Prayer and Liturgy
At St. Augustine’s, prayer and liturgy are at the heart of all we do. Each day begins and ends with prayer, creating a calm and reflective atmosphere that shapes our school community and helps us live out our mission: “We come to school to live and learn, happily together, by loving ourselves and each other, as Jesus teaches us.” Children regularly take part in class liturgies, prayer services, and class and join whole-school Masses that follow the Church’s liturgical year. Pupils are actively involved in preparing and leading worship through our weekly class Prayer and Liturgy and special feast day celebrations, helping them to grow in faith, confidence and leadership.
We plan carefully and with purpose for Prayer and Liturgy opportunities. The key dates for religious experiences, including school Masses, prayer services, and other prayer opportunities children will participate in throughout the year using the Annual Plan of Provision (APoP) each academic year. We aim to provide opportunities for the children to develop their spiritual growth through participation in a variety of forms of worship and through experiencing all forms of prayer.
Our policy is below as well as our Progression of Prayer across the different year groups.
Gospel Assemblies
Every Monday morning we join together as a whole school to celebrate and reflect upon the Sunday's Gospel, led by our interim Executive Headteacher. We reflect upon its meaning and how we will live it out in our everyday lives.
Prayer & Worship
Prayer, worship and liturgical celebration are central to our Catholic tradition and form an integral part of the school day. Prayer is encouraged in a variety of methods; – private individual prayer, group prayer, and whole school prayer. Children learn a selection of traditional prayers in each prayer group, following our Progression of Prayer document, following the Prayer and Liturgy directory. Children are also encouraged to write their own prayers; they also have the opportunity to take home the class prayer book once each half-term to dedicate and write their own personal prayer, which is then used in prayer the following day at school.
Each child takes part in daily acts of prayer and liturgy. We begin and end each day with a prayer and grace before and after lunch, following the prayers assigned in the Prayer and Liturgy Directory; however, there are also plenty of opportunities for children to lead a spontaneous prayer. Each class has a liturgically-based prayer table which acts as a focus for all prayer. This table is kept neat and appropriate by the Chaplaincy Team and Mini Chaplains.
We look forward to our Tuesday morning liturgies as a whole school, which are usually centred around PSHE, Relationships Education (RSHE), British and Catholic values. The children are able to relate these themes and celebrate and worship together. It is wonderful for the children to leave us all with a reflection, mission idea or practical response to our celebration, enabling all the children to deepen in faith, learn from the teachings of Christ and become the very best they can be for themselves and for others.
Prayer and Liturgy every Wednesday morning uses the structure: Gather, Word (Scripture), Respond and Mission. This is planned for and led by different groups of children who have this opportunity once each half-term. We gather, using prayers or actions or music. Then, we listen to scripture, readings and / or poems. After that, we respond in some form of actions or by saying a prayer together. Finally, we go forth to carry out a mission, by reflecting on the scripture and taking this forward into our lives. It is wonderful to see the children excited, enthusiastic and deepening their faith through prayer and liturgy. The confident and thoughtful way in which our children lead worship in school is a strength of our school's Catholic life. They have the opportunity to plan and lead different types of worship in school, such as Lection Divina, Visio Divina, the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, the Five Finger prayer, meditation, reflection as well as traditional and spontaneous prayer.
Every Thursday morning, we join together as a whole school for Prayer Through Song. We celebrate being able to pray twice, as singing hymns is known. Particular hymns are practised when there is a feast day or other celebratory events, so the children are able to sing their hearts out with confidence.
We also recognise and celebrate children’s achievements, both in and out of school, during our weekly Celebration assembly every Friday morning.
Matthew 18:19 says
“I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”
We are blessed to have strong parish links with both Father Julian, our parish priest at St. Augustine's Catholic Church, Hoddesdon. Each year group in KS2 attends Mass on a Wednesday, once a month on a rota basis, and parents are warmly invited to join these celebrations.
We are always impressed by the wonderful attendance of parents and families at children’s liturgical performances, prayer services and our class and whole-school Masses, as well as at special events in our school such as praying the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross. Through these rich and inclusive experiences, pupils, staff and families journey together in faith, deepening their relationship with God and one another as we grow in love, compassion and community.
For every year group, you will find the corresponding prayers in the Progression of Prayer document above, so you can see exactly which prayers your child will be introduced to. This guide helps you support your child’s learning of prayer at home in an organised, age-appropriate way, making it easy to follow along and to jointly participate in their spiritual growth.
The Wednesday Word publication
Each week, parents are also sent the link to The Wednesday Word publication. The Wednesday Word is a gift to families because of their connection with a Catholic school.
Wednesday Word Family Time presents an opportunity for even the busiest of parents to enrich relationships with their children through spending a very special 10 minutes together each week.
Every Wednesday a ‘word’, inspired by the coming Sunday’s Gospel, will be suggested for families to talk about in the home. They have structured The Wednesday Word around the Sunday Gospel, because evidence shows that Gospel values really do help family relationships to thrive.
The Wednesday Word is designed in a family-friendly fashion to ensure that all family members feel included. It aims to be informative, enjoyable, and to help families maintain a special closeness throughout the school years.
The link to this week's Wednesday Word can be accessed here.
Invitational Approach to Prayer
As a Catholic school, we offer an invitational approach to prayer that welcomes pupils, parents, and staff to grow together in faith and develop a deeper relationship with God. We strive to create an environment where all members of our school community feel valued, respected and encouraged to participate in moments of prayer and reflection, regardless of the stage in their personal faith journey.
Parents are warmly invited to attend class liturgical performances, class and whole-school Masses and other school celebrations throughout the year, allowing families to share in the spiritual life of our school community. These opportunities help to strengthen the partnership between home, school and parish, reinforcing the shared responsibility of nurturing children’s spiritual development.
We also encourage parents to engage with prayer beyond school events by supporting prayer at home and participating in faith-based activities organised throughout the year. By fostering strong connections between our families and the school’s prayer life, we aim to build a supportive and faith-filled community where everyone feels welcomed and inspired to grow together.
Staff Formation
Staff are provided with regular opportunities for reflection, spiritual nourishment and shared worship within our school community. This time of prayer allows staff to pause from their daily responsibilities, deepen their personal faith and strengthen their sense of vocation within Catholic education.
They are also supported through regular formation opportunities, training sessions and INSET delivered by our Religious Education leader, our Diocesan Primary Advisor and CPD training within our Trust Academy, helping staff to grow in confidence and understanding of prayer and Catholic spirituality. These sessions offer practical guidance on leading prayer in the classroom, exploring scripture and supporting pupils in their spiritual development. Staff are given opportunities to share good practice, reflect collaboratively and explore new ways to make prayer engaging, inclusive and meaningful for all pupils.
Pupil Formation
Our pupils, particularly our Chaplaincy Team and our Mini Chaplains, receive prayer formation at various points during the year, enabling them to grow in confidence, understanding and spiritual leadership. Through guided training and reflection, they develop the skills needed to support and inspire their peers in meaningful acts of worship. They are supported in leading and sharing devotions such as the Rosary and Stations of the Cross, helping to nurture prayer across the school and encouraging a culture of reverence and reflection.
In addition to leading traditional devotions, the Chaplaincy Team are encouraged to plan and deliver prayer opportunities during key liturgical seasons, including Advent, Lent, and other significant feast days. They work to create inclusive and engaging prayer experiences, often incorporating scripture, music and moments of quiet reflection. This involvement helps pupils to take ownership of their faith journey while fostering a strong sense of community and shared spiritual growth.
