Prayer and Collective Worship
Our Catholic faith is the heart of our Academy. We live pout our school Mission Statement everyday and we believe that, 'Jesus is the centre of our lives and friendships...' This guides and directs all our activities in relation to worship and assembly, the content of RE lessons, spiritual and moral development. It is at the centre of everything we do, our anchor and our stay.
We believe that gathering for assemblies and classroom worship, in our school provides opportunities for all pupils and staff:
- Talk to God and to hear his guiding voice
- To listen to the words of the Gospel and the messages of sacred scripture
- To grow in liturgical understanding and development
- To learn prayers which are part of the Catholic tradition
- To say their own prayers to God which come from their hearts
- To follow the example of Jesus and live this out in their lives
- To reflect on spiritual and moral issues
- To explore their own beliefs
- To respond to and celebrate life
- To experience a sense of belonging and develop community spirit
- To develop a common ethos and shared values
- To enrich religious experience
- To reinforce positive attitude
Assemblies and Collective Worship in school (Reception will join after October Half Term):
Monday - Key Stage One and Key Stage Two Gospel Assemblies
Tuesday-Classroom Collective Worship
Wednesday - Hymn Practice and Class Prayer and Reflection
Thursday - Catholic Social Teaching Assembly
Friday - Key Stage One and Key Stage Two Celebration Assemblies
Opportunities for Prayer
Prayers are held in all classes daily, being said in the morning, before/after lunch and at the end of the school day.
Each day, Key Stage Two children pray The Angelus at 12 noon.
During Advent and Lent, additional opportunities for prayer and worship are provided and we pray the Rosary during the months of October and May.
The children are also given the opportunity for Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent and Lent with Fr. Bernard.
Mass
The children regularly take part in Mass both in school and within the parish, every half term. These Masses include: a Welcome Mass and Leavers as well as celebrating Holy Days of obligation. Key Stage Two children join the weekly Tuesday Mass in Holy Cross Church on a rota basis. The parish and parents are warmly invited to all acts of worship and these will be advertised on the school's newsletter and within the parish newsletter.
Classroom Worship
Children gather for class based worship during the school week. Children act as class Liturgy Leaders and plan the act of worship, reflecting on it afterwards. This is an opportunity for children to deepen their personal relationship with Jesus and can include opportunities for spontaneous prayer, song and always scripture reading. Their involvement in planning may be supported by an adult in younger classes.
School Chaplains and Year 6 Liturgy Leaders
Our Chaplains and Liturgy leaders also help to set up and lead assemblies throughout the year and are a great help to staff and a fantastic example to the other children.
Prayer Bags
Each Year group has a Prayer Bag which pupils are chosen to take home each week to share scripture and prayer with their families.
Our Blessed Mother Mary
In October, we pray the Rosary in class once every week and visit Mary in our Peace Garden. In May each class gathers at the Peace Garden to pray the Rosary and pupils and staff pray the Rosary every day at lunchtime.
Travelling Rosary
Each class has a 'Travelling Rosary' bag which we send home in May. This has a set of rosary beads and prayer cards and each child in the class can have a turn to take it home and pray with their family if they wish. Full instructions are inside.
