PRAYER AND LITURGY
Step into Prayer and Liturgy at Holy Family...
Prayer and Liturgy
At Holy Family Catholic Primary School, we are deeply committed to nurturing the spiritual development of every child through a rich and diverse programme of prayer and liturgical celebration. Our provision is guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church and our mission to grow together as a family that pray and learn.
To ensure a meaningful and inclusive approach to worship and prayer, the school is committed to:
- Fulfilling its statutory obligations with regard to daily acts of collective worship, in accordance with the requirements of the Catholic Education Service and the Diocese.
- Providing a variety of prayer and liturgical experiences that are developmentally appropriate, allowing children to encounter and participate in worship in ways that are meaningful to their age and stage of faith.
- Developing a shared repertoire of traditional and contemporary prayers and liturgical music, enabling pupils to engage in communal worship with confidence and reverence.
- Encouraging progressive pupil participation, ensuring that as children grow, they take increasing responsibility for planning, leading, and reflecting upon prayer and liturgical celebrations.
- Prioritising the celebration of the Eucharist, particularly on Holy Days of Obligation and other significant dates in the Church’s and school’s liturgical calendar, fostering a deep reverence for the Mass as the source and summit of Catholic life.
- Promoting the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a vital part of the liturgical year, especially during Advent and Lent, providing opportunities for children to encounter God's mercy and forgiveness.
Through this policy, Holy Family seeks to create a prayerful, reflective, and vibrant worshipping community, where Christ is at the centre of all we do.
At Holy Family, we love God and worship Him daily. Jesus taught us how to pray, and so we share in prayer and worship as a school family, in different ways and at different times during the week. Our Mission Statement is “We are a caring family, we pray, learn and grow together.” and this encourages us to grow closer to God, and believe that He is with us in everything that we do.
Children celebrating St George's Day
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole School Gospel Assembly. | KS2 Celebration of the Word. | Whole School Sing Praise 1:00pm | EYFS/ KS1 Celebration of the Word. | Whole School Celebration Assembly. |
| TenTen linked to Sunday’s Gospel or a liturgical time. | Themed assembly linked to Sunday’s Gospel or a liturgical time in the Church’s calendar. | Praise through hymns and songs. | Themed assembly linked to Sunday’s Gospel or a liturgical time in the Church’s calendar. | Prayer, celebration and giving thanks. |
| GIFT Team support by leading prayers or reading the Gospel. | Pupils involved in leading or setting up. | Pupils involved in leading or setting up. | GIFT Team support by leading prayers. |
We begin every week with a Monday Morning TenTen assembly and in the afternoon we have our whole school worship singing practice. We are fully aware that not all of our children attend Sunday Mass. Therefore, children have the opportunity to experience and reflect on the Word of God, and start the week by sharing the ethos of our school as a Catholic faith community. Throughout the week, the children will have separate Key Stage Assemblies. The children will follow along with The Mark Ten Mission. They love watching these episodes and get to join in with prayer, scripture and song.
Ash Wednesday service
Each week, the children at our Catholic school come together for Singing Praise, a joyful and uplifting time dedicated to worship through music. This special gathering allows students to express their faith, give thanks to God, and strengthen their sense of community through shared songs of praise. Guided by our school’s Catholic values, Singing Praise helps nurture the children’s spiritual growth while fostering a deeper connection to God and one another.
Choir singing at a care home
Each class also gathers throughout the week for a child led Celebration of the Word session. The children plan their own worships, choosing their themes, scriptures, prayer and activities and reflect on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Every classroom also has their own individual worship area where the children are encouraged to reflect and have personal worship opportunities each day. On Friday we gather as a whole school community for our Celebration Assembly where children’s achievements from the week are celebrated with a Golden Child, a Reader of the Week and a Bee Attitude award from each class.
Reception role playing The Ascension
The Sacramental Programme is delivered by our catechists and they lead the children and parent meetings. Baptised children in Year 3 and beyond are welcomed to take part in this amazing journey with God. Children on the Sacramental Programme attend additional Masses and receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion. First Holy Communion is a precious time for our children and their families which is celebrated by the school, the wider community and the parish.
KS2 Children reading Bible stories in our Prayer Garden
Take a look at how we share our faith at home.
Prayer bags
The GIFT team has been busy creating special prayer bags for our school community. These bags are filled with items to help families pray together at home, bringing faith into our everyday lives.
By taking time to pray with our families, we grow closer to God and to each other. As Jesus said,
'For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.' (Matthew 18:20)
Let’s remember to make space for prayer in our homes and hearts!
