St Patrick’s Collective Worship and Prayer

At St Patrick’s, we provide regular opportunities for our children to engage with prayer and worship. As well as praying on a morning, before lunch, after lunch and at home time, our children and staff experieonce prayer in the following ways:

Monday Morning Celebration of the Word

Every Monday morning, the headteacher or a member of the SLT, leads a Celebration of the Word with the whole school. This reflects the Gospel from the previous day and gives the children a mission for the week – this is our Going Forth.

Tuesday

In class, on Tuesdays, we revisit Going Forth and, after quiet reflection time, we consider how we intend to carry this forward in our classrooms, our lunch hall, our playground and at home.

Wednesday

Wednesday class Celebration of the Word at St Patrick’s is based on the 7 Catholic Social Teaching principles which guide us on how we should live out our faith in the world. Using the Let Us Pray 2Gether resources as appropriate, children in KS2 plan and lead worships in for the rest of their class whilst teachers plan with children in Reception and KS1. We encourage our pupils to consider different spaces around school for our celebrations e.g. St Patrick’s church, hall, playground, Reception play area, school hall etc.

Thursday

We have staff reflection every Thursday morning with Fr Shaun.  In class, our pupils can explore creative prayer. Children may enjoy some reflective music and meditation, they may have an opportunity to pray for a specific intention or they may look at some religious art considering what the image means to them. Time is dedicated to prayer, but it is responsive to the age and needs of each class. In addition, once a month on a Thursday, we have Open the Book, where some parishioners from local churches share Bible stories.  Parents and carers are invited to join us foe these celebrations.

Friday

Every Friday, Mrs Burgess or a member of the SLT, leads a whole-school celebration assembly.  This is a time to celebrate all those who have shown they are able to follow our Mission Statement: We follow Christ’s Footsteps.

We also focus on the three Rs of St Patrick’s:

Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Ready to Learn

Within this gathering, pupils are also invited to share examples of how they have lived out the mission introduced at the start of the week.

Celebration of the Word with our families and our parish

Every Monday morning, we share with our parents and carers, our weekly Going Forth mission with the intention of extending our focus from school to home.

In addition, at different times throughout the year, we invite families and our parish friends to join with us in our Celebration of the Word.  This means we have the chance to prayer and listen to God’s word together.

Praying at Home

Praying together as a family is a joyful experience.  During Advent, Lent, and the month of May, we send home prayer packs so that families can enjoy a few minutes praying together. Everything our families need to set up a prayer station is included.

Our Daily Prayers

Morning Offering

Oh my God, you love me,
You’re with me night and day.
I want to love you always,
In all I do and say.
I’ll try to please you Father,
Bless me through the day.
AMEN

Grace Before Meals

Bless us O God as we sit together.
Bless the food we eat today.
Bless the hands that made the food.
Bless us O God.
AMEN

Grace After Meals.

Thank you, God, for the food we have eaten.
Thank you, God, for all our friends.
Thank you, God, for everything.
AMEN

Evening Prayer

God our Father, we come to say,
Thank you for your love today.
Thank you for my family,
And all the friends you gave to me.
Guard me in the dark of night,
And in the morning send your light.
AMEN