(Photo: The Bosco Centre)

Sister Cecily Dunn FMA had an ambitious vision for the Bosco Centre, the project she founded to offer a nursery, school, college and more to the young people of Bermondsey.

Following her sad and unexpected death, the leadership was taken on by principal Darren Coghlan, who is working to connect the Bosco Centre with the wider network of Salesian schools and is initiating more Salesian training with the help of the Battersea Communities.

The students and children celebrated the Don Bosco Day with games and special treat, and the staff stayed on at the end of the day, to celebrate Mass and to pray for the young people.

During Mass, staff member Sam Britton offered the following reflection and encouragement to continue the spirit of Sr Cecily into the future:

"Sometimes young people can be testing, uncooperative, rude and can leave us feeling unmotivated. But they can also be kind, funny, loving and rewarding to work with. Please remember that those that are testing need the most love. It is our mission to ensure that they feel loved. They are young, they are precious and they will grow taller knowing that we love them."

The Bosco Centre is the only FE status school in our network and also includes a programme for young people who find settling into school life difficult. Alongside those services to young people there is a fully equipped nursery for over thirty children.

David O'Malley SDB

Find out more about the Bosco Centre, Bermondsey