PRAYER and LITURGY
WEEKLY WORD
Staff and students plan, prepare and lead Weekly Word for Year Groups. Each Weekly Word lasts 15 minutes and incorporates hymns, a liturgical theme and reflection on scripture. Students are encouraged to Gather in readiness to lift their hearts and minds to God, Listen to holy scripture related to the Weekly Word theme, Reflect on what the Word means in their own lives, and finally sent out with a Mission for the week.
CELEBRATION OF THE WORD
Every Monday at 09.30 our entire school stops to celebrate the Word of God. Using prayer stations in every classroom, Prayer Leads proclaim the Gospel from the day before, and the class are led in reflection by resources produced by students whose ministry it is to guide their peers in prayerful contemplation. You can hear a pin drop in our school for those precious ten minutes before the start of the school day!
FORM REFLECTIONS AND PRAYERS
Our Chaplain, Mr Murray, provides weekly resources for Forms based on a calendar of liturgical themes. They allow us to pray on major feasts and occasions in the Church’s year as well as other important themes related to Catholic Social Teaching. The pastoral nature of our school, the mission of the Christian Brothers, and personal faith exploration features heavily in these prayers and reflections.
THURSDAY THOUGHT
6th Form students lead reflections on the forthcoming Sunday’s Gospel for all Year Groups during extended Form Time every Thursday. Working independently, they seek to proclaim the Gospel in a meaningful, relevant way by linking its teaching and message to current world events. We are so proud that they are in the habit of standing in front of younger students to lead them in faithful reflection.
SUNG PRAYER
Students gather once a Half Term to worship in song in our Atrium. Led by our Head of Music, Miss Yates, they are led in prayer before joyously proclaiming the Word through song. As St Augustine, one of our House Saints, said; “To sing is to pray twice!”
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
During Lent all our students visit our Chapel to pray the Stations of the Cross. These prayers are led by staff members and even by some of the 6th Form.
ROSARY
During October and May all students pray the Rosary in our Chapel in reverence to Our Lady, the Mother of God. In May, Year 7 retreat to the Marian Garden at Holy Angels to pray the Rosary and form prayer chains for display in the Chapel.
PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD
In November we open a Book of Remembrance in the Chapel, and classes visit to pray for those we have lost and add their names to the book. At the end of the month a special liturgy is celebrated in the Chapel for all those whose names are contained.