One day whilst in Auschwitz, a Nazi commander sentenced 10 people to death by starvation, one of the men Franciszek Gajowniczek was selected and cried out “My wife! My children!”. This is when Father Kolbe offered to die in place of Franciszek and the Nazi commander accepted this swap. The deed and courage of Maximillian Kolbe spread around the Auschwitz prisoners, offering a rare glimpse of light and human dignity in the face of extreme cruelty. Due to his selfless actions, we use the word Humility to describe House Kolbe.
Romero
Head of House: Mr M Lomas
The House is named after Saint Oscar Romero. Romero was an El Salvadorian Priest who is remembered for his steadfast commitment to improving the lives of those oppressed by a brutal government in El Salvador. Romero actively denounced violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable people and defended the principles of protecting lives, promoting human dignity and opposing all forms of violence.
Romero would often speak out against the leaders of the country. Romero states ‘The ones who have a voice must speak for those who are voiceless.’ His outspoken nature eventually led to his death on the 24th March 1980. He was shot dead outside his local church as he prepared to take communion. The day before Oscar Romero took one step too far by calling out Salvadorian soldiers to obey God's higher order and to stop carrying out the government's repression and violations of basic human rights.
Romero stated in the year of his death “As a Christian I do not believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me, I will be reborn in the Salvadoran people,” Romero's funeral was the largest demonstration in Salvadoran history as it was attended by more than 250,000 mourners from all over the world.
Due to his commitment to equity for others around him, we use the word Justice to describe House Romero.
