Prayer and liturgy are at the heart of life at St Theresa’s. They provide opportunities for every member of our school community to encounter God, listen and respond to His Word, celebrate our Catholic faith and grow in relationship with Him.

Throughout the school day and across the liturgical year, children experience a rich variety of prayer and liturgy. These include daily prayer, Celebration of the Word, Masses and other liturgical celebrations, traditional Catholic prayers, spontaneous prayer, music, silence and reflection. Our prayer spaces, symbols, Scripture and liturgical colours help children recognise the presence of God and understand the seasons of the Church’s year.

Children are supported to participate actively and reverently according to their age and understanding. As they progress through the school, they develop the confidence and skills to contribute to the preparation of prayer and liturgy and to undertake appropriate ministries, including reading Scripture, writing and offering prayers, selecting meaningful symbols and music, and helping others to respond through prayer and action.

Prayer and liturgy unite our school, parish and families as one community of faith. They inspire us to carry God’s love into our daily lives and to live out our school mission:

“To do the little things well and to do them with love.”

Please explore the pages below to discover more about:

• Celebration of the Word
• Masses and Liturgical Celebrations
• Prayer at St Theresa's

To Love You More Dearly

Prayer and liturgy at St Theresa’s are guided by To Love You More Dearly: The Prayer and Liturgy Directory for Catholic Schools, Academies and Colleges in England and Wales.

The Directory supports us in providing prayer and liturgy that are faithful to the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church, accessible to all and appropriate to the age and understanding of our children.

It informs our whole-school provision, staff formation and progression in prayer and liturgy. It also helps us support children to participate prayerfully, contribute to preparation and undertake appropriate liturgical ministries as they grow in confidence and understanding.

Through these experiences, we aim to help every child encounter God, develop a personal relationship with Him and learn to live out the Gospel in daily life.

Read To Love You More Dearly: The Prayer and Liturgy Directory on the Catholic Education Service page: Prayer and Liturgy Directory, To Love You More Dearly

The Liturgical Year

The liturgical year is the Church’s calendar. It helps our school community journey through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and celebrate the important seasons, feasts and events of our Catholic faith.

The Church’s year begins with Advent, when we prepare for the birth of Jesus. We then celebrate Christmas, followed by Ordinary Time. During Lent, we reflect, pray and prepare for Holy Week and the great celebration of Easter. The Easter season continues until Pentecost, when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, before returning to Ordinary Time.

Each season has its own colour and meaning:

• Purple is used during Advent and Lent as a sign of preparation and reflection.

• White or gold is used during the joyful seasons of Christmas and Easter and for important feast days.

• Green is used during Ordinary Time and represents life, hope and growth.

• Red is used at Pentecost and on the feast days of martyrs. It represents the Holy Spirit, fire, love and sacrifice.

• Rose may be used on the third Sunday of Advent and the fourth Sunday of Lent as a sign of joy and hope.

Our prayer focuses, symbols, Scripture, music and celebrations change throughout the liturgical year. This helps children recognise each season and enter more deeply into the life of the Church.

The rhythm of the liturgical year shapes prayer and worship throughout St Theresa’s and provides regular opportunities for us to gather, reflect, celebrate and grow together in faith.

The Liturgical Year in Our Classrooms

Every classroom has a dedicated liturgical-year display, which changes as we journey through the different seasons of the Church’s year. At the beginning of each new season, staff teach the children about its colour, meaning, symbols and important celebrations. A class information poster supports this learning and helps children make connections between the liturgical year, our prayer spaces and our celebrations.

Children also enjoy using their liturgical-year activity books. These provide opportunities to explore each season through Scripture, prayer, reflection and creative activities. Through this consistent whole-school approach, children develop a deeper understanding of the Church’s year and recognise how it shapes our prayer and life together at St Theresa’s.