During the Liturgical / Church Year we are invited to celebrate times of significance in the life of Jesus with special place given to Mary and the saints. Well prepared liturgies marking these seasons are an experience of catechesis in action. Below you will find resources for prayer and worship as well as some classroom ideas.
The Religion Teacher site has recently posted new material relevant for class planning around the Liturgical/Academic Year. CLICK HERE for more information.
Beginning of School Year
CLICK HERE for material on Beginning of School Year
General Liturgical Planning/Preparation
September – Beginning of School Year
- 01_New_Beginnings
- A Prayer for the First Day of School
- A Student SEPT PRAYER
- first year opening reflection
- FIRST YEAR MASS SEPT 06
- NEWMISSALPPT (Power-point)
- MASS FOR BEGINNING OF SCHOOL YEAR
- Opening Mass zerofive
- Intercom Prayer Service for a New School Year 2
October – Mission Month / Month of the Rosary
CLICK HERE for resources on praying the Rosary in October
Click on this link below to access the resources for Mission Month:
November – Remembrance/All Saints/All Souls
CLICK HERE for resources for Thanksgiving in November
- all saints prayer service
- All Souls Day Prayer Service
- allsaintsworksheet
- anniversay mass
- Assembly Prayer Service to Remember Our Dead
- Assembly Prayer Service
- bereavement material
- Bereavementpoems&reflections
- Celebrating Our Catholic Faith
Advent
CLICK HERE for Advent activities for late November/early December
- A Rite for the Beginning of Advent at Home
- Advent Prayer ServiceAdvent (2)
- Advent (2)
- Advent (2) (Power-point)
- ADVENT 2010 (Power-point)
- Advent 2012 Year C
Christmas
CLICK HERE for Christmas based material
- A christingle
- A Christmas Litany Alec Yule
- A Christmas Reflection and Prayer
- A Christmas Story
- Blessing the Crib
- carol service powerpoint
- Carols and Readings
- Christian Origins of Familiar Christmas Customs
- Christmas 1
- Christmas 2
Lent
CLICK HERE for Lenten resources
Lent 2022
Liturgy – Ash Wednesday school liturgy of the word
General Resources
- ASH WEDNESDAY
- Ash Wednesday and Lent website
- Ash Wednesday History
- At the Foot of the Cross
- Ash Wednesday Stardust Service
- Ash_wednesday (Video)
- AshWednesday2412007211719 (Power-point)
- Ash_Wednesday_History
Easter
CLICK HERE for useful material for Easter
- Easter Notes
- Easter_pics_and_text (Power-point)
- AN EASTER GRACE
- CRUCIFIXION (Power-point)
- Easter Service (Power-point)
- Ephrem’s Stations – Good Friday (Power-point)
- Maundy_Thursday (Power-point)
- The Last Supper
End of School Year/Graduation
CLICK HERE for material for End of School Year
- Closing school year 2013 (Power-point)
- End of school year 2015
- End of Year Prayer – Final Weeks
- Mass THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
- prayer service 6th year
- Reflection after Communion
Mission
Mission – Prayer Service
Mission – Class Lesson
All Saints
Advent
Advent Prayer Service
Advent Prayer Service 2013
Advent Calendar 2013
Christmas
Christmas Crossword
Christmas is banned – Class Lesson
Lent
Prayer Burying the Alleluia
Ascension
The Ascension, which is one of the chief feasts of the liturgical year, marks the close of the appearances of Jesus which took place after his resurrection and celebrates his exaltation to the Father. It is an essential element of the resurrection of the Lord. It is portrayed as having taken place variously, even by the same author, on the evening of Easter Sunday and forty days later. It underlines the teaching that it is from Heaven that the exalted Christ excerises his power over heaven and earth. CLICK HERE for Ascension day service page 1. CLICK HERE for page 2.
Pentecost Sunday
The problem with Pentecost Sunday and the school year is that this particular important feast can fall within the summer holiday period. However, like Christmas, in anticipation of Pentecost, the students could tie this feast in with their Graduation Mass. The gifts of the Spirit can be outlined at the graduation Mass also.
The word ‘Pentecost’ meaning ‘fiftieth day’ was the name given to the Feast of Weeks in the Jewish calendar because it fell on the fiftieth day after Passover. In the Christian tradition it was applied to the feast of the decent of the Holy Spirit because this event is portrayed as occurring fifty days after Easter Sunday. After Easter is has been described as the second festival of the Church. Pentecost Sunday marks the close of Eastertide.
This important feast could tie in very well with a graduation liturgy. The Word of God was proclaimed in many languages at Pentecost. This tradition could be adapted to the school setting where different students could deliver prayers and readings in different languages. The use of Taizé music may also be helpful here as it provides settings of music in different languages. The following prayer service is particular to Morning Prayer but can be adapted to a Eucharistic Celebration (Graduation Mass) or alternative prayer service. CLICK HERE for Page 1 and HERE for page 2.