Opportunities to Pray

At St Joseph's, every day is infused with prayer and spirituality. Our children tell us that they like to pray in many different ways. We respond to that by offering many opportunities in class, in assemblies and during lunchtimes.

Parents, carers and the wider family are very regularly invited to join us in prayer and worship. These occasions form lifelong memories for children.

Our Prayer and Worship Handbook below will give an idea of the extensive opportunities we have to celebrate as a community of prayer. You will find this on the Policies page in Welcome Information.

Lunchtime Prayers

During the week, we offer a chance to attend a prayer and reflection session.  Some children come regularly and some drop in from time to time. Visio Divina  Talk Time Meditation  Each of these sessions happens at lunchtime, coordinated by staff. Children of all ages like to take the lead. Our Prayer Leaders coordinate other activities during lunchtimes, such as prayers in the garden and Messy Church craft.

                  

                                             Nailed to the Cross                                                                                             Jesus is Stripped

Wednesday Liturgy 

The highlight of our week is our Wednesday gathering, a special time to come together as a community, to pray and reflect. Each one offers the chance to sing joyfully, pray spontaneously and to hear the Word of God.

Our Busy Bees in Year Six and the Prayer Leaders from each year group, play a very central role in this key liturgy. We asked the children what they liked about this special time together, and they told us,

• 'I like how we gather because it makes me feel peaceful and calm.' 
• 'We like how we come together as a school to connect with God.'
• 'I like that even the little ones can help do it.'
• 'We learn different things about Jesus’ life in every liturgy.'
• 'Gathering together and singing, because it makes me happy. I like the peace, because it makes you calm.'

Praying with Families

Throughout the months dedicated to Mary in May and October, we welcome parents, carers and the wider family to join us in the church for morning prayers. Different year groups go to church and pray a decade of the Rosary.

During Lent, we walk The Way of the Cross in the school grounds and again families are invited to join us. Have a look at our link to Way of the Cross  to see our purpose-built route.

During the summer months, parents and families are invited to join us for a class liturgy in the meadow and in the prayer garden.

Attending Church

The children regularly tell us how much our church means to them and how it makes them feel: 

• "I feel holy."
• “I feel happy because I am in God’s home.”
• “When I am in the house of God I feel like a disciple.”
• "I like feeling close to God. Church makes me feel safe and warm, as if I'm being hugged by God."

The entire school attends mass on Holy Days of obligation and to mark special days during the school year. 

Individual classes celebrate their own masses in church throughout the school year.

Each class performs a class liturgical assembly once a year to which parents are welcome. This year the theme for these assemblies is 'religious stories through art'.

School Prayers

These are central to our daily worship together.

Children Leading Liturgy

Acts of worship and significant liturgical events are highlights of our school year.  The community comes together at key moments to pray, worship and celebrate and these are very special times. The school year is structured around key moments.

From their first days in Reception, children learn what it means to be involved in liturgy and increasingly how to lead the community. In this way, they are prepared to be active members of their parish community.

The Passion Play

Just before Easter, Year Five presents a truly moving Passion Play, a dramatic way to lead us to Easter.