Worship
All schools are required to offer a collective Act of Worship every day. In schools with a designated religious character, like St Pius, this is far more than a statutory requirement – it is crucial to the spiritual life of the School and to pupils’ moral and spiritual development.
Taking part in a daily Act of Worship helps build our community cohesion by creating a consistent structure around the Gospel values. Throughout the year, we come together to celebrate important events in the Church’s calendar, such as Lent and Advent. Through regular prayer and worship, including Mass, the rhythm of the Church’s year becomes a normal part of school life and each pupil’s life. These activities are integral to our Catholic identity and life of our School.
Britain is a multicultural and multi-faith society and, in this context, a collective Act of Worship can contribute much to a child’s broader educational development – offering opportunities to explore and understand values, and giving children a space and time to reflect. The time set aside in the school day for contemplation provides everyone with the opportunity to gather and support one another as a community.
We welcome children of different faiths or none at St Pius. We are Catholic Christians in our worship – and all children are present in Mass, liturgies and our daily prayer life.
Our three most important prayers for any worship are:
- Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
- Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Link to Diocese of Lancaster Education
