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Worship and Liturgy
Prayer and Liturgy (Celebration of the Word)
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 act of worship (5-10 minutes) and formal prayers are used to open and close the school day sessions. The children also plan and lead acts of worship within each of their classes. Collective 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. 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 book where pictures, planning templates and PowerPoints are kept as a reminder and record of the acts of worship.
The children always relate these themes to scripture references from the ‘Wednesday Word’ and they write their own prayers and choose their own songs 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.
We also recognise and celebrate children’s achievements, both in and out of school, during our weekly Star Award Celebration.
Amazing things can happen when people come into agreement.
Matthew 18:19 says
“I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”
The Liturgical Calendar
The Church year begins each year in November, on the first Sunday of Advent. The season awaiting Christ’s birth. This runs through and ends with the final Saturday of Ordinary time. The calendar year goes from the end of November to the following November.
We follow this calendar with events and celebrations within school.
The Church year consists of six liturgical seasons:
- Advent
- Christmas
- Ordinary Time (after Epiphany)
- Lent
- Easter
- Ordinary Time (after Pentecost)
The Liturgical Seasons
Advent: The first season – First Sunday of Advent through to 24th December.
The time of waiting and preparing for the birth of Jesus. The liturgical colours of Advent are purple and pink, with the colour pink being used only on the third Sunday of Advent, to symbolise Hope.
Christmas: 25th December through to The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January.
The liturgy colours are white or gold, used for vestments and altar cloths. The Christmas season is a time of rejoicing, and celebration.
Ordinary Time: follows the Christmas season after the Baptism. Monday after the Feast of the Baptism and ends when Lent begins. Ordinary Time after the Baptism focuses on the story of Jesus’ early life and childhood, and through to His public ministry.
The liturgy colour of Ordinary Time is green.
Lent: An important season in the Liturgical calendar – Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday.
Lent recalls the forty days Jesus spent in the desert. Lent culminates with the liturgies of Holy Week, which recall the passion and death of Jesus.
It is a period of fasting, abstinence and repentance that begins on Ash Wednesday. No meat is eaten on Fridays during Lent.
The liturgical colours of Lent are violet or purple.
Easter: Easter Vigil through Pentecost. This is the most important celebration in the liturgical year. The Easter season begins with celebrating Christ’s resurrection and continues for the next 50 days, ending by celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus. Jesus’ ascension into Heaven is celebrated prior to Pentecost.
The liturgy colour of Easter is white, for most days, which represents Christ’s victory over death and red for Pentecost.
Ordinary Time: After Pentecost – the day after Pentecost through to the final day before Advent.
The second Ordinary Time is the longest liturgical season. It is after Pentecost and runs until the final Saturday before Advent. This period focuses on the growth of the Church and Christ’s teachings in daily life, and the final coming for which we are ever preparing.
The liturgy colour of Ordinary Time is green.
These are some of the photos from the Eucharist service at Holy Souls Church. Some of our chaplains and Laudato Si group took part in the service and read bidding prayers
Advent Retreat Day at St Edward's RC Primary School with our Mini Vinnie Chaplains
Class Liturgy Pictures
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