Collective Worship at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School

Collective Worship is a central, integral and daily part of the school day. Each week in school there is a theme that is the focus of our time of prayer. Collective Worship is structured using the following elements: Gather, Listen, Respond and Going Forth.

• Gathering enables the arrival and welcome. A prayerful focus table is created and a hymn may be sung before making the Sign of the Cross. As the children progress through the school, they increase in responsibilities; setting up focus tables and leading worship.
• Listening is the fundamental part of the session. During this time, we listen carefully to the Word of God, which takes various forms: Old/New Testament readings; Psalms or an extract from the Gospel. Scripture readings are well-chosen and relevant to the theme of the week.
• Respond is an opportunity for children to prayerfully reflect and ponder on the Word they have heard. As the children advance through the school, these personal reflections /responses develop showing their depth in understanding.
• Going Forth brings the time of prayer to a close. A variety of means are used, such as prayers and actions.