Saints and Prayers

Our Patron Saint

Class Saints

Each classroom has a class saint which the children pray to each day. The children ask their class saint to intercede for them each day at the end of prayers as they say “Saint <name>, pray for us.”

You may want to introduce this to family prayer at home. Feel free to send in pictures, etc, of your child’s class saint to their class teacher, to be displayed on or around the RE focus. Can you research when your child’s class saint celebrates a feast day?

Our Class Saints for 2026/27 are:

• Reception – Mary, Mother of God and St Joseph
• Year 1 – St Joan of Arc and St Lucy
• Year 2 – St Therese of Lisieux and St John Bosco
• Year 3 – St Francis of Assisi and St Carlo Acutis
• Year 4 – St Catherine of Bologna and St Josephine Bakhita
• Year 5 – St Michael the Archangel and St Martin de Porres
• Year 6 – St Maria Goretti and St Barbara

Saint Barbara

St Barbara was a 3rd century Greek woman who was raised by her Pagan father. Concerned that men would take advantage of Barbara because of her beauty, Barbara’s father locked her in a tower where she would spend her days admiring the beauty of creation down below. Barbara began to question who had created such beauty and this began her interest in Christianity.

As the years went on, Barbara refused to marry any man her father suggested, so he allowed her more freedom and she could leave her tower. When she left, Barbara would meet up with Christians and ask them to teach her about Christ and God. She was then baptised by a priest in a river. Her father agreed to build her a bath house and Barbara requested that it had three windows, which would represent the Holy Trinity.

One day, her father discovered that Barbara had been baptised and in anger, he chased her out the house with a sword. A hill opened up and hid Barbara inside, until she was betrayed by a shepherd. Upon discovering her, Barbara was tortured by her father and he beheaded her. A few days later, Barbara’s father was killed when struck by lightning. St Barbara is the patron saint of armourers, architects and mathematicians.

Saint Carlo Acutis

St Carlo Acutis is our first Millenial saint. He was born in London in 1991 and as small baby moved with his Italian parents to Milan. Although his parents were Catholic they very rarely went to Church. Despite this, Carlo showed great love  to Our Lady and to Jesus. He would often pray the rosary and inspired his parents.  Carlo had a devotion to the Eucharist and created a website about Eucharistic miracles. As Year 3 prepare to receive the Eucharist for the first time they voted for St Carlo Acutis to be their class saint for this reason.

Carlo Acutis died 12th October 2006 and was canonized by Pope Leo XIV on 7th September 2025.

Saint Catherine of Bologna

St Catherine of Bologna was born  in Italy in 1413. Catherine had determined to live a life of perfection, and was admired by those around her for her holiness.

At a young age she joined the Poor Clares, where she had visions of Christ and wrote about these mystical experiences.  In 1463, she became seriously ill and died on 9th March. Buried without a coffin, her body was exhumed eighteen days later because of cures attributed to her and also because of the sweet scent coming from her grave. Her body was found to be incorrupt and was canonised a saint in 1712.

She is patron saint of artists and her feast day is celebrated on 9th March.

Saint Francis of Assisi

St Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1182. He grew up leading a privileged life as the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. As a boy, Francis loved to learn and sing songs. His father wanted him to become a businessman and taught him about the French culture. In 1202, Francis took part in a war, was taken prisoner and held for almost a year. Three years later, Francis planned to fight in another conflict but on his way there, he had a vision. In the vision, he was told to return to Assisi and wait for a call to a new kind of knighthood. He returned to Assisi and spent time alone and prayed.

Over the next few years, Francis had experiences that inspired him to give up all his possessions and to live in poverty. Francis began to preach and attracted followers or disciples. In 1209, he declared a simple rule for his disciples: to follow Jesus Christ and to act as Christ did.

Francis was known for his love of nature and animals. There are many stories about Saint Francis and his preaching to animals. It is said that one day he was talking to some birds when they began to sing together and then they flew into the sky and formed the sign of a cross.

 Francis died in Assisi on 3rd October in 1226. He was canonized on 16th July, 1228. We celebrate his feast day on the 4th October.

Saint Joan of Arc

St Joan of Arc is the patron saint of France and soldiers. We celebrate her feast day on May 30th.

As a young girl, she heard voices she identified as St. Michael, St. Catherine and St. Margaret telling her to help the eldest son of King Charles, Charles VII, recover his kingdom from the British. Her mission was accomplished but Joan was captured by the King’s enemies, tried for witchcraft and heresy and burned at the stake.

Joan is considered a brave and bold hero in France and nicknamed ‘Maiden of Orleans’ for her renowned courage during the Hundred Years War.

Saint John Bosco

St John Bosco was born in Italy in 1815. He was a Catholic life who was committed to serving his community and helping those most in need. He loved fun and magic and used this to bring children to Church and to pray.

