Our children participate in prayer and Celebration of the Word each day. These special times provide opportunities to gather together, listen to the Word of God, reflect and respond in prayer, and consider how we will put Jesus’ teaching into action.

Each week, the whole school explores a shared theme inspired by the Sunday Gospel. This helps children make meaningful connections between prayer in school, the Church’s liturgical year and the Gospel proclaimed in our parish community. Where appropriate, the weekly theme is also linked to one of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, helping children understand how faith calls us to love and serve others.

Celebration of the Word generally follows four parts:

• Gather – we prepare ourselves to be together in God’s presence.

• Listen – we listen attentively to the Word of God.

• Respond – we reflect and respond through prayer, music, silence or symbolic action.

• Send / Mission – we consider how we will live out God’s Word in our daily lives.

Throughout the week, children help to prepare the class prayer focus. They consider the season of the liturgical year, select the appropriate coloured cloth and help choose meaningful objects, images and symbols. The Bible is placed at the centre of the prayer space, ready for God’s Word to be proclaimed.

Whole School Celebration of the Word

Every Friday, the school community gathers in the hall for a whole-school Celebration of the Word. Classes take turns to contribute to its preparation, supported and formed by their class teacher and our RE lead. Children may undertake appropriate ministries such as proclaiming Scripture, offering prayers, introducing symbols, selecting hymns and helping the community to respond. Parents and carers of the participating class are warmly invited to join us.

Following the celebration, children are encouraged to reflect upon and evaluate the experience. They consider what helped the community to pray, what the Scripture taught them and how they will carry its message into their lives.

^{On 25th September, Year 4 led our 'Generous' Celebration of the Word for our school community including parents. They invited children to accept their mission to donate food and other essentials to St Helens Foodbank so that we can help others in need. The children also sang a new hymn 'When I needed a neighbour' beautifully. Well done Year 4!}

^{On the 18th September, Year 6 led our 'Forgiveness' Celebration of the Word for our school community including parents and St Cuthbert's High School staff and pupils.} 

Our Weekly Themes

Our weekly themes are supported by The Wednesday Word and are rooted in the Sunday Gospel. Relevant principles of Catholic Social Teaching are linked to these themes so that prayer leads to meaningful choices and action.

Our current Celebration of the Word themes can be downloaded below.

The Wednesday Word
Each week, we share The Wednesday Word with our families, providing an opportunity to encounter and reflect upon the Sunday Gospel together at home. This helps to strengthen the partnership between home, school and parish and enables our children and families to continue their prayer and reflection beyond the school day.

Read this week's Wednesday Word below. 

Children's Participation

Children are gradually supported to participate in the preparation of Celebration of the Word in ways appropriate to their age and understanding. They learn to select suitable Scripture, prayers, music, symbols and responses, and to undertake appropriate ministries with the support of adults.

Pupil Reflections

Children are encouraged to reflect upon their experiences of prayer and liturgy. Their reflections help us understand what has supported them in prayer, what they have learned from Scripture and how they intend to respond to God’s Word.

Parent Reflections

"Today was lovely. It is always lovely to come in to St Theresa's." - Year 6 parent

"Thank you for all of the work that you do to help our children to develop their Christian values. We thought today's Celebration of the Word was beautiful."  - Year 6 parent

Our Prayer Focus

^{Reconciliation Prayer Focus                                           Genorosity Prayer Focus}

Our prayer focus helps us prepare a sacred and welcoming space in which to encounter God. The Bible remains central, while the liturgical cloth, candle, cross, images and symbols are carefully selected to reflect the Church’s year, the Scripture and the theme of the celebration. We also choose hymns that link to the theme or the 

From Prayer to Action

Celebration of the Word does not end when we leave the prayer space. Each celebration sends us out with a mission to live the Gospel through our words, choices and actions. In this way, prayer inspires us to follow our school mission: “To do the little things well and to do them with love.”

Documents

The documents below provide further information about how Celebration of the Word is planned, supported and developed at St Theresa’s. They include our current themes, progression guidance and key Prayer and Liturgy documents.