At St Charles Borromeo, we believe that true encounter with Jesus Christ can and does take place each and every day. We strive to strengthen our school as a community that exemplifies, in word and action, the Good News of Gospels. This begins with prayer and radiates out to all aspects of school life. We are committed to nurturing a genuine life of prayer nourished by the sacraments.

Prayer and liturgy are central to the life of our school and celebrates God’s presence in our lives. We are concerned with giving glory, honour, praise and thanks to God. It is our loving response, in word and action, to God’s invitation to enter into relationship with Him.

The Liturgical Year

Our children have a good understanding of the Church’s liturgical year, its seasons, rites and symbols. We ensure that our children understand the cycle of the Church’s Liturgical Year and that they are aware of the changes and celebrations relating to it. These events are highlighted in the prayer and liturgy themes, and the children are aware of the liturgical changes with the changing colours of our cloths.

Prayer at St Charles Borromeo

This has been traditionally described as ‘lifting up of the hearts and minds to God’, which means it involves our whole person – our head as well as our heart. This definition expresses an understanding that God is present in our lives and responds to us when we express our needs.

Our school prayer gives thanks to God for our wonderful school, as St Charles Borromeo is a place where all are valued, where we learn to grow more like God, where we make the most of each opportunity presented to us. Rooted in our Catholic faith, we strive to ensure that our school is a place of peace, happiness, truth, love and security. 

 

 Our School Prayer

Loving God

We give thanks for our school,

our families, teachers and friends.

Make our school a happy place,

where we learn, play and grow together.

Help us always to be the best that we can be

And follow St Charles Borromeo by helping others.

Amen

Created by staff, pupils and governors

 

Coming together in prayer is an essential part of our school life, with staff and pupils invited to recognise God’s action in their lives and the life of the school. Communal prayer takes place, for example, at the beginning of the day, grace at lunchtime and at the end of the school day. In addition to this, we have a timetable throughout the week when the children can come together in prayer and reflection.

Our weekly Prayer and Celebration of the Word timetable is as follows:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Key Stage 1	Whole School Gospel Celebration of the WordClass Collective Worship	Class Prayer Class Collective Worship	Whole School Celebration of the Word	Assembly   10.15-10.30am Assembly	Class Prayer
Key Stage 2				Class Prayer   Class Collective Worship	Assembly

 

Liturgy at St Charles Borromeo

Liturgy in school takes the form of the Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As a school community, we celebrate Mass at the beginning and end of each term; on the feast day of St Charles Borromeo; to celebrate with our Year 3 children who have made their Holy Communion and we also attend Mass on the relevant Holy Days of Obligation.

We are committed to encouraging our children to participate fully in prayer and liturgy, to allow them to experience the riches of our liturgical life.

The timetable of liturgies is as follows:

Autumn Term

Beginning of Term Mass

St Charles Feast Day Mass

Advent Reconciliation

End of Term Mass

Spring Term

Start of Term Mass

Ash Wednesday Mass

Lent Reconciliation

End of Term Mass

Summer Term

Start of Term Mass

Year 3 Holy Communion Mass

Year 6 Leavers’ Mass