Prayer and Liturgy 2024- 2025
At Mount Carmel prayer and liturgy are central to our school day and play a key role in nurturing our children's spiritual growth. This page celebrates the special prayer and liturgical events that take place across our school. From daily prayers, to Masses, assemblies and religious celebrations, we come together as a community to reflect, rejoice, and grow closer to God.
Our Lady's Birthday- Friday 6th September 2024
We gathered as a school community in Mount Carmel Church to celebrate Our Lady’s Birthday. We presented a statue of Our Lady with flowers and birthday cards and sang some hymns dedicated to Mary. When we came back to school we had cake to celebrate and an extra playtime.
Season of Creation -September 2024
The GIFT team led a special collective worship about the ‘Season of Creation’ which lasts from the 1st September to the 4th October. During this worship, the children led us through the story of Creation and the message behind Pope Francis encyclical ‘Laudato Si.’ The children helped us to reflect on how we can be better stewards of God's creation and suggested some small actions that can collectively make a big difference.
Year 5- World Peace Collective Worship- Friday 20th September 2024
Year 5 led the school and their parents in a beautiful collective worship/ assembly. They read scripture and guided us in prayer as we reflected on peace. Together, we prayed for peace, uniting as a school community in this special moment of faith and reflection.
Month of the Holy Rosary- October 2024
For the Month of the Holy Rosary, Year 3 led the school in prayer and taught us how to pray the rosary, focusing on the joyful mysteries. Parents joined us for this beautiful worship, as we came together in faith to honour Mary and deepen our connection with God through prayer.
Harvest Festival- October 2024
The whole school gathered in church for a special celebration of the Word, giving thanks to God for the harvest and reflecting on the Catholic social teaching principle of the option for the poor. The GIFT team led this meaningful celebration, as well as the fundraising efforts that took place before the event, helping to support those in need. It was a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together in faith, gratitude, and service.
All Saints Day- Friday 1st November 2024
In November, we gathered together in Mass for All Saints Day. Alongside the parish community, we celebrated this holy day and honoured the lives of the saints. Our children led the singing beautifully.
Remembrance Day- Monday 11th November 2024
The GIFT team led us through a prayer service for Remembrance Day. They guided us in prayer and led us in a time of silence as we honoured and remembered those who have served and sacrificed for our country.
Advent Assembly- Monday 2nd December 2024
Year 1 led a beautiful Advent assembly for the Infant Department and their parents. They read from scripture, led prayers about preparing our hearts for the baby Jesus, and explained the meaning and purpose of the Advent season.
Nativity Performances- December 2024
We had not just one, but three beautiful Nativity performances from our children in Nursery, Reception, and Year 2. They told the story of the very first Christmas with great joy and heart, sharing the story with their parents and other children in the school. It was a truly special time of celebration and reflection on the birth of Jesus.
Advent Mass- December 2024
Before finishing for the Christmas holidays, the school community gathered for a beautiful Advent Mass, led by Father Clement. The school celebrated by singing traditional Christmas carols during the Mass, filling the church with joy and preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. It was a meaningful and festive way to end the term together in faith.
Year of the Jubilee- Pilgrims of Hope - January 2025
We officially launched the Jubilee Year at school with a special celebration of the word worship in each department. The children explored the idea of ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and discussed the significance behind the official Jubilee logo. To symbolise this journey, each child was given a wooden anchor to decorate, representing hope. These anchors are now displayed throughout the school as a reminder of our shared commitment to a better future. The worship was made even more special with beautiful readings and uplifting songs from both departments, filling the event with joy and inspiration. We also celebrated this meaningful launch alongside our Catholic brothers and sisters around the world, united in faith and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Welcoming the Diocesan Anchor- March 2025
Following Ash Wednesday Mass, the children from Reception to Year 6 warmly welcomed the Diocesan Anchor into our school. We gathered together for a beautiful prayer service in the church, where the GIFT team led us through Gospel readings, reflections and heartfelt prayers. The atmosphere was further enriched by the most beautiful singing, with our KS1 children joyfully leading the actions to the songs. The Diocesan Anchor, a powerful symbol of Hope, then travelled around our classrooms, accompanying us during our daily prayers. Many parents and families took the opportunity to join us before and after school for moments of reflection and prayer- truly beautiful!
Lent 2025
Throughout Lent, our school community came together for weekly Mass celebrations, with each year group taking turns to lead the service in the school hall. The children embraced this opportunity to actively participate, with children leading the readings and bidding prayers. Each class also selected the hymns that filled the hall with beautiful music, creating a reverent atmosphere for reflection and prayer.
Key Stage 2 gathered for a Lenten Penitential Service. After the service Father Clement celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation with Year 5 and Year 6.
Year 6 led Key Stage 2 on a thoughtful journey through the Stations of the Cross. With beautiful readings, heartfelt prayers and moving songs, it was a reverent and powerful moment for all.
We had a beautiful presentation of ‘The Three Trees’ from Year 4, a touching reflection on Jesus' birth, life, death and resurrection. The children worked extremely hard on this performance. They delivered their lines confidently and clearly and their singing was truly beautiful.
Year 2 presented a heartfelt Easter Passion play, capturing the spirit of the season and again I was blown away by their beautiful reading, acting, dancing and singing.
Year 3R led a beautiful and thoughtful assembly in celebration of World Earth Day at the end of April. The children reflected on the important work of Pope Francis, especially his call to care for our common home, inspired by his message in Laudato Si’.
As part of the assembly, the children also led a heartfelt prayer for recently deceased Pope Francis, remembering his tireless efforts to protect the planet and its people. As a school community, we hold Pope Francis in our prayers during this time. We remember his humility, his deep compassion and his call for all of us to care for one another and for our common home.
Jubilee Prayer Trail
On Wednesday 21st May, our Year 5 and 6 GIFT Team members led the junior children in wonderful day of prayer. The children were taken on a pilgrimage around the school to 8 prayer stations, concluding with a final prayer station in class. The prayer stations focused on the theme of Pilgrims of Hope with children reflecting on how they can be Pilgrims of Hope, asking for God's guidance and strength to support them to be reflections of God's love.
The final prayer station in class focused on how we can be 'bridge builders' as Pope Leo XIV calls us to be. The children prayerfully completed a Visio Divina on the artwork 'Jesus the Bridge' by Elizabeth Wang. Following this they spent time in prayerful reflection as they drew images or wrote words for how they can be bridge builders in their lives.
This was a very special day of prayer, with children praying reverently and opening their hearts to God's Word.
Here's a link to a video of this very special day of prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC6pwDnqXxg
On June 27th, the Infant School came together for the opening of our new outdoor prayer shelter. This special space is dedicated in memory of Ezinne, a much-loved member of our school family who sadly passed away last year. Our school community gathered in prayer and remembrance and Father Clement officially opened the prayer shelter. It is now being used by classes as a space for worship and reflection.
