St Augustine's Catholic Primary School

Prayer and Liturgy

As a Catholic primary school, Prayer and Liturgy is the basis of our daily school life and enables us to come together in prayer, liturgy and reflective worship.

Growing Closer to God

In its simplest form, prayer is defined as “talking to God.” It is a personal time of opening our hearts to our Heavenly Father and bringing everything in our hearts to Him. Through the Apostle Paul, God asked us to pray. Prayer is a means to help change within our lives, and the importance of doing it on a regular daily basis is grown in our children.

Communication is the foundation for success in any relationship. When we communicate openly and freely with each other, we learn to know each other as individuals. This principle also applies to our relationship with God. By talking to God, we can learn more about who He is and what plan He has for us.

Prayer Has a Purpose

It is important that our children understand that there is a purpose to prayer. Jesus frequently prayed during His life on Earth. He had a reason for doing so. Our prayers enable us to pray to God as we know he is always listening. But our prayers are not for His benefit; it allows us to speak to Him to give thanks as well as asking for help at all times. 

Children are encouraged to pray in different ways according to their age and personal development. The most important aspect of prayer for children is that they realise it is their way of communicating with God and is first and foremost a personal occasion.

Our R.E. curriculum offers progression for children as they move through the school. We encourage children to pray spontaneously and to bring in their own prayers from home to be used during the day in class at school.

Children are introduced to a variety of different ways of praying:

• quiet reflection / meditation
• praying together
• writing own prayers
• prayers through music
• learning traditional Christian / Catholic prayers

The prayers that the children use every day when they arrive in the morning, before lunch time and and before the leave at the end of the day, as well as our School prayer which is said during daily assemblies are below:

Bless us O God

as we sit together.

Bless the food we eat today.

Bless the hands that made the food.

Bless us O God.

Amen

God our Father, I come to say,

thank you  for your love today.

Thank you for my family

and all the friends you give to me.

Guard me in the dark of night

and in the morning send your light.

Amen

This is our school
Let peace dwell here
Let Peace begin with me
Let the room be full of contentment
Let love abide here
Love of one another
Love of humankind
Love of life itself
And love of God
Let us remember
That as many hands build a house
So many hearts make a school
Amen