Catholic Life of the School

Prayer for those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

God of mercy,
We pray for the people of Turkey and Syria following the recent earthquakes.

We mourn the death and destruction. and pray for those who have died and those who grieve.

Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope. We hold in our hearts those who are injured, and those who have lost loved ones, livelihoods, and homes.

Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope. Sustain and guide all responding to this disaster.

Grant those affected courage and resilience, as they rebuild their lives and communities.

Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope. Inspire us to unite in solidarity, acting swiftly and generously, so that help may reach all who need it.

Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.
Amen

Goodbye Alleluia
As Lent is approaching, it is time to say goodbye to our friend, the alleluia, to let it rest for a while, so that it will return to us at Easter full of enthusiasm to remind us again who we really are: loved children of God.

Prayer: Lord God, our creator, as we bury this sign of heaven’s song, help us to turn ourselves to living a good Lent. Help us to give up things that stand between us and your love, and walk with Jesus on the road that leads us closer to you. We give up our alleluia only for a while so that we may make a more beautiful music in our heart and life when we sing it again at Easter. Amen.

Psalm 112
1 Praise the LORD
Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

Dear Parents and Carers,
We ask you to keep the people of the Ukraine in your thoughts and prayers. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and send our prayers to the people of the Ukraine who are in the midst of conflict and suffering.
We ask you to join us in a Novena (a nine-day prayer) which we will begin later today. Please share with your children and families as we put our faith in God and the power of prayer in this time of crisis:

A prayer for Ukraine
Loving God,
We pray for the people of Ukraine,
for all those suffering or afraid,
that you will be close to them and protect them.

We pray for world leaders,
for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.

We pray for the world
that in this moment of crisis,
we may reach out in solidarity
to our brothers and sisters in need.

May we walk in your ways
so that peace and justice
become a reality for the people of Ukraine
and for all the world.

Amen

Advent Prayer

Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day, We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.

We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.

We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.

We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.

To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!'

Amen.

Our School Chaplaincy Team have been busy planting winter shrubs, as we develop our prayer garden. We have purchased a beautiful statue of Mary and Jesus which we hope to have Fr. Jakub bless in a few weeks, when the garden is complete.

The Month of June

The month of June is dedicated to The Sacred Heart of Jesus. This month falls within the liturgical season of Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical color green. As we begin to feel the warmth of summer, we can reflect that we celebrate the feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 11th) and the Immaculate Heart of Mary ( June 12th) . God is Love and the Sacred Heart of Jesus — present on earth in the Blessed Sacrament — is the human manifestation of God's Love for men. Appropriately June is considered the month for weddings where human hearts join and cooperate with the Creator in bringing forth new life. The family they create is a human reflection of the Blessed Trinity. Also on June 1 we celebrate the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church. This feast is to be celebrated on the Monday following Pentecost.

Important Dates:

6th - Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
11th - Sacred Heart of Jesus
20th - Father's Day
24th - Solemnity of St. John the Baptist
29th - Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul
 

During May, throughout the Catholic world, special devotions honour the Virgin Mary. "May Crowning” is a traditional Catholic ritual that occurs in the month of May and it recognises Mary as Queen of Heaven & Earth. Since medieval times, there has been a correlation between Mary and the month of May. May is considered the season of the beginning of new life.  “May Crowning” marks a new spiritual season. Our Mary, Queen of heaven and earth, lifted us right out of the last long, cold days of winter and firmly planted our hearts in the warm and promising soil of spring.

The Month of May

The month of May is dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary. The first 23 days fall within the liturgical season of Easter. The remainder of the month (beginning the Monday after Pentecost) is in Ordinary Time which is represented by the liturgical color green. The world is resplendent with Spring's increased light and new growth. It is Mary’s month in the Easter season and all of nature rejoices with the Queen of heaven at the Resurrection of the Son she was worthy to bear. During the remainder of Easter time, let us endeavor through the prayers of the Holy Liturgy and the Holy Rosary to deepen our gratitude for the mystery of our Baptismal rebirth in Christ.

Important Dates:

1st - St. Joseph the Worker
2nd - Fifth Sunday of Easter
13th - Ascension of the Lord
16th - Ascension or the Seventh Sunday of Easter
23rd - Pentecost Sunday
30th - Trinity Sunday
31st - Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Month of April

The month of April is dedicated to The Holy Spirit. The first three days of the month fall during the season of Lent which is represented by the liturgical colour purple. The remainder of April falls during the Easter season which is represented by the liturgical color white — the colour of light, a symbol of joy, purity and innocence. 

