Prayer, worship and liturgical celebration are central to our Catholic tradition and form an integral part of the school day. Prayer is encouraged in a variety of methods; – private individual prayer, group prayer, and whole school prayer. Prayer is encouraged in a variety of methods; – private individual prayer, group prayer, and whole school prayer.
Each child takes part in a daily act of worship (5-10 minutes) and formal prayers are used at lunchtime and to open and close the school day sessions. The children also plan and lead acts of worship within each of their classes. This happens daily. Collective Worship across every class uses the same structure. We gather, using prayers or actions or music. Then, we listen to scripture, readings. We reflect on the meaning of the scripture we have heard and after that we respond by doing something or saying a prayer together. Finally, we go forth by reflecting on the scripture and taking this forward into our work throughout the day. It is wonderful to see the children excited, enthusiastic and deepening their faith through prayer and liturgy. In each class, there is a prayer and liturgy record where pictures, planning templates and power points are kept as a reminder and record of the acts of worship.
Liturgies are centred around the Church’s Liturgical Year, global issues or British and Catholic values. The children always relate these themes to scripture references and they write their own prayers and choose their own songs and hymns to celebrate and worship together. It is wonderful for the children to leave us all with a reflection, mission idea or practical response to our celebration, enabling all to deepen faith, learn from the teachings of Christ and become the very best we can be for ourselves and for others.