Prayer and Liturgy is a fundamental part of school life at St. Mary's. The Catholic Education Service has released a Prayer and Liturgy Directory (PLD) which we implemented at St. Mary's in 2024. This PLD directory guides us in liturgical aspects of our school. The children are engaged at every level in the prayer life of the school. 

Celebration of the Word is an opportunity for children to collectively worship. We gather as a school every Monday and every Friday to Celebrate the Word of God together. We read passages from the scripture, we listen to the word of God and we respond through prayer and through hymn. 

Children across the school plan and prepare Celebration of the Word sessions in their classrooms. From Year 1, children begin to choose hymns, music and rituals such as lighting candles or dimming lights, which will welcome their peers to pray. 

From year 3, following the children's First Holy Communion, children work with their teacher to choose and read passages together, reflecting on how these passages help them to live a life close to God. 

By the time the children are in year 6, they are planning and leading Celebration of the Word independently, without adult input. They use The Bible and the Celebrational Hymnal to find passages of Scripture and hymns which mean something to them and they become more confident when sharing this with their peers. 

Every class prepares and leads a whole school assembly held on Friday mornings to which parents are invited to attend.

In every classroom we have a special Prayer corner with displays reflecting the current RE themes. The Prayer corner and provides a quiet area that signal to pupils the value placed on individual prayer and reflection.

Staff and children pray together regularly throughout the day and children have opportunities to compose and share prayers in class and assemblies.