Prayer and Liturgy
Prayer and Worship
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.
Each child takes part in a daily prayer and worship (5-10 minutes) and prayers are used to open and close the school day sessions. The children also plan and lead prayer and worship within each of their classes. Our prayer and worship across every class uses the same structure. We gather, using prayers or actions or music. Then, we listen to scripture, readings and / or poems. 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.
We look forward to our Friday morning worships, which are planned and led by each class in turn. These are usually centred around global issues, British and Catholic values. The children always relate these themes to scripture references and they write their own prayers and choose their own songs to celebrate and worship together.
We also recognise and celebrate children’s achievements, both in and out of school, during our weekly Award Celebration.
Our Prayer Areas
Every child has access to a prayer area in the classroom which includes a prayer focus and the class prayer book, as well as bibles and resources relevant to each class. We also have a wonderful worship area which is central to our school. Children can access this quiet space during breaks and lunchtimes. They can play quiet music, write prayers or just sit and reflect.
Prayer Bags
Over the course of the year, every child in the class has a chance to take the Prayer Bag home to share with their family. Inside, children will find items to allow for special prayer time, on their own or with their family. Children are encouraged to switch on a candle as a sign of Jesus' presence.
As part of their experience, we encourage children (with the support of an adult) to complete the diary. Children could either write a recount of their time spend with Jesus or they may wish to write a special prayer intention. We would also really love to see as many photographs or pictures included in the diary as possible so children can share their experiences with their peers.
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