Prayer at St. Bega’s
We place Christ at the centre of all we do and therefore, Prayer and Liturgy is crucial in developing a way for children to strengthen their relationship with Christ and come to know him better. At St. Bega’s prayer is an essential part of our day. Prayer is as an opportunity to think about our own needs, the needs of our local community and the needs of the world. We give thanks for all that is good.
Prayer and Celebration of the Word
Celebration of the Word is planned following a structure with reference to the Church's liturgical calendar, the RE curriculum, Catholic Social Teaching, feast days and significant dates. Children are supported in planning and leading Celebration of the Word for their class each week. The children think about how they will gather together, the children listen to the word of God and then respond to the reading or words from the Bible. Finally, the children are encouraged to think about how they should live out their everyday lives and make a difference to others as they go forth to spread the word of God.
We have a weekly whole school Celebration of the Word to allow children and staff to gather together to listen to the Word of God. The theme is closely linked to the liturgical year so that all members of the school community have an understanding of the readings, colours and messages we listen to and see on Sunday at Mass. However, this act of worship may address current issues, events in the week (both secular and religious) or other feasts in the Church's year.
Class Prayer
Teachers seek to empower children; they lead and model good practice and also give children the opportunity to participate, take ownership of their learning and develop their own relationship with God. Teachers aim to give children a real voice in planning and leading worship. It is important that we all look to children as having a crucial role to play in our faith communities. We pray together as a class at regular intervals each day and share in a time of prayer daily. This can be in any medium of worship. The children can lead prayer but there is also time for children to simply 'be' with God.
Child involvement is age appropriate:
EYFS: the theme and style of worship is chosen by adults and children prepare the prayer focus, participating as appropriate.
KS1: the theme and style of worship is chosen by adults and children have varying levels of input, according to their ability and confidence. The children use 'Let us pray 2gether' to support with their planning.
KS2: he theme and style of worship is chosen by children with increasing independence though some support is still given. The children use 'Let us pray 2gether' to facilitate their planning.
Parent Worship
Parents are invited to our half-termly Mass and to class Stay and Pray events across the year.
Our school prayer
Prayer