Central to Our Mission
At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, prayer and liturgy are central to the life of the school and the main platform for exploring our vision and mission. In line with the Prayer and Liturgy Directory for Catholic Schools in England and Wales, worship is carefully planned and of high quality so that the whole school community is engaged on a journey of encounter with Christ, exploring the teachings of Jesus and the Scriptures.
Inspirational, Invitational, Inclusive
Prayer and liturgy in our school are designed to be inspirational, invitational, and inclusive, leading pupils and adults alike to a threshold where they can witness worship and be drawn into participation.
Encounter with Christ
Through prayer and liturgy, pupils are offered:
- A space to hear and reflect on the Christian story.
- Opportunities to participate in or observe prayer, reading and reflection on the Bible, liturgy and sacrament.
- Experiences of music, silence, and symbolic action that express the richness of Catholic worship.
Formation in Love and Service
- Pupils are encouraged to reflect on the beauty, joy and pain of the world.
- They consider their responsibilities to others and grow in love and service.
- Celebrations mark both the accomplishments of school members and the festivals of the Christian calendar, as well as opportunities to acknowledge other faith traditions.
- Time is given for contemplation, silence and spiritual growth.
Community and Partnership
“Collective Worship is central to the life of the school and staff are highly skilled in helping pupils to plan and lead Collective Worship. The school endeavours to include parents and carers in many aspects of school life and every effort is taken to promote parental attendance at the wide variety of liturgies and celebrations on offer. Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of the school and are very appreciative of all that the staff do.” — Section 50 Inspection 2019
Liturgical Rhythm of the Year
With the support of the parish priest, children from across the school take part in a wide range of whole-school and key-stage liturgies, including:
Reconciliation services
Masses
The Rosary
Ash Wednesday liturgy
Stations of the Cross