Important Dates:

1st - Holy Thursday
2nd - Good Friday 
3rd - Holy Saturday

4th - Easter Sunday 

11th - Second Sunday of Easter 

18th - Third Sunday of Easter 
25th - Fourth Sunday of Easter 
29th - Feast of St. Catherine of Siena

Easter Novena

Dear Parents and Carers,
We invite you to pray the Easter Novena – A nine-day prayer over the Easter season. Our Novena for Easter starts on Good Friday and can be prayed for the next nine days until 11th April 2021. You can pray the novena in private, or together as a family:

Loving God,
by this Easter mystery you touch our lives
with the healing power of your love.
You have given us the freedom
to be children of God.
May we, who now celebrate your gift,
find joy in it for ever in heaven.
Grant this through
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

National Day of Reflection

On Tuesday 23rd March, we came together as a school community to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.

 
At 9:30am, each class participated in a minute silence in remembrance of those we have lost to COVID-19. Year 6 also created this beautiful display symbolising the hope we share for the future. 
 

Religious Life of the School

At Blessed Sacrament, we believe that the role of a Catholic school is to help everyone in the community to discover the true value and dignity of every human being. As such, we focus on the education of the whole child. This is centered on Gospel values and reflects the teaching of the Catholic Church. Pupils are given the opportunity to live out their faith by participating in daily Collective Worship. Throughout the school year, a number of masses and assemblies are planned to celebrate special feast days and liturgical events. We are always delighted to have parents and friends of Blessed Sacrament attend such occasions.

The Month of March

The month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph. The entire month falls during the liturgical season of Lent which is represented by the liturgical colour purple — a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart. The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of March 2021 focuses on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Let us pray that we may experience this with renewed depth, to taste the infinite mercy of God.

Important Dates:

7th March: Third Sunday of Lent
14th March: Fourth Sunday of Lent
17th: St. Patrick's Day
19th: Solemnity of Joseph, husband of Mary
21st: Fifth Sunday of Lent
25th: The Annunciation of the Lord
28th: Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Racial Justice Sunday (31st January): 

This year’s Racial Justice Sunday is more important than ever. The effects of the pandemic, the killing of George Floyd, and the powerful message on fraternity and equality by Pope Francis in 'Fratelli Tutti' speak of the need to actively oppose racism and pursue racial justice with renewed vigour.

The theme is ‘A Time to Act‘. Racial issues and inequalities were identified nationally and internationally in 2020 generating awareness, emotion and outrage. In light of this Racial Justice Sunday 2021 is particularly significant. Action is needed to further the cause of racial justice but what can we do? 

We will be using ppt resources with KS1 and KS2 on our remote learning online platforms which are also attached as pdfs below which can be downloaded at home more conveniently. Please share the prayer below at home.

Lord Jesus Christ,
in your ministry
you were approached by people
of many different nations and cultures.
You listened to their cry for help,
treated them with love and compassion,

and brought them healing and wholeness.

In our own time may we provide
to all those who are suffer
the help that they need
and the care that they require.

May we respond to the invitation of the Holy Spirit
to dream of a world made new
where the poor are not forgotten

but are given the opportunity
to live and flourish
with good health and equal prospects.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Amen.

Praying the Coronavirus Novena

While we face the coronavirus pandemic, let us turn to the face of God in prayer and ask for His healing, His help and His protection. We will pray for all who are affected, for all who are sick and suffering, for all those who work in the medical profession, and for those who have died as well as for their grieving family members. Sign up below to pray and invite your friends and family!

https://www.praymorenovenas.com/pandemic-novena/370644

Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world. 

We come to you today with our fears and concerns -- You know what's in our hearts. 

We love You, trust You, we need You. We ask You to be with us.

Stay with us. Help us through these times of uncertainty and sorrow.

We know you are the Divine Physician, the healer of all. 

And so we ask that you bring your loving and healing presence to all those who are sick and suffering right now.

Please comfort them. Please be with the grieving families of those who have passed away. 

Please have mercy on those who have died, may they be with You in heaven. 

Please stand at the side of all medical professionals who are putting themselves at risk while they work to bring healing to others.

Lord, we are scared and we are sorrowful. Please heal us. Send us your peace and overwhelming presence. 

(Mention your intentions here)

St. Edmund, patron for victims of pandemics, pray for us!

Jesus, we thirst for You. You chose to enter this world as a vulnerable baby.

Be with the most vulnerable now. Help us to continue to return to You with our whole hearts throughout this ordeal. 

Amen. 

