Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School
At Our Lady's we have the following in place for Prayer and Liturgy:-
Class Prayer and Liturgy (this takes place once a week in each class)
Each class has a Prayer and Liturgy Reflection book and each half term the children plan their Reflections using a four step plan:-
- Gather - to introduce the session. This could be listening to calm and reflecting music, tapping a chime bar or sing 'Come and join the circle.'
- Word - sharing a reading from the Gospel.
- Response - an activity, for example a five finger prayer, relfecting on the word or holding a pebble and thinking about someone that you would like to ask Jesus to help.
- Mission - this is a task to take away, for example - do something helpful at home, invite someone who is lonely to join you at break time etc
ADVENT RECONCILIATION
All the children and staff gathered in the hall for our Advent Reconciliation service (led by Chaplaincy). This was the introduction:-
Welcome to our reconciliation service. We are in the season of Advent where we prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Today’s service is all about forgiveness and saying sorry so we can receive Jesus in our hearts. Letting go of the things we have done wrong and turning over a new leaf so we have a fresh start. Even when we have made the wrong choices, God is always ready to forgive us. He reminds us to love one another, as he loves us.
During the service the children returned to their classes for a short time to carry out an activity which gave them the opportunity to ask for God's forgiveness - The Act of Reconciliation. Each activity enabled the children and staff (if they wished) to pray and reflect on something they wanted to ask for God forgiveness. Here is Beech Class activity:-
Think about something that you have done or said that you regret. As you think about that thing hold a smooth pebble in your hand. Reflect on what you did wrong, say sorry and think about what you can do next time. Hold the smooth pebble and when you are ready place it gently on the cross to show that you are making a fresh start.
Everyone then returned to the hall after the Act of Reconciliation and a child from class went to the altar to light a candle as a symbol of the light of God’s Love shining in them. The service concluded with a prayer.
CHRISTINGLE
On Friday, 6th December Holly Class and Chaplaincy attended Church for the Feast of St Nicholas. Chaplaincy members had made Christingles earlier in the week and the children took part in the Christingle Procession.
And on Monday 16th December all the children and staff attended Christmas Mass with Father Francis. This was the introduction read by a member of Chaplaincy:-
Every time Christmas comes around, there are more smiles on the faces of people we meet. People we don’t even know seem to smile. They are happy because it’s nearly Christmas and their happiness is showing in their faces. In our Mass today we’re going to think about happiness and what it means for us.
During this Mass we are thinking about the happiness that Jesus brought to our world, when he came so long ago in Bethlehem. We will think about the kind of welcome he had then and the kind of welcome that we give him, when he comes again.
Harvest Mass took place on 3rd October. We supported the local food bank.
Whole School Prayer and Liturgy (this takes place every Tuesday morning)
Chaplaincy meet with Mrs Girton on a Monday to plan Tuesday's whole school Prayer and Liturgy.
This is linked to the liturgical season or other religious themes such as Saints, our Values, our Catholic Social Teaching Principles, our Faith week, Anti Bullying week etc. This is normally led by the Headteacher and members of the Chaplaincy team.
Gospel (this takes place every Monday afternoon)
Every Monday afternoon KS1 and KS2 take it in turns to attend Gospel at St Luke and St Teresa's Church while the others attend Gospel in the school hall led by a member of staff. Attending Church each fortnight also gives the children an opportunity to meet with our Priest, Father Francis.
October - Praying for the Rosary
KS2 gathered in the hall and the children were given the opportunity to attend on a Monday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout October.
November - The month of Remembrance
Following Remembrance Parade on Sunday 10th November and our Remembrance Service in school on Monday 11th November Chaplaincy visitied each class during November to share our Remembrance Booklet. They explained that November is the month in which we REMEMBER those people who have died. and we know that they are now in Heaven with God. The staff and children then had the opportunity to add a name to the booklet, if they wished. This could be a family pet too.
Friday Mass
RE is taught in year groups every Monday (EYFS to year 5) and on a Friday for year 6. Each Friday one class attends Friday Mass at St Luke and St Teresa's Church at 11.30am. Parents are also invited to attend. This is led by Father Francis.
Class Morning Prayer and Liturgy
Every Wednesday morning a class Prayer and Liturgy reflection takes place before learning starts. The children listen to some Scripture and/or a Psalm, reflect on this together and say our School Prayer. They follow the sequence of Gather, Word, Response and Mission. Each class has a focus area with the liturgical cloth, candle and Bible.
Please see the Prayer and Liturgy timetable below.
In July we celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. See Service below.
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Each class also says our school prayer in the morning, a prayer before lunch and a prayer at the end of the school day.
These are our school prayers:-
Morning Prayer
Bless us o God as we come to school,
Bless our classmates and our friends,
Bless the staff who help us to learn,
Bless us all o God and guide us through the day,
Amen
Lunchtime Prayer
End of School Day Prayer
Loving God
Thank you for guiding us through the day.
Thank you for our teachers and our friends.
Thank you for helping us become all we can be.
Guard me Lord in the dark of night
And in the morning send me Light.
Amen
Please see our Prayer Progression below.
Prayer to be learnt for each year group
We also attend Church for our Harvest Mass, Chaplaincy Commissioning, Christmas Mass and Feast Days.
Crowning of Mary in May is a very special afternoon at Our Lady's with each child taking part in a walk around school and stopping at different areas to say a prayer. This is led by Father Francis. We conclude at the pond area and each child lays a flower around the pond. Chaplaincy also place a Crown on the statue of Mary.
We also have Advent Reconciliation and Lent Reconciliation services in school led by Chaplaincy.
Singing Praise
Every Thursday after lunch each class meets in the hall for Singing Praise. This is led by Ruth Jenkins who also runs KS2 Choir. The staff and children gather together to practise songs of praise, hymns and songs that we sing throughout the year for our special services held either in Church or at school. A Chaplain leads the prayer at this gathering.
Celebratory Assembly
On alternative Fridays Our Lady's holds Celebratory Assembly. Each class takes a turn in sharing how they have demonstrated our school values/Catholic Social Teaching Principles and lead prayer either at the beginning or end of the assembly. It is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate with those parents attending too.
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