Prayer and worship is a central part of life at Our Lady of the Angels. All children attend an act of Worship at the start of each day. On a Monday the children and adults gather as a whole school community to hear the Gospel from the preceding Sunday. For the rest of the week children attend a daily act of worship within their own classroom communities. You can view an example of our weekly Acts of Worship below. Children also say a Grace before Meals at lunchtime and finish the day with a prayer and a reflection of gratitude.
Throughout the year, our school community also gathers to celebrate the main events of the liturgical year through Mass and/or prayer. These include the Harvest, Epiphany of the Lord, the Stations of the Cross, and the Crowning of Mary for example. These additional 'seasonal' liturgies are led by different classes or the pupil chaplains to ensure that all children get the opportunity to become involved. Our liturgies are engaging and lively, using a range of songs, signing, prayers, animation, drama, poetry and art to engage children to reflect on the Gospel message.
Our liturgical celebrations at Our Lady of the Angels follows the Church’s liturgical calendar.
Throughout the school year, each class has the opportunity to lead a seasonal liturgy for the whole school community. Pupils are encouraged to contribute through designing the focal point, planning the prayers and readings and leading the liturgy. Dates for the forthcoming year are published in school calendar which is published and shared with parents by September at the latest. Parents and parishioners are always welcome to attend.
September
New School Year Mass: Through the celebration of Mass, children are welcomed to the new school year and invited to ask God to help them in their work and friendships for the forthcoming year.
Creation Liturgy: Children in Y5 are invited to plan and lead a whole school liturgy linked to the Pope's encyclical Laudato Si and to thank God for the amazing gift of Creation.
October
Harvest: Children in Y2 are invited to lead the celebrations for he Harvest. During this week we also take part in CAFOD's Brighten Up for Harvest raising money to support those who do not have enough to eat.
November
Remembering Liturgy: Children in Y3 are invited to lead memorial day prayers and reflections for those that we have loved and lost. Pupil Chaplains are also invited to sell poppies on behalf of the British Legion.
December
Advent: During Advent we hold whole school weekly reflections. We support our children to think about the true meaning of Christmas and what it means to them and their families.
Nativity: Towards the end of the Autumn we productions to present our Nativity, involving Reception, Y1 and Y2 to tell the true story of Christmas.
Christmas: During the last week of the Autumn term, the whole school celebrates Christmas with prayer and song.
January
Epiphany: At the start of the Spring term, we celebrate our new year with the Epiphany Liturgy led by Y1. The children are given the opportunity to think carefully about how they will follow Jesus in the year ahead.
February
Ash Wednesday: We begin our Lenten preparations with our Ash Wednesday Mass which is held at school.
Lent: during Lent we hold whole school weekly reflections. We support our children to reflect on what Lent means to them and how they can grow closer to God during Lent.
Holy Week: During the last week of term, we hold a Holy Week at school. There are daily assemblies, acted out by different classes which retell the events of Holy Week. We look at the events of Palm Sunday, The Last Supper, the Betrayal of Jesus and then Stations of the Cross led by Year 6.
April
Easter: We start our summer term with an Easter Liturgy to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
May
Crowning of Mary: During May we hold a special service where we crown Mary with fresh flowers and remember her and the most significant events in her life. Children are invited to bring in fresh flowers for this event.
Ascension of the Lord: Children in Year 4 lead the prayers and reflections on the day that we remember the Ascension of the Lord.
June
First Holy Communion: A few of our of our pupils, and those of our local community, work towards receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion during January to May. The parish lead the preparation of this sacrament for our children.
July
END of Year Mass: The whole school assembles celebrate the end of the school year and to wish our Year 6 leavers success for the future.