Collective Worship

As a Catholic primary school collective worship plays a fundamental part of daily school life and enables us all to join together as one in prayer and worship. Collective worship happens daily through:

Hymn Practice

Every Tuesday the whole school gathers together to sing songs of praise to God and practise hymns  and songs that we use for our collective worship and for Mass.

Phase group assemblies 

Each phase (Yrs 1,2 and 3 and Yrs 4,5 and 6) gather together each week for collective worship linked to the liturgical season or other religious themes such as Saints or festivals related to other world religions. Teachers from each stage take turns leading the children in worship.

Child Led Liturgy

Each week, different children in each class prepare and lead their class in worship. In Key Stage one the children are guided by adults to prepare for this. In Key Stage 2 the children independentlyplan their own worship.

Teacher Led Liturgy

Teachers plan a weekly worship for their class to allow time for reflection and prayer based on a religious theme.

 Celebration Collective Worship

The last Friday morning of each half term the whole school community comes together for a time of collective worship.  We also celebrate the achievements of the school that half-term.

Mass

Throughout the year we have the joy of celebrating the Sacrament of the Eucharist in St Catherine Church. Children help to prepare and lead the Mass through Altar Serving, reading and bringing up the gifts during Mass.  Parents and carers are invited to join us for Mass.                               

Liturgies

Throughout the year, to mark important events in the Church’s liturgical year, we hold special Liturgies such as Penitential services during Advent and Lent.

 

Growing Closer to God

In its simplest form, prayer is defined as “talking to God.” It is a personal time of opening our hearts to our Heavenly Father and bringing everything in our hearts to Him. Through the Apostle Paul, God asked us to pray. Prayer can be a powerful force for change in our lives, and the importance of doing it on a daily basis should be instilled in our children.

Communication is the foundation for success in any relationship. When we communicate openly and freely with each other, we learn to know each other as individuals. This principle also applies to our relationship with God. By talking to God, we can learn more about who He is and what plan He has for us.

 

Prayer Has a Purpose

It is important that our children understand that there is a purpose to prayer. Jesus frequently prayed during His life on Earth. He had a reason for doing so. Our prayers are something that God deeply desires. But our prayers are not for His benefit; as a perfect Divine Being, God is complete in His power and knowledge. 

Children are encouraged to pray in different ways according to their age and personal development. The most important aspect of prayer for children is that they realise it is their way of communicating with God and is first and foremost a personal occasion.

Our R.E. curriculum offers progression for children as they move through the school.

Children are introduced to a variety of different ways of praying:

• quiet reflection / meditation
• praying together
• writing own prayers
• prayers through music
• learning traditional Christian / Catholic prayers