The Month of February

The month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ's public life, the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family. This year the first 16 days of February fall during Ordinary Time. The remaining days of February are the beginning of Lent. The liturgical colour changes to purple — a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart.

Important Feast Days: 

1st Feb - St. Brigid of Ireland's Day
2nd Feb - Feast of The Presentation of the Lord
11th Feb - Our Lady of Lourdes

14th Feb - St. Valentine's Day

17th Feb - Ash Wednesday
21st Feb - First Sunday of Lent

22nd Feb - Chair of St. Peter

The Month of January 

The month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus, celebrated on 3rd January. The first ten days of January fall during the liturgical season of Christmas which is represented by the colour white — a symbol of light, joy, purity and innocence. The remaining days of January are the beginning of Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical colour green.

Important Feast Days: 

1st Jan - Mary, Mother of God
3rd Jan - Epiphany of the Lord
10th Jan - Baptism of the Lord
25th Jan - Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle

Westminster 2020 Christmas Card Competition

Congratulations to Kacper and Charlotte for being highly commended in the Westminster Christmas card design competition! Mr. Drumm and Ms Foster are extremely proud of you both!
 

The Month of December

Advent is the period leading up to Christmas. It starts on the Sunday nearest to 30^th November and ends on the fourth Sunday before 25^th December. The word 'Advent' means 'coming'. It is a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Advent is our time to become more involved, more caught up in the meaning and the possibilities of life as a Catholic community. Thus we are preparing not only for Christmas but also for Christ's Second Coming.

The Month of November

The month of November is dedicated to souls in purgatory, whose feast is celebrated on 2nd November. With the exception of the last two days, the entire month of November falls during the liturgical season known as Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical colour green.  The last portion of the liturgical year represents our pilgrimage to heaven. The last Sunday, which marks the beginning of Advent, the liturgical colour changes to purple, representing a time of penance.

Our pupils joined a million children from around the world to pray the Holy Rosary this month for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Pupils from all year groups dedicated their lunchtimes to pray throughout October. The prayer marathon was part of the annual activity of the Aid to the Church in Need, a pontifical charity foundation, to pray for peace and unity in the world.

The Month of October

The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, one of the best known of all Catholic devotions. October includes the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on the 7th. The best way to celebrate the month is, of course, to pray the Rosary.

"To pray the Rosary for children and even more with children, training them from their earliest years to experience this daily 'pause for prayer' ...is a spiritual aid which should not be underestimated" (Pope John Paul II)

To pray the Rosary at home, please follow this link which will support your prayer: https://education.rcdow.org.uk/the-rosary-resources/  

The Month of September

September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, whose memorial the Church celebrates on 15th September. September falls during the liturgical season known as Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical colour green. This symbol of hope is the colour of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. 

Mass for Schools

A wonderful opportunity for us to join together will be when Cardinal Vincent Nichols celebrates a Mass in Westminster Cathedral this week for our school communities. This Mass will be celebrated on 18th June at 11:30am and streamed live on the following link - https://www.churchservices.tv/westminster. 

Please do try to join the celebration online if possible.  We will all be joining in from school. If you are unable to stream at this time, it will be possible to download the Mass and share in the celebration later. The hymn sheet for the Mass is attached below.

Prayers of Intercession

We pray for the Church: that she may be a beacon of hope throughout the world, reminding us all of our responsibility to care for and protect God’s precious gift of creation. Lord, in your mercy...

We pray for the world, our common home: that through God’s grace we may hear its cry of the damage done and be moved to protect it for future generations to enjoy. Lord, in your mercy...

We pray for our parish and our local community: that through the grace of God we may hear the urgent cry of the earth and of the poor and be inspired to respond at this crucial time. Lord, in your mercy...

We pray for world leaders: that God may grant them wisdom to make just decisions which respect the earth and all that lives in it, especially those who are poorest and most vulnerable. Lord, in your mercy…

Our School Prayer

Dear Lord,

Your love is at the centre of everything we do.

May we share your message in our classrooms and in our playground through:

Our learning, playing, actions, thinking and our words.

Let our school be full of happiness and joy.

Amen.

(written by Blessed Sacrament School chaplaincy team) 

Pope Francis’ Prayer to Mary during the coronavirus pandemic

O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection.

Amen.

The Year of the Word

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales have designated 2020 as The God who Speaks: A Year of the Word to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Verbum Domini - Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation on ‘The Word of the Lord’. This also commemorates the 1600th anniversary of death of St Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin. The Year of the Word is a time where we are invited to celebrate, live and share God's word with an emphasis on Matthew's Gospel. Please look out for information during the year to see how we will be doing this at Blessed Sacrament.