Prayer

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 Parents may request that their child is withdrawn from daily acts of worship if they feel that this may be detrimental to their child.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.

Prayers

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.