Prayer & Liturgy

Prayer and Liturgy

Prayer, worship and liturgical celebration are central to our Catholic tradition and form an integral part of the school day. Prayer is encouraged in a variety of methods; – private individual prayer, group prayer, and whole school prayer. Prayer is encouraged in a variety of methods; – private individual prayer, group prayer, and whole school prayer. Each child takes part in a daily act of worship (5-10 minutes) and formal prayers are used at lunchtime and to open and close the school day sessions. The children also plan and lead acts of worship within each of their classes.

Each child takes part in a daily act of worship (5-10 minutes) and formal prayers are used at lunchtime and to open and close the school day sessions. The children also plan and lead acts of worship within each of their classes. This happens daily and the children in the upper junior classes lead Lectio Divina. Collective Worship across every class uses the same structure.  We gather, using prayers or actions or music.  Then, we listen to scripture, readings.  We reflect on the meaning of the scripture we have heard and after that we respond by doing something or saying a prayer together.    Finally, we go forth by reflecting on the scripture and taking this forward into our work throughout the day. It is wonderful to see the children excited, enthusiastic and deepening their faith through prayer and liturgy. We have trained Liturgy Leaders in Years 5 and 6 who support our younger children by leading Prayer and Liturgy in EYFS and Key Stage 1. In each class, there is a prayer and liturgy book where pictures, planning templates and powerpoints are kept as a reminder and record of the acts of worship.

We have a weekly Key Stage 1 ‘Lunchtime Liturgy Group’ who meet together with Mrs Roddy and share the Gospel reading from Sunday.

We look forward to our Thursday morning liturgies, which are planned and led by each class in turn. These are centred around the Church’s Liturgical Year, global issues or British and Catholic values.  The children always relate these themes to scripture references and they write their own prayers and choose their own songs and hymns to celebrate and worship together. It is wonderful for the children to leave us all with a reflection, mission idea or practical response to our celebration, enabling all to deepen faith, learn from the teachings of Christ and become the very best we can be for ourselves and for others.

We celebrate together as a whole school on a Monday and Friday. On Mondays Mrs Barnett and Mr Wylde lead us in listening to, and reflecting on, the Gospel reading from Sunday. On Fridays we also recognise and celebrate children’s achievements, both in and out of school, during our weekly Star Award Celebration.

Our Worship Area

Every child has access to a prayer area in the classroom which includes a prayer focus and the class prayer book, as well as bibles and resources relevant to each class. We also have a wonderful worship area which is central to our school. Children enjoy accessing this quiet space during breaks and lunchtimes. They can play quiet music, write prayers, which they then attach to our Prayer Tree, write messages to go on the prayer board or just sit and reflect. It is a delight to see the older children helping the younger children in Reception class write their prayers or scribe for them.

INSET Day Liturgy

INSET Day Liturgy

Just as the children regularly lead and take part in Prayer and Liturgy, so too do our staff. As we returned to school today after our half term break, Mrs. Roddy lead us in a beautifully reflective liturgy about the Feast of All of Saints. Mrs. Roddy called us to...

Welcome Prayer & Liturgy

Welcome Prayer & Liturgy

Each year our Year 6 children lead a Welcome Prayer and Liturgy for our new Reception children, the children who have joined our school in the last 12 months and staff who are new to our school. We welcome them to our 'Willows Family' and present them with a marian...

Prayer Leader Training

Prayer Leader Training

We all love leading Prayer and Liturgy and have missed doing this during Covid. We were very lucky to have Mrs Wright join us to train four Year 5 children and four Year 6 children as Liturgy Leaders. She helped us think about the different parts of Prayer and Liturgy...

Leavers Mass

Leavers Mass

Fr. Andrew led us all in a wonderful Leavers’ Mass. We held our Mass outside so that the whole school could join in. It was a wonderful way to come together as a school family following all the restrictions due to COVID. 

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross The Stations of the Cross are a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ's last day on Earth as a man. Walking with Jesus through the last hours of his life is one way of explaining the tradition of praying the Stations of the...

Ash Wednesday Mass

Ash Wednesday Mass

Ash Wednesday Mass On Wednesday 17th February, our children would normally gather together to celebrate Ash Wednesday. Fr. Andrew would lead us as we process around the hall offering our Lenten Promises. Given that Ash Wednesday falls during our half term, the...

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day

Each year in November we join with all the local churches and members of the local churches to remember people who died for us in the war.We process through the streets to the local cenotaph where we share a service of remembrance and lay a wreath on behalf of the...

Year of the Eucharist

Year of the Eucharist

Following the National Eucharistic Congress to be held in Liverpool in September 2018 schools of the Diocese of Lancaster were invited by Bishop Paul to observe a ‘Year of the Eucharist’. He called schools to consider the place of the Eucharist in the life of the...

Headteacher: Mrs S. Barnett | Victoria Road, Kirkham, Preston, PR4 2BT
Telephone: 01772 684 371 | Email: [email protected]

© The Willows Catholic Primary School. All Rights Reserved

Headteacher: Mrs S. Barnett | Victoria Road, Kirkham, Preston, PR4 2BT
Telephone: 01772 684 371 | Email: [email protected]

© The Willows Catholic Primary School. All Rights Reserved (Login)