Prayer and Liturgy
'Praying fills me with joy and makes me feel warm and peaceful.'
'I like praying in school, like our morning prayer, because we can do it all together and be one with God.'
'I like it when we do Celebration of the Word, when we each have a turn to show different ways to pray.'
Pupil Voice
Prayer and worship are at the heart of daily life at St Alban & St Stephen. Every day, we come together to deepen our faith, encounter the living God in a meaningful way, and support one another as a community. Each class takes part in daily acts of worship, and weekly Key Stage gatherings give us the opportunity to hear the Gospel, pray together, and worship through song. Throughout the year, we celebrate important events in the Church’s calendar and come together as a whole school community for special liturgies and Masses, both in our school and in our Parish Church of SS Alban & Stephen. Children regularly experience a diverse range of prayer types, including traditional formal prayers, silent forms such as Christian meditation, and meditative reflection on scripture and religious art. Additionally, prayers of petition and intercession are offered through various creative means, allowing for personal expression and connection to the Divine. We also provide opportunities for prayer in the home by sending the Class Prayer Book and the Travelling Crib in Advent, so as community we can support our pupils' spiritual journey.
Our practices are guided by the principles outlined in The Prayer & Liturgy Directory: To Know You More Dearly, ensuring that all pupils are invited to engage in prayer and grow on their individual journeys of faith. In this way, our commitment to prayer and liturgy enriches the spiritual lives of our students, nurturing their faith and fostering a sense of community.
Daily Worship
| Monday - Key Stage Gospel Celebration Assembly |
|
We gather by Key Stage to start our week by hearing the Gospel and reflecting on its message for us. Pupils in each class receive Star of the Week and House Point certificates to celebrate the way that they have lived out our School values. |
| Tuesday - Class Child-led Celebration of the Word |
|
In child-led worship, pupils plan and lead prayer and liturgy for their class, giving them a real voice and ownership of their learning. |
| Wednesday - Singing Worship Assembly |
| We come together to praise God through music, song, and joyful worship, led by our Music Specialist. |
| Thursday - Mark 10 Mission Assembly |
| We use the resources at https://www.themark10mission.co.uk/ to explore how to live out Jesus’ teaching in our daily lives, encouraging pupils to act with kindness, service, and compassion. |
| Friday - Key Stage Celebration or Class Family Assembly |
| The school community gathers to learn together, share successes, and give thanks for our week together. Year-groups lead curriculum sharing assemblies for their families. |
The Liturgical Year
At St Alban & St Stephen, we follow the Church’s liturgical year, celebrating each season with prayer, worship, and activities that help us grow in faith and learn about Jesus.
Christian Meditation
The Catholic faith has an ancient tradition of meditation, and many saints such as St Francis of Assisi and St Teresa of Avila used meditation to deepen their relationship with God. Meditation has also been shown to reduce stress levels, calm anxiety and improve our ability to focus. We use short sessions of Christian meditation in school with the children.
'I really liked it and after it I felt quite calm. It felt nice for my body.'
'It was good because our class was very calm and settled. It was really nice and relaxing to have some quiet time and to be close to God.'
'I think it was really, really good because it was nice and calming for your mind. It was easy for me to stay still because I could close my eyes and then I didn’t feel too energetic.'
Pupil Voice
You can find out more about Christian meditation here: