Farewell Assembly for Father Bruce

Today we said farewell to Canon Bruce Saunders, Sub-Dean of Southwark Cathedral who is retiring on Sunday. Father Bruce has been a valued and very well respected part of the Cathedral School community for the last 19 years as a school governor and priest.  He is loved by all of the children and will be missed a great deal. 

There will be a special Eucharist at Southwark Cathedral on Sunday 8th June to mark his retirement.

Farewell Assembly for Father Bruce

0 thoughts on “Farewell Assembly for Father Bruce

  • Thank you Father Bruce for being with us. We hope that God leads you to the path of a good life. We will all miss you ever so dearly, it’s sad to see you go. 
    May the Lord and his son, Jesus Christ, bless you and keep you safe from harm. I hope you have a good time during you retirement!

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  • I will really miss Father Bruce! He has done so much for us and made sure that we, not only understood the bible but has explained it to us in a fun way, such as: acting, singing and telling us stories with lots of expression to keep us interested. My favourite of his songs was the one that went,”Go down Moses, way down to Egypt la-a-and! Tell old pharaoh to let my people go!” I even sing it now, even though we sung it ages ago, and I have a feeling that I will be singing it for ever after. Father Bruce is amazing at being a spiritual teacher, a governor and a friend. Thank you for everything, Father Bruce!

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  • Thank you Father Bruce for everything you have done for my class the school and the community. Everyone should have a memory of Father Bruce, there is no word or phrase that can describe you. Today we said farewell Father Bruce in assembly, we gave him lots of gifts like a drawing of ourselves. I remember one day when Father Bruce sang us a song with his guitar and everyone sang together and everyone had a good time. Have a great retirement and have lots of rest and I hope to see you soon.

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  • Father Bruce has always been there for us. I will miss him when he retires although I know that he needs a break. He has always done lots for our school, he even said,” I’ve been at since before you were born.” Father Bruce, always taught us stories from the Bible in a fun and interesting way. Everyone loves his assemblies- in some, he teaches us songs on his beautiful guitar. We all think he’s great! Southwark Cathedral- the place Father Bruce did work, is an extraordinary place to worship in. It’s very important to our school, we go there for: The Christmas Play, Easter Play as well as services led by different classes in our school. Both Father Bruce and Southwark Cathedral mean a lot to me.

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  • I am so grateful for all the wonderful things Father Bruce has done for us, and for the incredible journey of life and discovery he led us through. Without Father Bruce, there would be a lonely, down-hearted sadness that would fill me continually; all the members of Southwark Cathedral are wonderful, loving, understanding and caring people, we are lucky to have them in the world, and we are ever so lucky to have Father Bruce here, too. You are forever smiling, jubilant, uplifting, heart-warming, understanding and special. So much Father Bruce has taught me- not just about parables and teachings, but about the true meaning of life. Even when if it is raining outside, you bring out the sunshine in us; thank you so much Father Bruce, I will never forget you.

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  • Thank you Father Bruce for all the help and support you have given us through your teaching. I hope you enjoy all your presents and there’s enough room for them!! Assemblies are always fun with you. Will never forget you and your guitar, ever. I am happy I have helped participarted in your present. You could never have tried any harder than you have for us. The school and my classmates will never stop remembering our memiries of you.
    All there is left to say is: happy retirment!

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  • Thank you Father Bruce for all the wonderful things you have done for our school.  May God be with now and always. You make me sing, laugh and think in a different way. Where do I put my hope? My hope is in you. You made me realise: that God sees in you what you can’t see in yourself. We will miss you Father Bruce.

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  •  I will never forget Father Bruce, he has changed my life so that I understand God so much better. He is amazing at telling Bible stories and has you in the palm of your hand as he sends you of into a spiritual world. Whether he is singing, acting, asking questions or even dancing, everyone- including the parents, staff and most of all children- love him dearly and will treasure their moments with him for the rest of their lives. Have a fabulous retirement and always remember Cathedral Primary School in your heart. I  love to listening to your sermons ( which are always funny) at the Cathedral, as I am one of the Choir boys. Please remember all the choir boys to! 
    Thank you for your love, compassion and kindness. We will all miss you Father Bruce!

