Prayer & Liturgy
Prayer and Liturgy
At St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School, prayer and liturgy are at the heart of our life as a Catholic community. Guided by the Bishops' Conference Directory, To Love You More Dearly (2023), we aim to build a culture of prayer in which every child can grow in faith and in their relationship with God.
Prayer is our response to God's invitation to know him and love him. Through prayer and worship, our children give thanks and praise to God, reflect on the place of Jesus in their lives and learn to live out our mission: "With Christ as our guide, we love, aspire and serve." Prayer is led by both pupils and staff, and we encourage everyone to respond from the heart.
Daily Prayer
Prayer is part of every school day. It helps children build habits of reflection, gratitude and trust in God. We use many styles of prayer, including traditional prayers, spontaneous prayers and prayers the children write themselves. Children also learn to listen and to be still in moments of quiet reflection.
Every classroom and shared space has a prayer area or focal point, and pupils help to create these through their own prayers, artwork and reflections. We are also developing a prayer garden, a peaceful outdoor space for reflection and worship.
Celebrations of the Word
We gather to pray in class groups, in key stages and as a whole school. At the heart of each celebration is Scripture. We listen to God's word, reflect in silence, and respond through prayer, music and song, using both traditional and modern hymns.
Children are encouraged to help plan and lead our prayer. For example, they choose Scripture readings and prepare the focus for reflection. This builds their confidence and helps them make their faith their own.
The Liturgical Year
Our prayer follows the Church's year. We celebrate seasons such as Advent, Lent and Easter, together with feast days and special celebrations. We also pray about what is happening in our world, including local and global events, charity appeals and the needs of people who are sick or grieving. Children are encouraged to bring their own intentions and to explore the issues that matter to them.
Mass and Parish Links
Mass is the most important prayer of the Church. Our Parish Priest, Fr Jino, celebrates Mass with us in school each month, and we join together for sacramental celebrations and key moments in the Church's year. Our school also serves as a place of worship for our parish, Holy Cross and St Helen, which strengthens the bond between school, parish and families. Pupils in Years 5 and 6 also take part in retreat days.
Families and Prayer
We know that parents and carers are the first teachers of their children in faith. Families are warmly invited to class liturgies, key celebrations, Mass and our Stay and Pray sessions. We share what we are praying about through our newsletters, the Wednesday Word and weekly updates, so that families can join in with our prayer life.
Everyone Is Welcome
Our prayer and liturgy are celebrated in the Catholic tradition. Everyone in our school community is welcome and respected, and children are invited to take part in the way that is right for them and their family.
Leading and Reviewing Our Prayer Life
Our staff receive regular training and support from the Archdiocese of Liverpool. Our governors, including a governor with special responsibility for prayer and liturgy, help us to review and improve what we do. You can read our Prayer and Liturgy Policy on our policies page.
Growing in Faith Together
Whether in the classroom, the hall, the garden or the parish church, we pray together so that every child can grow in their knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. Through prayer, we hope to give each child the values, compassion and faith that will guide them throughout their lives.
