The Liturgical Year

The Catholic liturgical year is the Church’s calendar of worship, guiding us through the story of Jesus and the mystery of God’s love. Rather than simply marking dates, it invites us to live the life of Christ, from His birth and ministry to His death, resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit. Each season has its own scripture readings, prayers, music and colours, helping us to focus on a particular aspect of our faith and to grow closer to God. This yearly rhythm of celebration and reflection shapes our prayer, our school life and our shared journey as a community of faith.

 

School Celebrations During the Liturgical Year

Autumn

When pupils return to school in September, the Church is in Ordinary Time, a season represented by the colour green, which symbolises growth in faith and hope. It is a time for living out the teachings of Jesus in the ordinary rhythm of daily life.

In October we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, the patronal feast of our school, which is a special opportunity for the whole community to gather in prayer and thanksgiving.

Ordinary Time continues through the autumn until the beginning of Advent. The colour changes to purple as we enter this season of preparation and waiting for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Advent calls us to reflect, pray and ready our hearts for the coming of Christ.

 

Year 6 Retreat : Year 6 attend a whole day retreat at Our Lady of the Rosary Church.

Feast Day of Our Lady of the Rosary: We celebrate the feast of our patronal saint by joining to say The Rosary. A celebratory cake is shared with the whole school!

Welcome Mass: Our Reception class are officially welcomed into the Our Lady school community. All children and staff who are new to the school receive a set of Rosary beads that are blessed at this Mass. 

Harvest Thanksgiving - A whole school assembly with gifts of food and drink. Harvest Gifts are kindly donated by families to the Manna foodbank.

Month of the Rosary: October is the month of the Rosary. Classes  pray the Rosary regularly. Our parish Rosary group joins us to pray the Rosary together. Parents come into school to pray with us.

Month of Remembrance: During November we remember all those souls who have gone to Heaven. We have an All Souls Mass, which is offered up for all of the faithful departed.  On the 11 November, Year 2 and Year 5  lead us in a Remembrance Assembly. A class from the school attends the Armistice Day ceremony at Staines War Memorial. The rest of the school take part in a two-minute silence on the playground.

All Saints Day: All children in KS1 and KS2 attend Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, if the feast falls on a school day.

Advent: This is the season to prepare for Christmas.  The Advent Wreath is placed in the hall. Each class has an Advent Calendar with thoughts for the day. The prayer table is changed to purple. Year 5 attends the Advent Liturgy at Westminster Cathedral.

Christmas: EYFS/KS1 lead a Nativity play and KS2 take part in a Multilingual Carol Concert at Our Lady of the Rosary Church.

Reconciliation Services for Years 4-6.

 

Spring

When pupils return after the Christmas break, the Church is still celebrating the Christmas season. The liturgical colour is white or gold, symbolising joy and the light of Christ, and continues until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, when we reflect on the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.

After this feast the Church moves back into Ordinary Time, marked by the colour green, until Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday the season of Lent begins and the colour changes to purple, a sign of penance and preparation for Easter. During Lent the Church encourages prayer, fasting and giving to those in need as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ at Easter

 

Epiphany: We collect gifts for three local baby charities to share the joy of the visit of The Maji.

Candlemas: Celebration of Light and Jesus’ presentation in the Temple. We hold a Mass in school for parents, parishioners and pupils.

Lent: We attend an Ash Wednesday liturgy at Our Lady of the Rosary Church.  This season is to prepare for Easter. Opportunity for Prayer and Penance is given to all children. We encourage awareness of our greater responsibilities and of our privilege to help our brothers and sisters in the wider world. Each class takes part in a Lenten fundraising appeal. Classes in KS1 and KS2 attend Stations of the Cross at church. Year 5 take part in a whole day retreat at Our Lady of the Rosary Church during the period of Lent.

Year 5 lead a Passion Play that shares the story of the final days in the life of Jesus. 

Reconciliation Liturgy for KS2.

EYFS/KS1 Mother’s Day Assembly: Celebrated before the week leading up to the 4 Sunday in Lent.

Easter: The Resurrection of our Lord is celebrated during the school holidays. 

 

Summer

When pupils return after the Easter break, the Church is still celebrating the Easter season and the liturgical colour is white or gold, a sign of joy and new life.

Within this season we mark the Ascension of the Lord, when Jesus returns to the Father and commissions the disciples to continue his mission. The Easter season reaches its climax at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles in tongues of fire and the colour changes to red to signify the Spirit’s power and love.

After Pentecost the Church enters Ordinary Time, marked by the colour green. Early in this season we celebrate two great solemnities: the Most Holy Trinity, honouring the mystery of one God in three persons, and the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), when we give thanks for the gift of the Eucharist. Later in the term we keep the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, also celebrated in red, as we honour the two great apostles who gave their lives in witness to Christ.

 

First Holy Communions: The children in Year 3, along with some children from other year groups, make their First Holy Communion in May. We celebrate in school with a Thanksgiving Mass.

Month of Mary: A special Crowning of Mary celebration takes place. The pupil chaplaincy team leads the Rosary in the sensory garden or the prayer area throughout the month.

Ascension: Celebration of our Lord’s return to Heaven. We attend Mass in church if this feast falls during the school week.

Pentecost: Celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

Corpus Christi: Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. KS2 join in with Eucharistic adoration at the church. An outdoor procession takes place to celebrate this feast day.

Feast of the Sacred Heart:  A whole school Mass is celebrated.

Feast of St. Peter and Paul: A Mass is celebrated for this special feast day.

Leavers Mass: A farewell celebration for the Year 6 leavers. 

 

 A number of other whole school and class liturgies take place during the year.