Mass is said regularly in school and all Holy Days of Obligation which occur in term time are observed. The children are responsible for the preparation of the Liturgy and all children are offered the opportunity of participating at Mass. Whole School Masses occur regularly, with dates shared in our newsletters, on our website and in the Parish bulletin -parents and parishioners are always very welcome to attend any of our celebrations. Reverence and joy characterise the celebration of Mass at SS Mary & John.
There is daily worship in school, either in the form of class prayers, whole school or phase assembly or Mass. The children pray together four times each day and the prayer life of the school is a strong and organic feature of the family community we strive to create. Parents may request that their child is withdrawn from daily acts of worship if they feel that this may be detrimental to their child. However, in selecting a Catholic school parents should be aware that the moral and spiritual imperatives of the Catholic faith are experienced in every area of school life and to withdraw a child from a small prayer session would not mean that the principle underpinning that worship would never be encountered, moreover, it would mean that a child was excluded from a quiet time of reflection and thought.
The Prayer Bag is a wonderful tradition at our school. Each week, it travels to a different home, allowing every family in our class to share in this special experience. Grounded in our school values, these bags are designed to help your family come together in prayer—a practice that is at the very heart of our school life.
Jesus promised that wherever two or three gather in his name, he is there with them. From his own life with Mary and Joseph, Jesus knew just how precious family life is. We hope and pray that this bag helps you pause for a few minutes each day to connect, reflect, and share something beautiful in the presence of God.
Catholic schools offer our young people the chance to live, work, and pray together. However, every child’s home is also a school of prayer—a sacred place where the family can gather to reflect on what truly matters. Whatever your own faith background, we invite you to take this opportunity to share in the values that shape our school community.
What is Inside the Bag?
To help you create your prayer space, each bag contains:
Liturgical Colored Cloths to set the tone for the Church season.
A Small Cross as a visual focus for your prayer.
A Candle to bring light into your sacred space (please ensure this is used safely with adult supervision).
A Prayer Book containing traditional prayers of the Church.
Prayer Prompts to help guide your family conversations and reflections.
How to Use the Family Prayer Bag
Our family prayer follows four simple steps: Gather, Word, Respond, Mission.
1. Gather
This is about creating a sacred space in your home. Choose a comfortable place—perhaps on the floor or around a table—that suits your family. Use the cloth, small cross, and candle from the bag to decorate this space. These religious symbols remind us that when we pray, we are truly in the presence of God.
Choosing Your Liturgical Color: Select the colored cloth from the bag that matches the Church’s current season:
Green (Ordinary Time): Used during the weeks outside of the major seasons, representing hope, growth, and life.
Purple (Advent & Lent): Used during times of preparation and reflection as we look forward to Christmas and Easter.
Yellow/Gold (Easter & Christmas): Used during our greatest feast days to represent joy, celebration, and light.
2. Word
An essential part of our prayer is listening to the Word of God. Through the Scripture readings included in the bag, God speaks directly to your family. Take a moment to quiet down and ensure everyone listens carefully to the reading.
3. Respond
Once you have heard the Word, take some time to think, talk, and share your thoughts. You can use the included prayer prompts to help kickstart your discussion, or enjoy a brief moment of silence to let the words sink in. Use the prayer book to share some well-known prayers of the Church, and feel free to make up some of your own.
4. Mission
The final part of our prayer is our call to action. We don’t just leave our prayer in the sacred space; we take it out into the world. In this step, your family will look at practical ways to live out what you have prayed about, bringing God’s love and care into your daily lives and to those around you.
Year of Prayer
2025 will be a Jubilee year in the Catholic Church. To prepare for this special year Pope Francis has designated 2024 as a Year of Prayer. During this year we are encouraged to deepen our commitment to prayer and accompany others, especially school communities, in their prayer life.
We should reflect and think about why we pray.
“Prayer unites us; it makes us brothers and sisters. It is in prayer that our hearts find the strength not to be cold and insensitive in the face of injustice. In prayer, God keeps calling us, opening our hearts to charity.”
Pope Francis
During the year there will be a particular focus on the prayer Jesus taught us, the ‘Our Father.’
Our Father,
Who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
Prayer is opening our hearts to God who has opened his heart to us.
A young saint, Therese of Lisieux, described prayer as: “a surge of the heart: it is a simple look turned towards heaven.”
