Liturgical Year
"All pupils understand the importance of prayer and the liturgical year forms the basis for all opportunities for prayer and reflection."
Diocesan Inspection - May 2022
At St Michael & St Martin we take the time to celebrate the seasons of the Liturgical Year. All of our class displays reflect the Liturgical colour. We spend time in our R.E lessons looking at the events in the churches calender and we celebrate many of them together through collective worship. Throughout the months of October and May we hold weekly prayer groups with parents and children, inviting them to say the rosary together, exploring the different mysteries as we go. We recognise the importance of Advent and Lent and encourage children to spend this time thinking about their role as a disciple of Jesus.
How we celebrate the Liturgical Year:
Autumn
Prayer tables are green at start of academic year.
Harvest Thanksgiving - We have a Junior Harvest Mass and Infants have a Harvest Service. Produce is collected monthly for local food banks.
Month of the Rosary: October is the month of the Rosary. Classes are encouraged to pray at least a decade of the Rosary each day.
Advent:The prayer table should be changed to purple.
This is the season to prepare for Christmas Introduction and blessing of the Advent Wreath.
Christmas: Celebration of the Nativity through drama in the Infants
Juniors are led by Y6 in a Carol concert with a dramatisation of the nativity story.
St Michael & St Martin Carol Service
The Chaplaincy Team @ Westminster Cathedral for the Carol Service 'Angel Song'
Spring
Prayer tables are gold for Christmas season then green for Ordinary Time after Feast of Baptism of Our Lord.
Epiphany (if in term time) – Parish Mass
Holy Family (if in term time) – Parish Mass
Lent: The prayer table should be changed to purple. During the season of Lent all KS2 children and staff have the opportunity for Reconciliation with our Parish Priests in School.
Easter – The resurrection of our Lord is celebrated during the school holidays however covered through 4 week RE topic. Special assembly and displays to highlight the importance of this feast. Y6 lead the Stations of the Cross service in our Parish Church and we hold a whole school Easter bonnet parade.
Stations of the Cross -Easter Service
Summer
Prayer table in gold for Easter season until Pentecost where they change to green for Ordinary Time.
First Holy Communions: The children in Year 3 (there may be children from other year groups) make their First Holy Communion on a Saturday in May. The school community celebrates with all the children at the Parish Thanksgiving Mass and party in the parish hall.
May the month of Mary:- In Honour of Our Lady KS1 hold a May Celebration service in our Parish Church.
Ascension: Covered in RE Topic work
Pentecost: Covered in RE Topic work
Corpus Christi: Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. Eucharistic adoration in the Church Yr2 -6.
Feast of St. Peter and Paul: Celebrated with Mass in our Large Hall.
Leaver Mass, assembly and disco: A farewell celebration for the Year 6 leavers.
Infant May Celebration
