St Peter and St Paul

Our Patron Saints: St Peter and St Paul

At St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary Academy, our patron saints have a special place in the life and identity of our school. Their example helps us to understand and live our mission:

“With Jesus at the heart, we learn, love and serve.”

Peter and Paul were very different people, with different gifts and different journeys of faith, yet both responded to Jesus’ call and dedicated their lives to sharing the Good News and serving others. Their lives remind us that God knows each of us, calls each of us and gives each of us gifts to use for the good of others.

At the beginning of every academic year, all pupils learn about St Peter and St Paul and reflect on what their lives can teach us about faith, courage, forgiveness, love and service. Each year on 29 June, we celebrate the Feast of St Peter and St Paul as a school community with a special Mass followed by a picnic, to which parents and carers are warmly invited.

St Peter – Faith, Love and Leadership

Peter was a fisherman from Galilee who was originally called Simon. Jesus called him to leave his nets and follow him, giving him the name Peter, meaning “rock”. Peter became one of Jesus’ twelve Apostles and a close friend and follower of Jesus.

Peter’s faith was not always easy. At the Last Supper, Jesus foretold that Peter would deny knowing him three times. When Jesus was arrested, Peter became frightened and did exactly that. Yet this was not the end of Peter’s story. After the Resurrection, Jesus gave Peter the opportunity to reaffirm his love three times and entrusted him with the words, “Feed my sheep.”

Peter’s story teaches our children that we can learn and grow from our mistakes. Through Jesus’ love and forgiveness, Peter found the courage to become a leader of the early Church. After Pentecost, he preached the Good News and is recognised as the first Bishop of Rome and the first Pope. Peter helps us understand what it means to learn from our experiences, to love as Jesus loves us and to serve others with courage and faith.

St Paul – Transformation, Courage and Service

Paul’s journey was very different. Originally known as Saul, he was a devout Jew from Tarsus and did not meet Jesus during Jesus’ earthly life. At first, Saul opposed the early Christians. Everything changed on the road to Damascus when the Risen Jesus appeared to him. This encounter transformed Saul’s life. He became known as Paul and devoted himself to sharing the Good News.

Paul undertook missionary journeys across Asia Minor and Europe, establishing and supporting Christian communities. His journeys required determination, resilience and great courage. He faced hardship, imprisonment and even shipwreck, but remained committed to his faith and his mission to serve God and others.

Paul teaches us that everyone has the capacity to learn, change and grow. His life encourages our pupils to recognise their own God-given gifts and use them with courage and generosity in the service of others.

Inspired by Our Saints

St Peter and St Paul show us that there is no single way to follow Jesus. They had different personalities, experiences and gifts, but both placed Christ at the centre of their lives. Their example helps us live our values of Love, Respect and Service and reminds us that we are all called to use our gifts for others and for the Common Good.

Both Peter and Paul ultimately gave their lives for their faith in Rome. The keys of St Peter and the sword of St Paul, represented in our school badge, remind us each day of our patron saints and the example they give us.

“With Jesus at the heart, we learn, love and serve.”