For Our Catholic and ecumenical schools, Prayer and Worship provide an opportunity for students, staff and parents to celebrate their life and identity as members of the Church. Prayer and worship helps create a sense of purpose and identity and draw the school community into an understanding of our shared humanity, link us with the Church throughout the world, and invites us to share the Good News. Prayer, as the raising of the mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things contributes to the faith growth of individuals and the building of Christian from God, community. Schools draw on the richness of the Catholic tradition, the wider Christian tradition and their own particular charism to nurture the prayer life of the school. The Church invites the faithful to regular prayer: daily prayers; the Liturgy of the Hours; Sunday Eucharist; and the feasts of the Liturgical Year. Staff and students within a Catholic school should have opportunities to engage in prayer on a daily basis. In the course of their years in Catholic schools, students will experience a variety of formal and informal expressions of prayer, appropriate to their age and development. The Catechism of the Catholic Church identifies three expressions of prayer, namely: vocal prayer; meditation; and contemplative prayer. In vocal prayer a person, or a group, gives voice in an external way to the interior prayer of the heart following Jesus’ example of prayer to God. Meditation is a prayerful quest engaging thought, imagination, emotion and desire. This may include readings, reflection, journalling, silence and stillness. At the heart of contemplative prayer is the simple act of being with God, recognising in stillness and silence, God’s indwelling presence. The essential forms of prayer in the Christian tradition are: blessing and adoration; petition and intercession; thanksgiving and praise. All of these forms are present in the Mass. Sources of Christian prayer include Scriptures, Liturgy of the Church, the theological virtues of faith, hope and love, the created world, our relationships and life experiences. There are various environments and resources for prayer. Prayer may take place in many different contexts and settings. In celebrating a significant feast day or liturgical season in the life of the Church, it may be appropriate to gather for a prayerful school assembly.
For Our Catholic and ecumenical schools, Prayer and Worship provide an opportunity for students, staff and parents to celebrate their life and identity as members of the Church. Prayer and worship helps create a sense of purpose and identity and draw the school community into an understanding of our shared humanity, link us with the Church throughout the world, and invites us to share the Good News. Prayer, as the raising of the mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God, contributes to the faith growth of individuals and the building of Christian community. Schools draw on the richness of the Catholic tradition, the wider Christian tradition and their own particular charism to nurture the prayer life of the school. The Church invites the faithful to regular prayer: daily prayers; the Liturgy of the Hours; Sunday Eucharist; and the feasts of the Liturgical Year. Staff and students within a Catholic school should have opportunities to engage in prayer on a daily basis. In the course of their years in Catholic schools, students will experience a variety of formal and informal expressions of prayer, appropriate to their age and development. The Catechism of the Catholic Church identifies three expressions of prayer, namely: vocal prayer; meditation; and contemplative prayer. In vocal prayer a person, or a group, gives voice in an external way to the interior prayer of the heart following Jesus’ example of prayer to God. Meditation is a prayerful quest engaging thought, imagination, emotion and desire. This may include readings, reflection, journalling, silence and stillness. At the heart of contemplative prayer is the simple act of being with God, recognising in stillness and silence, God’s indwelling presence. The essential forms of prayer in the Christian tradition are: blessing and adoration; petition and intercession; thanksgiving and praise. All of these forms are present in the Mass. Sources of Christian prayer include Scriptures, Liturgy of the Church, the theological virtues of faith, hope and love, the created world, our relationships and life experiences. There are various environments and resources for prayer. Prayer may take place in many different contexts and settings. In celebrating a significant feast day or liturgical season in the life of the Church, it may be appropriate to gather for a prayerful school assembly.
11_pc_prayer_praying_when_time_is_limited.docx