Diocesan inspection report said:
Pupils’ response to the present school prayer opportunities is outstanding, in terms of willingness to participate and a real sense of engagement in the life of the Spirit.’
Our Mission at St. Mary’s
Learning to live out our calling with compassion and love.
‘Christ has no body on earth but ours; ours are the hands through which He heals; ours are His eyes, His feet, His lips; ours are the hearts through which He loves.’
As part of our calling to carry out God’s work on earth, we seek to draw our inspiration from periods of worship and reflection. These spiritual moments are essential to build the strength needed to carry out our vocation in today’s world.
Collective Worship refers not only to whole school gatherings but to those acts of worship which take place in a number of different settings and groupings of people in and around the school:
Assembly
An assembly is a gathering of people. Strictly speaking, it is not a religious activity and is a means of communicating information to a group of people.
We take part in weekly assemblies where we reflect on the Sunday Gospel. We each write a mission task to show how we are going to live out our calling in relation to the Gospel reading.
Prayer and Liturgy
Liturgy is the worship lived and practiced by the Church. Liturgy encompasses all of the seasonal elements of the Church’s year (The Liturgical Year), the structure of daily prayer, specific rites such as the Funeral Mass and the celebration of the Sacraments. For schools, Liturgy is worship which incorporates elements of the rites and rituals, signs and symbols of the Church.
We conduct weekly worships in each classroom, with themes selected and planned by the children. Look at some examples of these below…
Prayer and Liturgy Gallery
We follow the four part structure of:
Mass
For Catholics, the Mass is central to practice of the faith. At Mass, the Last Supper is remembered but also recreated. Bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ. This belief (transubstantiation) is what distinguishes us from many other Christians. This sacrament is above all others because as members of the Church, “We receive the Body of Christ and are increasingly being transformed into the Body of Christ.”
Prayer
Deepen a personal relationship with God, prayer will help the pupils to become aware of God’s presence in their lives and of His love for them, by leading them to respond to Him.
Prayer Bags
We recently launched our wonderful prayer bags for children to take home each week and share in meaningful prayer and liturgies with their families. We ask that families try to link their prayer session to either something close to their hearts or the Liturgical Seasons.
Prayer and Liturgy Guidance
Amazing Examples of Home Liturgies
Year 1
Somdolma and Dougie
Year 2
Florence and Jack
Year 3
Jathusa and Sydney
Year 4
Elizabeth and Mason
Year 5
Janetta and Jeevan
Year 6
Kezia and Gab
A reminder for our May Crowning tomorrow morning at 9:15am 🙏🌸 May Crowning Celebration – All Are Welcome 🌸
We are delighted to invite our school community to this year’s May Crowning, which will take place on Wednesday 21st May at 9:15am. This special celebration will be led by some of our wonderful Year 5 pupils.
The tradition of May Crowning is a cherished part of the Catholic faith, honouring Mary, the Mother of Jesus, during the month of May – a time traditionally dedicated to her. In this ceremony, we crown a statue of Mary with flowers, acknowledging her as Queen of Heaven and asking for her intercession and loving guidance.
👪 Parents, families and parishioners are warmly invited to join us for this prayerful occasion. Please arrive at the Stanier Street entrance, where a member of staff will be there to greet you.
Let us come together in faith and community to honour Mary, our school’s patron saint and ask for her blessings over all our children and families.
🙏 Prayer to Mary, Our Patron Saint
O Mary, Mother of God and our gentle Queen,
watch over our school and guide us each day.
Help us to follow your example of love, faith, and kindness.
Pray for us, protect us, and lead us closer to your Son, Jesus.
Amen.
We look forward to seeing you there! 💐
#prayerandliturgystm #catholiclifestm … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you to all of the parents who came to support their children in their First Holy Communion preparation retreat.
We thought about the importance of this sacrament and prayed together as a school community.
The children and their families then decorated a photo with the symbols of the Eucharist to be displayed on a display board for church so our parishioners can pray for the children ahead of this most special time in their lives.
Loving Jesus,
We thank You for the children who are preparing to receive You in Holy Communion for the first time.
Fill their hearts with joy and wonder as they come to know Your presence in the Eucharist.
Guide them to grow in faith, hope, and love each day.
Holy Mary, Mother of God and our patron,
watch over these children with your gentle care.
Lead them always to your Son and help them to follow His way.
May this special day be the beginning of a lifelong friendship with Jesus.
Amen.
#catholiclifestm #prayerandliturgystm … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Today the children have taken part in a liturgy celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV.
We reflected on the words of Matthew's gospel, where Peter is given the task to build up God's Church on earth. We also took inspiration and hope from some of Pope Leo's opening words to the world, centered around love, unity and justice.
We responded to this by writing our own prayers for Pope Leo as he begins his papacy.
Thank you to all the children who led these in their classrooms.
#prayerandliturgystm … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🌸 May Crowning Celebration – All Are Welcome 🌸
We are delighted to invite our school community to this year’s May Crowning, which will take place on Wednesday 21st May at 9:15am. This special celebration will be led by some of our wonderful Year 5 pupils.
The tradition of May Crowning is a cherished part of the Catholic faith, honouring Mary, the Mother of Jesus, during the month of May – a time traditionally dedicated to her. In this ceremony, we crown a statue of Mary with flowers, acknowledging her as Queen of Heaven and asking for her intercession and loving guidance.
👪 Parents, families and parishioners are warmly invited to join us for this prayerful occasion. Please arrive at the Stanier Street entrance, where a member of staff will be there to greet you.
Let us come together in faith and community to honour Mary, our school’s patron saint and ask for her blessings over all our children and families.
🙏 Prayer to Mary, Our Patron Saint
O Mary, Mother of God and our gentle Queen,
watch over our school and guide us each day.
Help us to follow your example of love, faith, and kindness.
Pray for us, protect us, and lead us closer to your Son, Jesus.
Amen.
We look forward to seeing you there! 💐
#prayerandliturgystm #catholiclifestm … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
The Feast of the English Martyrs is celebrated on May 4th. It commemorates the 284 canonized or beatified martyrs of the English Reformation, who died for their Catholic faith between 1535 and 1680. This day is particularly important as it honors those who faced persecution and death for their unwavering faith in the face of immense challenges. Today, the children have taken part in prayer and liturgies to commemorate this feast. We have reflected on how we can still follow Jesus even when it is challenging. Taking courage and inspiration from the English martyrs. #prayerandliturgystm … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
It would be lovely to see as many of our children, families and parishioners at this afternoon’s prayer vigil. 3:30pm in the school hall. Please come to the Stanier Street entrance.This Wednesday 30th April, we will be holding a short prayer vigil to remember our dear Holy Father, Pope Francis. This will be a time to pray together as a community and to give thanks for the life and influence of Pope Francis. Following his funeral on Saturday, it will also be an opportunity to pray for the repose of his soul.
We would love to see as many pupils, families and parishioners join in prayer with us.
Please join us at 3:30pm in the hall. Enter via Stanier Street where a member of staff will be there to greet you.
#prayerandliturgystm … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
This Wednesday 30th April, we will be holding a short prayer vigil to remember our dear Holy Father, Pope Francis. This will be a time to pray together as a community and to give thanks for the life and influence of Pope Francis. Following his funeral on Saturday, it will also be an opportunity to pray for the repose of his soul.
We would love to see as many pupils, families and parishioners join in prayer with us.
Please join us at 3:30pm in the hall. Enter via Stanier Street where a member of staff will be there to greet you.
#prayerandliturgystm … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook