Celebration of the Word
Our mission statement is taken from St John’s Gospel, when Jesus said, ‘I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.’(John 10:10)
Offering time for prayer and worship in school helps us all embrace this mission statement. We believe that Christian worship in a Catholic school names and celebrates God’s presence in our lives. It is concerned with giving glory, honour, praise and thanks to God. It is our loving response, in word and action, to God’s invitation to enter into relationship, made possible through the work of Jesus Christ and the witness of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer & Liturgy is planned following a structure with reference to the Church’s seasons, our Come and See scheme of work for RE, feast days, the curriculum and other significant dates.
Children meet in different groups to pray in school, and parents and parishioners are invited to participate in some of these celebrations throughout the year.
Our prayer takes into account the religious and educational needs of all who share in it:
- Those who form part of the worshipping community in church;
- Those for whom school may be their first and only experience of church;
- Those from other Christian traditions – or none;
- Those from other faith backgrounds.
Prayer & Liturgy in St Alban’s School aims to provide opportunities for all pupils and staff:
- To contemplate the mystery of God
- To reflect on spiritual and moral issues
- To explore personal beliefs
- To respond to and to celebrate life
- To experience a sense of belonging and to develop community spirit
- To develop a common ethos and shared values
- To enrich religious experience
- To grow in liturgical understanding and development
- To pray using prayers which are part of the Catholic tradition
- To reinforce positive attitudes
- To participate fully
- To take time out ‘to wonder at’, ‘to come to terms with’ and ‘to give worth to.’
All acts of prayer and liturgy in St Alban’s School will:
- Give glory and honour to God;
- Be a quality activity, fundamental to the life of the school and its Catholic character;
- Enable pupils to develop, through faith, the competence, knowledge and skills to prepare, organise and lead worship;
- Give pupils positive liturgical experiences, appropriate to their age, aptitude and family backgrounds in order to prepare them for the liturgical life of the Church. Celebrations will be appropriate to the age and groupings of the children.
- Catherine Craig admires our wall mural
St Cuthbert’s Cross Catherine Craig, the Director of Education at the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, visited school today and… Read more: Catherine Craig admires our wall mural - Advent begins
Year 3 began our Advent journey in school with a service of prayer in St Alban’s Church. The children sent… Read more: Advent begins - Welcome to God’s family!
Our Early Years children have been exploring Baptism as part of our RE topic. - Prayers for the end of our school year
The children gathered in St Alban’s Church with their parents and parishioners to celebrate the academic year. Representatives brought forward… Read more: Prayers for the end of our school year - Y6 celebration!
It was lovely to have Y6 for a special Headteacher’s treat in the final week of term. - Visiting Cardinal Hume School
Two of our Year 5 children represented our school, meeting Bishop Stephen during his visit to Cardinal Hume secondary school.… Read more: Visiting Cardinal Hume School - Y2 Appreciate all of God’s Treasures
In year 2 we have worked together on a huge piece of artwork celebrating God’s treasures. It was easy to… Read more: Y2 Appreciate all of God’s Treasures - Class Celebration of the WordWe enjoyed planning and doing our special class prayer time. We heard the Feeding of the 5000 from Matthew’s Gospel.… Read more: Class Celebration of the Word
- Beautiful St Alban’s Room
Fr Patterson blessed our newly refurbished prayer room. Here is an early morning photo with the sun streaming in through… Read more: Beautiful St Alban’s Room - A sign of Peace from Y2
In Year 2 we have been thinking about how we can show each other a sign of peace. We wrote… Read more: A sign of Peace from Y2 - Year 4 residential
Year 4 had a fantastic time visiting the Emmaus Village. The theme of the visit was ‘Lost and Found.’ It… Read more: Year 4 residential - Feast of Corpus Christi
Year 4 led a very reflective and prayerful liturgy about the Feast of Corpus Christi. It was lovely to see… Read more: Feast of Corpus Christi - Pentecost PartyThe whole school enjoyed eating red food and celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost with a party… Read more: Pentecost Party
- Y5 stand on holy ground
Year 5 children went on a retreat to Lindisfarne, spending 3 days together and following in the footsteps of St… Read more: Y5 stand on holy ground - Spreading the Good News in Year 2
In Year 2, we have been looking at paintings of Pentecost and using our knowledge to say which we think… Read more: Spreading the Good News in Year 2 - Remembering Jesus’ ascension to heaven
To help us remember the ascension story we made our own models so we could retell the story. It was… Read more: Remembering Jesus’ ascension to heaven - Sharing the Good News
We know that God’s special helper the Holy Spirit was sent by God to help us. We shared this Good… Read more: Sharing the Good News - Good Shepherd Mass
Our head boy and head girl represented the school at the Good Shepherd Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral today. This… Read more: Good Shepherd Mass - Year 1 preparing for Pentecost.
In Year 1 we have started discussing Pentecost. Today we talked about the Holy Spirit gifting us all with strength,… Read more: Year 1 preparing for Pentecost. - Mr Hurn, our CEO, visits as we bless our new school cross
What a special Monday we have had in school! We were very lucky to have the CEO of Bishop Wilkinson… Read more: Mr Hurn, our CEO, visits as we bless our new school cross - Celebration of the Word in Reception
This week the boys and girls in Reception spent some quiet time, listening to and reflecting on a special story… Read more: Celebration of the Word in Reception - The Last Supper in Nursery
In Nursery we listened to the story of The Last Supper as part of our RE learning during Holy Week.… Read more: The Last Supper in Nursery - Stations of the Cross
During Holy Week, we reflect on Jesus’ journey in the Stations of the Cross. Year 6 helped set up these… Read more: Stations of the Cross - Sing Hosanna for Palm Sunday
The children and their families were led in prayer by Year 6 as they reflected on the Gospel story of… Read more: Sing Hosanna for Palm Sunday - Year 4 Lenten Alms
Year 4 chose to complete a sponsored times table challenge for their Lenten Alms, to raise funds for St Cutbert’s… Read more: Year 4 Lenten Alms - Lent service at Trust HQ
Two of our Year 5 children represented the school during a Lenten prayer service at Trust HQ. We prayed together… Read more: Lent service at Trust HQ - Y5 Lenten Liturgy
Year 5 led us in prayer in St Alban’s Church for the 5th Week of Lent. The theme was based… Read more: Y5 Lenten Liturgy - Year 4 Lent Liturgy
Year 4 led the school in a reflective Lent liturgy focusing on God’s love. The children shared prayers through words,… Read more: Year 4 Lent Liturgy - Lenten Journey 2024
Our children are leading us in prayer each Friday in St Alban’s Church, to help prepare for the great feast… Read more: Lenten Journey 2024 - Nativity Stable Competition 2023
Look at these amazing entries! - Advent Service at Trust HQ
Our Head Boy and Head Girl took part in an Advent Service with other children and staff from the schools… Read more: Advent Service at Trust HQ - Celebrating with Christmas Lunch in our classes
Today we all enjoyed a delicious Christmas meal in our classes – the children were very excited and sang along… Read more: Celebrating with Christmas Lunch in our classes - ‘Putting Together’ St. Paul’s Cathedral
We have finished our Great Fire of London topic by looking at St. Paul’s Cathedral and how it was redesigned… Read more: ‘Putting Together’ St. Paul’s Cathedral - Living Life to the Full in Reception Class
In Reception class, we love to learn! - Year 1 Liturgy
It was so lovely to see so many parents and carers join us for the practical activity before our Liturgy… Read more: Year 1 Liturgy - Meeting Bishop Stephen
Our Head Boy and Head Girl went to Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on the Feast of the Archangels and… Read more: Meeting Bishop Stephen - Democracy at St Alban’s
We listened to many good speeches from our head boy and girl candidates this week. They were all very brave… Read more: Democracy at St Alban’s - Green Flag Eco Award!
Mrs Kennedy and the Eco Committee worked hard all year last year to gather evidence and establish more eco working… Read more: Green Flag Eco Award! - End of year prayers
The whole school gathered in St Alban’s Church – the first time since March 2020! We were delighted to be… Read more: End of year prayers - Y6 Leavers’ Liturgy at Trust HQ 11.07.23
All schools in Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust were invited to send representatives to share prayers for the end of… Read more: Y6 Leavers’ Liturgy at Trust HQ 11.07.23 - Y4 have been reflecting on their amazing time in Emmaus village.
We stopped off at Gibside on the way then Y4 reflected, prayed, dance, sang, played and just had lots of… Read more: Y4 have been reflecting on their amazing time in Emmaus village. - I love you café
What a lovely day to share a coffee morning ahead of Father’s Day this weekend. There were cakes and treats… Read more: I love you café - Taking our Food Bank to church
Our Y5 Vice-Captains delivered our school’s contribution to the Refugee Food Bank to St Alban’s Church. They were thanked by… Read more: Taking our Food Bank to church - Y3 Pentecost Prayers with Parents
Year 3 led prayers on Friday in the school hall with their parents. They prayed, acted, sang, read and did… Read more: Y3 Pentecost Prayers with Parents - Pentecost Party!
In Reception class we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost with our families, who joined us in song, prayer and craft… Read more: Pentecost Party! - Year 1 Stay and Pray Ascension 16.05.23
- Holy Island Camp 3rd – 5th May 2023
Year 5 had a spectacular time exploring the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. They walked the island, had fun in the… Read more: Holy Island Camp 3rd – 5th May 2023 - Stations of the Cross
Y6 led us in our final Lenten prayer service today, following Jesus along the Stations of the Cross. - Stations of the Cross at Trust HQ
Some of our Y6 children met other youngsters, aged 7-18, from across the Trust to lead us all in a… Read more: Stations of the Cross at Trust HQ - Palm Sunday
The children are reflecting the events of Holy Week in school this week. Today, they heard the story of Palm… Read more: Palm Sunday
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Updated | 2nd October, 2024 |
The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust is an exempt charity. It is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under company registration number 07890590. The registered office address is Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education HQ, Barmston Court, Turbine Business Park, Nissan Way, Washington, SR5 3NY.