This year’s Harvest Festival celebrations at Loyola Prep were made all the more special thanks to the incredible generosity of our boys and their families. Throughout the year, we collect food donations to support those in need in our local community, with key collection times at Easter, through our Easter Egg Appeal, and most recently with our Cereal Box Domino Challenge.

Generosity and compassion are values we continually encourage at Loyola. Living these principles is at the heart of our Catholic Social Teaching, and we hope the lessons learned here, of giving, sharing, and caring for others, will remain with our boys long after they leave our school community.

As Pope Francis once said, "A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just."

This principle of Catholic Social Teaching reminds us to focus on those most in need: the poor. It calls us to consider carefully how our choices and actions can make a difference in the lives of people experiencing poverty, and challenges us not to turn away from those who need our help. Pupils and their families always have such remarkable generosity, donating items for local food banks. Recently, some boys from our School Council delivered half of these contributions—an impressive 70.55 kg, roughly the weight of a young female jaguar—to the Epping Forest Food Bank. This experience allowed our pupils to see first hand how their kindness and practical support can have a real impact on others, living out the call to serve those in need in our community.

As part of our ongoing support for local food banks, the boys created a colourful poster to encourage donations and raise awareness around the school.

This activity was not only a fun and creative way to contribute, but also a valuable opportunity for the boys to reflect on the needs of others.

By considering how their actions could help those less fortunate, they developed empathy and gratitude, recognising how fortunate they are while learning the importance of supporting their wider community.

We are incredibly proud of Noah, who chose to donate his own money to CAFOD. His generosity embodies a key principle of Catholic Social Teaching – caring for those who are most in need.

We also celebrate Jerry, who spent his pocket money on 50 boxes of cereal for the Harvest Cereal Box Challenge. Thanks to his mum matching his donation, together they contributed an amazing 100 boxes to support those in need.

This teaching reminds us that we cannot ignore people living in poverty; instead, we are called to make thoughtful choices and take meaningful actions to support them. Noah has shown us all how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Our school is proud to take part in Operation Christmas Child, packing shoeboxes with gifts for children in need around the world.

This project reflects the Catholic Social Teaching principle of the Option for the Poor, reminding us to care for those most in need.

By giving our time and resources, we show compassion and solidarity, ensuring that no child is forgotten.

Our School Council boys visited the Noah’s Ark Community Hub to deliver 72 donated Advent calendars. They learned about the meaning behind different calendars and joined in prayer for families in need.

This visit was a simple but meaningful way of living out the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Option for the Poor, placing those most vulnerable at the centre of our community life.