At St Mary’s, celebrating our Catholic faith is at the heart of everything we do. Our spiritual life is woven through prayer, worship, and rhythm of the liturgical year, connecting our school, parish, families, and wider community.

We mark key seasons and holy days through activities that engage the whole school:

Advent & Christmas at St Mary’s

Advent and Christmas are a special time at St Mary’s, filled with prayer, worship, and community.

🕯️ Prayer and Worship
Each classroom has an Advent Prayer Table, and our Prayer Bags go home daily with children to share faith with their families. We began the season with a Family Mass, lit the Advent Wreath, and joined together for a school Advent Service. Our children also created and received a blessing for their own Bambinellis, reminding us to keep Christ at the heart of Christmas.

🎼 Celebrations in Song
KS1 and Early Years performed the Nativity, KS2 led scripture readings, and our whole school gathered for a Candle-lit Carol Service. The choir visited Kelvedon House Care Home, bringing joy to residents, and we joined our Academy schools and partner school in Poland for a Virtual Christmas Concert.

🤝 Faith in Action
Advent is also a time for giving. One of our Year 2 pupils raised £350 for Mission Christmas – Cash for Kids with his charity shop, and our families donated generously to the Shoebox Appeal, supporting those less fortunate this Christmas.

🌟 Together in Faith
Through prayer, song, and service, our Advent journey prepared us to welcome the true gift of Christmas – the coming of Jesus.

Lent, Holy Week & Easter

During Lent, our pupils prepare spiritually through assemblies, services, and prayer spaces. This year, we also lived out our faith through acts of charity and service:

💜 Fundraising for CAFOD

• EYFS – hosted a Cake Sale with fantastic support from families. 🍰

• Years 1 & 2 – took part in a joyful Danceathon. 💃🕺

• Year 3 – completed a Sponsored Run. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

• Year 4 – showed stamina with a Sponsored Skip. ⛹️‍♀️

• Year 5 – organised a Sponsored Family Quiz, bringing our community together. ❓👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

• Year 6 – made a 4-mile pilgrimage to St John Bosco Primary School, walking in prayer and solidarity. 👣

Together, these efforts raised vital funds for CAFOD, showing how every step, song, cake, and question can help make a real difference.

✝️ Holy Week Reflections
Each year group led us in worship, bringing the Easter story to life:

• Palm Sunday – EYFS & Year 1 celebrated with readings and songs. 🌿

• Cleansing of the Temple – Years 2 & 3 dramatised Jesus’ call to keep God’s house holy.

• The Last Supper – Year 4 retold Jesus’ final meal and the gift of the Eucharist.

• Garden of Gethsemane – Year 5 reflected on courage, prayer, and trust.

• Stations of the Cross – Year 6 concluded our journey with a powerful retelling through narration, song, and prayer.

Through these acts of worship and service, our Lenten journey prepared our hearts for the joy of Easter and the hope of the Resurrection.

Feast Days & Saints’ Days

We celebrate key moments in the Church year with Mass, joy, and reflection—bringing our school community together in faith:

• On All Saints’ Day, pupils and staff attend Mass, inviting reflection on the lives of the saints as role models of faith.

• At the Feast of the Annunciation, we gathered as a school (Reception through Year 6) for a special Mass honouring Mary’s courageous "Yes!" to God’s plan. The children sang hymns, joined in prayers and readings, and their enthusiasm filled the church with light and joy—truly a moving celebration of our patron.

• Throughout the year, we similarly celebrate Epiphany, Pentecost, and our House Saints Feast Days, strengthening our ties with the wider parish and the rhythms of the Catholic calendar.

Remembrance & Holy Souls

November is a special month in the Church when we pray for the Holy Souls and remember all those who have died. At St Mary’s, this season of remembrance is marked with reverence, prayer, and community.

• Remembrance Services – Each year, our pupils lead prayers, readings, and reflections to honour those who gave their lives in conflict. The whole school joins in a solemn silence, remembering with gratitude and hope.

• Prayer for the Holy Souls – During November, our classes dedicate time in prayer to remember family members, parishioners, and loved ones who have died. Prayer tables and displays invite children to write intentions and add them to our Book of Remembrance.

• Wider Community Links – As part of our Catholic witness, we join parish and local community acts of remembrance, ensuring our pupils understand the importance of faith, peace, and sacrifice.

In prayer, silence, and reflection, we unite our school and parish in hope—remembering the past while looking to a future rooted in Christ’s peace. ✝️🕊️