At St Ambrose our aim is to always provide quality experiences of prayer and liturgy that support pupils’ spiritual development. These communal acts of prayer and the liturgical celebrations of the Church form part of everyday life in our school. Every child is given the opportunity to pray by giving praise and thanks to God using traditional prayers of the Catholic Church and many other sources of prayer.
The children are encouraged to nurture a relationship with God through words, symbols, song, gestures and silence. Central to our prayer life is the weekly Prayer and Liturgy assembly on a Monday morning which enables our children to begin each week by giving thanks to God and reflect upon our Prayer and Liturgy theme for the week. They participate in a variety of ways: praying, reading, singing, or preparing a display to emphasise a specific focus.
In addition to Prayer and Liturgy in school, we regularly attend our local church to celebrate Mass with our parishioners, in order to further help their understanding of the richness of the Eucharist. Class masses are also mapped out throughout the year and take place in our classrooms.
Other opportunities for prayer take place within the classroom before lunch and at the end of each day. Prayer in the classrooms and in assemblies always includes use of symbols and a focal point for prayer which is appropriate to the liturgical season, for example, Lent, Advent or Easter. During all these times of prayer, both staff and pupils are involved in leading and participating.
Our parish priest Father Ed is in school regularly helping our children to experience what it means to belong to, or take part in the worshipping community of the Church. The children are fortunate to be able to experience the richness of the liturgical life of the church in many ways throughout the year such as Holy Week, Ascension and Pentecost and an Advent Service at Christmas.
The Nature of Prayer and Liturgy
We believe that Christian worship in a Catholic school is 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 this relationship, made possible through the work of Jesus Christ and the witness of the Holy Spirit.
The Place of Prayer and Liturgy in the Life of St Ambrose Catholic Academy
Prayer and Liturgy at St Ambrose provides opportunities for pupils and staff to come together to worship God. It will have Christ at the centre and, while respecting diversity of belief and commitment, will be Catholic in character, reflecting the liturgical tradition of the Church. We endorse the belief that Prayer and Liturgy takes into account the religious and educational needs of all who share in it.
Worship in this school is more than just a legal requirement. It is an integral part of school life and central to the Catholic tradition. It will be related to the ‘day to day life, aspirations, and concerns of the school.’ (Education Reform Act 1988.)
Prayer Life at St Ambrose Catholic Academy
The prayers in class daily are – morning prayer, grace before lunch, and a home-time prayer.
- Monday – whole school Worship led by the leadership team.
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday – Prayer and Liturgy in class. This will be planned and led by children and staff following a weekly or current theme.
- Friday – celebration assembly led by the leadership team.
Prayer and Other Resources
Anyone wishing to pray together at home can find many different resources by clicking on the links below:
