Women of Faith 

Welcome to St Philomena's Women of Faith Website.

At the heart of St Philomena’s is our shared Catholic faith. We incorporate worship and reflection into the daily lives of students and staff to ensure that Christ remains the foundation of our community. 

St Philomena's School was first established in 1893, when the Daughters of the Cross of Liège purchased Carshalton House.  This congregation was founded by Blessed Marie Thérèse Haze.  St Philomena's has Christ at its foundation which can be seen throughout all aspects of school life and reflected in our School mission:

Psalm 127: ‘Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain who build it’. 

The Chapel, with the Blessed Sacrament, is open and a welcome place for students to attend throughout the day and the Chaplaincy Room is also open from 8am - 4pm. Both areas offer students a place set apart for reflection and spiritual direction or counselling from the school’s Chaplain Deacon Errol Quagraine.

Our Catholic identity permeates all aspects of our daily school life, daily prayers are prayed by each Form Tutor group and every  Year group has an opportunity for collective worship in the form of an assembly weekly.

† Mass is celebrated every Tuesday at 8am in the School Chapel and all families are welcome, this is voluntary, but two form classes are on a rota each week and expected to attend.

† Eucharistic Services are held on a rota basis every Monday and Friday in the Chapel at 8.30am. The services are led by a team of Sixth Form Student Eucharistic Ministers and Deacon Errol the school’s chaplain.

† The Rosary is prayed every Tuesday lunchtime from 1.15pm in the Chapel

† Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Benediction) is held every Thursday lunchtime from 1.15pm in the Chapel

† Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed every Wednesday lunchtime

† The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated for every teaching class  on a rota basis on Friday 8.45-9.45am, during Period 1. 

† Holy Days of Obligation are observed when it falls during term time with a Mass for all student.

† During Lent all students receive Ashes on Ash Wednesday if it falls in term time .  Lenten reconciliation as a year group is also available as is praying the  Stations of the Cross

Retreats are arranged for each year group and each has a specific theme.  Retreats are significant, their focus is to help students examine their conscience in the light of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Church. They can help the students to find ways of developing a personal relationship with Christ and developing their own relationships with each other in a spirit of fraternal love.

If a Residential trip takes place over the weekend or on a Holy Day of Obligation, Mass will be planned for and attended by the group.