SJR Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

16/07/2026

15/07/2026

Today we keep the memoria of St Bonaventure, a Franciscan of the 13th Century. Bonaventure was born about the year 1218 at Bagnoregio in Tuscany. He studied philosophy and theology in Paris, where he gained his Master’s degree and then taught the students of the order.
Later he became Minister General of the Franciscan order and ruled the order with wisdom and prudence. He achieved a great deal in the Church in theology and government, but his first qualities were gentleness, courtesy, compassion and accessibility.
He was nominated as the Archbishop of York in 1265, which he declined, but he later became Cardinal bishop of Albano.
A story is told of Bonaventure that when the Papal messenger arrived with the news that he had been made a Cardinal, he was washing the dishes and asked the messenger to wait until he was finished. Bonaventure wrote many influential works in philosophy and theology and died at Lyons in the year 1274. Bonaventure achieved greatness, yet was renowned for his humility.

14/07/2026

Franciscan Month - Day 6
Fast from complaining for a day

The fast that changes the heart!

Most of us think fasting means giving up food. But St. Francis knew there is another kind of fast that reaches much deeper, the fast of the tongue.

Try this today: fast from complaining.

No complaints about the weather, traffic, work, your body, other people, or your circumstances.

Complaining slowly trains the heart to focus on what is missing. Gratitude trains the heart to see what God is already doing.

For one day, replace every complaint with a prayer. Replace every criticism with gratitude. Replace every sigh with trust.

You may discover that the world hasn't changed but your heart has.

09/07/2026

Good morning

19/06/2026

What a privilege to attend the St John Rigbye Mass at Harrock Hall this evening. Archbishop John Sherrington blessed the new St John Rigbye icon which will be installed in the college chapel.

09/06/2026

Shout out to past students.
Martin Malone our college chaplain is retiring at the end of this academic year. Let me know if you have any messages that we can include in our tributes to him.🙂

13/04/2026

Wigan and West Lancashire Catholic School Direct are a lead partner in Initial Teacher Training with Liverpool John Moores University. We are looking for graduates to start training in September 2026 or beyond in a variety of subjects who would like to find out more about training to teach in a Catholic secondary school. We have partner schools in Wigan, Leigh, Chorley, Ormskirk, Skelmersdale, Warrington and Halton who have places for trainee teachers to complete their year-long PGCE course.
Please register to attend our Webinar on the 29th April 7pm to have an opportunity to speak to staff from WWLCSD. We will also be offering the opportunity to attend some school experience open mornings after the event.
Register now using the link in the Bio.
There is also more information including links to all of our partner schools on the website – link is also in the Bio.

13/04/2026

https://www.tes.com/jobs/vacancy/teacher-of-core-re-with-the-possibility-of-teaching-rs-wigan-2307833

St John Rigby College, United Kingdom

26/12/2025

Proto-martyr, pray for us

24/12/2025

the mystery of the Incarnation