Catholic Life

Catholic Life and Mission

Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ is first and foremost a Catholic community, rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church. We are an FCJ school, founded by the Religious Sisters of the order of the Faithful Companions of Jesus. Whilst being truly Catholic, we welcome and nurture pupils of all faiths and cultural backgrounds. The Governors and staff at Maria Fidelis Catholic School are committed to our Mission Statement, ‘Growing together through Christ with Courage, Confidence and Dignity’, to develop every individual and allow them to grow in God’s spirit. 

The FCJ Tradition

Our school has a long and interesting history. Its origin takes us back to the French Revolution when Abbé Carron came to England to minister to the French exiles who had settled in Somers Town, North London.

He opened schools in the area and named them after St. Aloysius, the young Jesuit scholastic, who was canonised at this time and who has been declared the patron of Catholic youth. Maria Fidelis is descended from one of these schools.

The foundress of the Faithful Companions of Jesus, Marie Madeleine Victoire d’Houet, came to England from France in 1830 with a note of introduction to Father Nerinckx, the priest in charge of the schools at that time. When Marie Madeleine arrived, she had no idea that she would return to France just two months later with her first foreign foundation well established, leaving Mother Julie Guillemet FCJ as superior of the new community and headteacher of the school. After preliminary talks, the girls’ school, with all its contents, was handed over to the congregation of sisters.

The FCJ Sisters have taught in the school through many changes and, in September, 1974, Maria Fidelis comprehensive School was formed by the merger of St. Aloysius Grammar School with St. Vincent’s Secondary School, which was run by the Sisters of Charity.

Still under the trusteeship of the FCJ Sisters within the Gaudete Trust, we desire to educate all students to develop their full potential, 'realising their dependence on God and each other, and going on to become well-educated, confident and courageous Catholics who are prepared to challenge injustice and care enough to 'live life to the full'.

Our latest Diocesan inspection evaluated the Catholic Life of the school as outstanding.

School Prayer Resource

Click on the link to access our school prayer resource: mariafidelischaplaincy.wordpress.com 

Charity work

Our pupils work with the following charities:

Section 48 Report

To read our latest Diocese of Westminster Inspection Report, February 210 (Section 48 Report), please click below.