He spent his life helping the poor and educating children so that they could better their lives. It is because of this passion for education and his fun ways of helping others that he is today the patron saint of children and magicians.

His feast day is 31st January.

Saint Joseph

In reception we learn that St Joseph was chosen by God for a very special task.

St Joseph was betrothed to Mary when the Angel Gabriel appeared telling her she was to bear God’s son. St Joseph was visted by an angel in a dream and told to marry Mary and to be a father Jesus. A carpenter, he watched over and protected Joseph like all loving fathers.

He is patron saint of workers and fathers. His feast day is celebrated on 19th March. 

Saint Josephine Bakhita

Josephine Margaret Bakhita was a Sudanese-born Roman Catholic nun and member of the Canossian Sisters. Canonized as a saint. Kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery, she endured years of cruelty, before gaining freedom in Italy in 1889 when a court ruled slavery illegal.

Baptized in 1890 by the future Pope Pius X, she served humbly in Schio for over 40 years, known for her kindness, forgiveness, and deep faith.

Canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II, she is the patron saint of Sudan and victims of human trafficking, with her feast day on February 8th. 

Saint Lucy

St. Lucy is the patron saint of the blind. We celebrate her feast day on 13th December.

As a young girl, St. Lucy’s mother was diagnosed with a long-term illness, she spent much of her time praying at the shrine of St. Agnes and her mother was cured. Her dedication to God was so strong that she refused to compromise her virtues for marriage. Even after being betrayed, her faith and courage remained, as she could not be moved with the force of 1000 men and 50 oxen pulling her. Unfortunately, a Roman guard hurt St. Lucy and she died but only after receiving the sacrament of anointing the sick.

After she had died, the Roman governor ordered for her eyes to be removed. However, her eyes were miraculously restored when they were preparing her for her burial, and this is why she is the patron saint of the blind.

Saint Mara Goretti

St Maria Goreti was a young Italian girl who lived a life of deep faith, love and courage. She was born on 16 October 1890 in Italy and grew up in a poor but loving Catholic family. She was only 9 years old when her father died and Maria helped to care for her family and became known for her kindness, prayerfulness and strong trust in God. Although her life was short, her faith remained an important part of everything she did.

Maria Goreti is especially remembered for her remarkable act of forgiveness. In 1902, when she was just eleven years old, she was attacked and seriously injured after refusing to give in to a sinful act. Before she died, Maria forgave her attacker and expressed her desire for him to be with her in Heaven. She was canonised by Pope Pius XII in 1950 and is now recognised as a patron saint of purity, forgiveness and young people. Her example reminds us of the power of God’s love and mercy, and challenges us to forgive others and live our lives with faith, courage and compassion.

Saint Martin de Porres

Saint Martin de Porres is the patron saint of racial harmony and social justice.

Saint Martin faced great hardship in his childhood and was often mistreated due to the colour of his skin. As Martin grew he worked alongside a doctor to learn medicine. He spent hours of the night in prayer, a practice which increased as he grew older.

Under Peruvian law, descendants of Africans and Native Americans were barred from becoming full members of religious orders. The only route open to Martin was to clean and cook for the Brothers of the monastery, in return he would receive the privilege of wearing a habit and living within the religious community.

Martin continued to practice his old trades of barbering and healing and was said to have performed many miraculous cures. He also took on kitchen work, laundry, and cleaning. After eight years at Holy Rosary, he was finally accepted as a Dominican brother.

We celebrate his feast day on November 3rd and we remember him for his dedication to God and his power to perform miracles of healing.

Mary, Mother of God

In reception we recall that Mary, the blessed virgin was called by God to be mother of Jesus.  “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38) We pray to Mary, our mother, to intercede for us and to bring all our prayers to God.

We celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, mother of God on 1st January.

Saint Michael the Archangel

St Michael is a very special saint as he is also an angel. As a result, he is often referred to as St Michael the Archangel and his feast day is celebrated on the 29th September.

St Michael is the only angel to be called an Archangel and is regarded as the leader of all angels. He is seen as a protector and led God’s army in the book of revelations to defeat evil. St Michael the Archangel is the patron saint of many things such as police officers, paramedics and the military which all require the qualities that Saint Michael possesses.  

When depicted in art St Michael the Archangel is often shown with a sword, scales and vanquishing evil.

Saint Therese of Lisieux

St Therese of Lisieux was born in France in 1873.

At a very young age her mother died and Therese continued to show great faith in God. At the age of 15 she became a nun, having wanting to become a nun since the age of 3. She showed to others that having faith and following Jesus is not about big acts but small, ordinary things done with extraordinary love.

She is a Doctor of the Church and patron saint of missionaries. Her feast day is celebrated on 1st October. 

Certain images courtesy of Catholic Online website