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 start school in September, it will be Ordinary Time, the colour for which is green.
This will last until the beginning of Advent when the colour changes to purple for the
preparation of Jesus’ birth at Christmas time. Whilst the date of Christmas is fixed every year,
the day of the week on which it is celebrated will vary. For this reason, the date of the
beginning of Advent will vary too. It will be celebrated on a Sunday four weeks before
Christmas

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

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 Christmas, the colour will have changed to white/gold as it will be
the Christmas season until the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Ordinary Time will then
begin again with green being displayed until Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, when the
colour changes to purple for the six weeks (40 days) preparation for Easter. The date of Easter
changes each year which means that the date of Ash Wednesday, the Sundays in Lent, Holy
Thursday and Good Friday will also vary.

 

Epiphany (if in term time) –  We attend Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church. 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 Services 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 Easter, the colour will have changed to white/gold as it will be the
Easter season until the celebration of Pentecost when the colour will change to red. Ordinary
Time will then begin again with green being displayed the day after Pentecost until Advent
during the next academic year. As the date of Easter changes each year so too will the dates
of all associated feasts such as Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and others.  

First Holy Communions: The children in Year 3 (there may be children from other year groups) make their First Holy Communion in May.

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 daily through the month.

Ascension: Celebration of our Lord’s return to Heaven.

Pentecost: Celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

Service of Reconciliation: The whole school studies the topic of Reconciliation this term. 

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 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.