Prayer and Celebrations of the Word
At Blessed Thomas Holford, our whole school family are regularly invited to celebrate the Catholic faith through a range of collective worship; from times of reflective prayer and devotion to services built around the scriptures. Within an individual day, week and half term, our school family experience the richness and diversity of the Church’s prayer and liturgy.
Below are examples of how our school family regularly access opportunities for spiritual growth and experience of the Catholic tradition each week.
CELEBRATION OF THE WORD
A weekly gathering celebrating the word. A celebration which focusses on God speaking to us through the scriptures and which creates space and form for our response.
We GATHER together to establish who we are as a praying community and to recognise that it is God who has called us together.
Through scripture, we open ourselves to LISTEN and RESPOND to God.
Then we consider our MISSION transformed by what they have and done so that they can play a part in the Church's service to the world.
Prayer in Together For Good, Meetings and assemblies
Students and staff open each college day and staff meetings with an act of prayer. These are led by Heads of Year, form tutors, students and those involved in the staff meetings. Starting each day and meeting this way ensures key moment are punctuated by a moment of calm reflection and allows us all to recognise prayer and worship is at the heart of our college life.
Grace Before Meals and Sunset Prayers
Members of Year 7 have two additional opportunities for prayer; with a Grace Before Meals recited by the class daily before lunch, and a Sunset Prayer to finish the college day. Both prayers allow for continuous recognition of the college’s core Catholic values, provide further opportunities for calm reflection and highlight our expectations for Blessed Thomas Holford students to be considerate members of our community.
Wednesday Word
All students and staff are invited to create their own Wednesday Word once a week. These acts of reflection are based around the previous Sunday’s Gospel and are delivered by anyone who volunteers to lead that week’s session to any staff or students who want to attend. This act of prayer emphasises the community and equality preached by Jesus Christ, with students teaching staff about their lived faith experience and vice versa, allowing each member of the community to have a platform to enrich each other’s school faith journey.
Walk By Faith
In addition to the daily acts of prayer and worship that take place during form time, Thursdays include an opportunity for an extended Celebration of the Word for all students from Years 7-11, where students are given pieces of scripture, topical events in the Catholic calendar and religious news to reflect upon and react to. These sessions are delivered through a video, with interactive moments for form tutors and students to involve themselves with.