Prayer and Liturgy

At SFDS, we are dedicated to offering meaningful experiences of prayer and liturgy that foster our pupils’ spiritual growth. These communal acts of worship and the liturgical celebrations of the Church are integral to daily life in our school. Every child is given the chance to pray, offering praise and thanks to God through traditional Catholic prayers and a variety of other sources. We encourage children to cultivate a relationship with God through words, symbols, song, gestures, and silence. Prayer is such a vital part of school life that it extends beyond scheduled times, occurring in diverse settings throughout the day.

Central to our prayer life at St. Francis de Sales are the weekly Prayer and Liturgy sessions and the prayer assembly on Monday mornings. Children engage in various activities such as praying, reading and singing to highlight a specific worship theme. This could be linked to the liturgical calendar, suggested themes mapped out by our Religious Coordinator or local/world events.

In addition to Prayer and Liturgy, year groups frequently attend our local church to celebrate Mass, enhancing their understanding of the Eucharist’s significance. Working closely alongside our parish priest, Father Ged, we ensure that the children have multiple opportunities throughout the school year to participate in Mass and receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist (where applicable.)

Other prayer opportunities occur in the classroom at the start of each day, before and after lunch, and at the day’s end. Classroom and assembly prayers incorporate symbols and focal points appropriate to the liturgical season, such as Lent, Advent, or Easter. During these times, both staff and pupils actively lead and participate in prayer.

The children are privileged to partake in the Church’s rich liturgical life throughout the year, with events like the Stations of the Cross during Lent and an Advent Service at Christmas.

Daily Prayers and Worship at Our School

Prayers take place throughout our school day - Daily Intention, Grace Before Meals and The Act of Contrition.

An act of worship takes place daily following the below schedule:

Monday - Whole school assembly and worship led by a member of the senior leadership team.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - Prayer and liturgy in class led by the classroom teacher with at least one worship planned and led by the children. 

Half termly Masses also take place led by Father Ged in Church with a different year group participating in the readings for the service. 

View our Prayer and Liturgy Policy alongside our other school policies.