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  • I don’t want you go Father Bruce! You commit to our school in many different ways, some include: Thursday assemblies, explaining parables to classes that will be doing the next Cathedral service and being Class 4’s governor. They’re so lucky! Father Bruce, you are one of the smartest, wisest and funniest man I have ever met in my entire life! I hope you enjoy your retirement, because you really deserve it! I also hope you remember us by the gifts we gave you: two books filled with prayers, memories and drawings from the whole school, a bird house and vouchers from the teachers and other governors, a picture with the faces of all of the children in the school and last but not least a massive shining gold and brown cross from the parents, which we will hang in the hall and name the Father Bruce Cross. I hope you enjoy the video we made you and wish you luck in the future! 

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  • We are grateful for Father Bruce because he has made a huge impact not just on me but the whole school. This amazing beacon of light has helped me and everyone. Father Bruce will be remembered for many years to come and I wish him a happy retirement;Father Bruce is important to me because he is fun and every single one of his assemblies are enjoyable, even at that we still get the message that he is trying to give us.
    The Cathedral is important to me because it is our home and is special to us, we are very privileged to go to the Cathedral six times a year because not many children are as fortunate as us. All in all Father Bruce And Southwark Cathedral are important and special to me and everyone else.
     

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  • Today in assembly we celebrated Father Bruce’s retirement. It was an emotional moment for the school community, but we’ll still remember him and keep him close to his hearts. It is hard to say how much we’ll miss him; though we wish him luck and a good time during retirement, and hope that occasionally he’ll pop back to the school.
    We’ll miss you Father Bruce! 

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  • I am so grateful that Father Bruce chose our school out of the 1000 other schools to share his incredible stories with us every Thursday.They are not only interesting and thoughtful but have more profound messages to the bible and gospel.I will really miss you Father Bruce with your carm and gentle voice that sings like the angels above.I hope you keep me in your mind and remember me always , thank you Father Bruce for everything.

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  • Although it was extremely sad to see Father Bruce leave, I know it was for the best, as he has done so much for us and others who attend Southwark Cathedral, he deserves a relaxing, restful retirement. I hope you will be looked after by God, as we have been looked after by you. I already miss you loads, but wish you a very happy retirement.

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  • Thank you Father Bruce for your inspirational assemblies. Every week you come with interesting clergy assemblies.  We will miss you very much, may you be shown the right path in life and guided safely. May God protect you from people’s harsh words or negative comments.  We will miss the way you tell the assemblies and your songs in assembly. We hope you stay safe with your wife, and may God protect you and her from harm. You will be truly missed by the pupils and the staff.  Enjoy and relax during your retirement.  Thank you for everything Father Bruce. 

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  • Father Bruce you are an amazing person, friend and priest; you help people think outside the box and help them to get closer to God, for example: when you taught us that the Kingdom of God is not just in heaven but all around us. You are close to mine and the hearts of the whole school. I hope you live happily with your wife and children; enjoy your retirement.

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  • Thank you Father Bruce for all you have done for us; we wish you the very best in your retirement. Thank you for teaching us new things and spending your own time to speak to us. We are grateful for you because you help us understand God and the stories told in the Bible. When you sing and play your songs it makes our faces light up with delight and we will treasure those days. So thank you and we are very grateful, we hope you enjoy the rest of your life doing new things.

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  • Thank you ever so much Father Bruce for always making my day when you come in on Thursday. Whether we did acting, singing or story-telling, I always learnt something. Father Bruce has not only been a considerate governor, erudite priest and spiritual teacher, he has been a friend, a companion in my childhood. A person I can never fully repay. I am truly honoured to be in a school that is so well connected with the cathedral; as I am sure is true for many of us! I will miss you so much and wish you the very best in your retirement! 

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  • Thank you Father Bruce for all your assemblies you have done. Please may God keep you and your family safe throughout your retirement. May you always remember us and that you never stop learning about God and that you come back and visit us and tell us how your are doing. Please can you comment on our blog and please keep us updated with all things that are going on through your retirement. Father Bruce you will be sadly missed by all of Cathedral School and parents you have taught.
       

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  • Thank you so much for helping me and the rest develop understanding the true meaning of Jesus and the Christianity community and I hope I see you soon and have a happy relaxing retirement.

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  • Goodbye Father Bruce, we will all miss you greatly, even those of us who have left.

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