At St Charles’, we strive to be a living and loving community, inspired by the life of Christ and the teachings of the Church, rooted firmly in Gospel values. Prayer and liturgy are central to our Catholic identity and form a vital part of daily life in school. We believe that spending time in the presence of God is fundamental to nurturing faith, and we ensure that our children have broad and varied opportunities to experience God through prayer and worship.
Prayer is woven into the fabric of our school day. Children are supported in developing a personal relationship with God through a variety of prayer experiences—individual reflection, group prayer, and whole-school worship. Our faith teaches us that God loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. Our relationship with God is built up through our worship of him – the time spent talking and listening to him. Liturgy and prayer at St Charles’ aims to enable children to live their lives to the fullest, through deepening their faith and developing a personal relationship with God. We do this through the creative story based worship resources of Ten:Ten which is rooted in the teachings of the Church and help children connect faith with everyday life.
Prayer and liturgical celebration take many forms across the school. From silent meditation to whole-school Masses on solemnities such as the Ascension of the Lord, children are invited to engage with their faith in ways that are meaningful and age-appropriate. Liturgy, Celebration of the Word, and Prayer form a rich continuum of spiritual experience, with overlapping elements that reflect the depth and diversity of Catholic tradition.
While the term ‘worship’ is not used to describe a specific category in the Prayer and Liturgy Directory, it is understood in Catholic life as a way of living that acknowledges all we have is a gift from God. Worship is not limited to prayer—it encompasses how we live our lives in gratitude and service, giving glory to God in all we do.
In this spirit, the purpose of prayer and liturgy at St Charles’ is to help children know and love Christ, and to open their hearts and minds to the wonder of living in God’s world. We encourage them to recognise their responsibilities to themselves, to others, and to the wider world.