Prayer and Liturgy

Prayer and Liturgy

At St. Joseph’s, we believe that prayer and liturgy is essential not only in giving honour to God but also in forming the spiritual and ethical life of both pupils and staff alike. As highlighted in the Prayer and Liturgy Directory for Catholic schools, these practices lie at the heart of our community life, shaping our mission and guiding each member to live in the image of Christ. Through regular prayer, liturgical celebrations, and moments of reflection, we nurture an environment where faith can flourish and guide our actions, ensuring that all are invited to grow spiritually and ethically in a supportive and Christ-centered community

School Assemblies (Celebration of the Word)

As a Catholic school, we gather regularly as a community to listen and reflect on the Word of God. Each Monday morning, Mr. Ross leads our whole-school assembly, where we reflect on the Gospel reading from the previous weekend, helping us start the week grounded in faith. Every Wednesday, we hold either a Key Stage 1 or 2 assembly, alternating weekly, with a focus on one of our Gospel Values. These assemblies encourage the children to live out these values throughout the week, both in school and beyond. Some children are recognised for their efforts with certificates in the weeks that follow, reinforcing their embodiment of these values.

On Fridays, our pupils meet in their respective Key Stages for the Star of the Week assembly, where we celebrate the achievements of our children, both in and outside of school. These gatherings also provide an opportunity for students to engage deeply with the key principles of Catholic Social Teaching. Each half-term, we focus on a different principle, encouraging students to understand and apply these important lessons in their daily lives, fostering a community built on faith, compassion, and social responsibility.

Throughout the year, we come together as a school community to mark key moments in the liturgical calendar, such as Harvest Festival and Remembrance Day. In these special assemblies, prayer and scripture remain at the heart of our worship, guiding our reflections and reinforcing the spiritual significance of these occasions. These gatherings allow us to celebrate our faith and its role in both the religious and wider social events we commemorate.

We begin each assembly by reciting our Mission Statement, reminding us that Jesus is at the heart of everything we do here at St. Joseph’s. This reflection grounds us in our shared purpose and keeps Christ at the centre of our actions and values.

Class-Led Assemblies

Every class at St. Joseph’s is given the opportunity to lead an assembly each year, inviting other year groups, as well as parents and carers. These gatherings allow students to creatively express their understanding of Religious Education through storytelling, drama, song, and prayer, often integrating lessons from another area of the curriculum. Our class assemblies are a much-anticipated part of school life, fostering a sense of community and shared faith. They are well-attended by parents and carers, who deeply enjoy witnessing the children’s spiritual growth and learning in action. These worship sessions are a highlight for everyone involved and reflect our commitment to making faith a lived and shared experience.

Classroom Prayers

On days when the children are not participating in whole-school or Key Stage assemblies, they engage in class-based worship. During these times, students are encouraged to take an active role in planning and leading classroom prayers and liturgies. Each class has a designated liturgy leader, a student entrusted with the responsibility of guiding their peers in collective worship. This includes selecting prayers and themes, as well as ensuring that their class prayer space is organised and appropriately adorned with the correct liturgical year cloths.

Ten:Ten Resources

The planning and delivering of prayer across the school is supported by our resource, Ten:Ten. It provides many engaging and interactive resources, which can be used in classes and encourage pupils to get involved and take ownership of prayer and liturgy that takes place across the school.

The vision of Ten:Ten Resources is to help school communities grow in faith, love, understanding and compassion. They have created a wide-range of unique media-rich resources, inspired by our Catholic faith.

Masses

We cherish our strong connection with the local parishes and are fortunate to be located next to St. Joseph’s Parish. Each Tuesday, one year group attends the 9am Mass with parishioners, building a sense of shared faith and community.

Throughout the school year, we gather for special Masses at St. Joseph’s Church to mark the beginning and end of the school year, as well as the start of each term. We also celebrate significant feast days, including the feast day of St. Joseph on March 19th.

At the close of the Summer term, our Year 6 students prepare a special Leavers’ Mass. This meaningful occasion is attended by their families in the evening of their last days at school, offering a time for reflection and farewell.

Praying the Rosary

During the months of May and October, we focus as a school on the tradition of praying the Rosary. Using our prayer garden, which is shared with St. Joseph’s Church, each class takes time to reflect and pray on a different mystery of the Rosary. This time allows our students to deepen their connection with God and Mary, thinking about the significant events in the lives of Jesus and His mother. We welcome parents to join their children’s class during this time of prayer, providing an opportunity for families to come together in devotion. The peaceful setting of the prayer garden enhances this sacred time of reflection, creating a shared space for prayer within our school community.

Furthermore, in May, we all participate in a special Marian Procession, where the youngest and oldest pupils of the school are invited to crown our statue of Mary and bring flowers as a sign of our devotion and love for her.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

During the seasons of Advent and Lent, our Year 4, 5, and 6 pupils have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This sacrament offers a special moment for students to reflect on their actions, seek forgiveness, and experience the grace of God’s mercy. It is an important step in preparing their hearts for the celebrations of Christmas and Easter, as they reflect on the themes of repentance and renewal central to these liturgical seasons. Through Reconciliation, children are invited to strengthen their relationship with God and others, embracing the opportunity to experience healing and spiritual growth.

Different Types of Prayers

Children are aware of the different types of prayers and remember them using the acronym TAPS: