The Catholic Life of St Mary's RC High School

Our school is founded on Gospel Values. We believe that by remaining faithful to Christ’s teaching and example, we will continue to serve God and show selfless love to our neighbour in our daily lives. We believe that each one of us is created in God's image & likeness and is called to perform a special task. We also believe that we must use our God-given talents to fulfil our academic and spiritual potential. Our Priest Chaplain, Fr Andrew Berry, assisted by Fr Augustine Primavesi, works closely with the RE Department to plan and deliver key celebrations/worship within the liturgical cycle.

Our Mission Statement is supported by our school values ('Pupil Profile'), which proposes the qualities we wish to develop in our pupils. These qualities are simple, yet challenging, and seek to enable every member of our community to take the message of the Gospels to heart and apply it to their day-to-day lives. We challenge and encourage our pupils to be:

• Grateful for their own gifts, for the gift of other people, and for the blessings of each day; and generous with the gifts, becoming people of service.  
• Attentive to their experience and to their vocation; and discerning about the choices they make, and the effects of those choices.
• Compassionate towards their neighbour, near and far, especially the less fortunate; and loving by their just actions and forgiving words.
• Faith-filled in their beliefs and hopeful for the future.
• Eloquent and truthful in what they say of themselves, the relations between people, and the world.
• Learned, finding God in all things, and wise in the ways they use their learning for the common good.
• Curious about everything and active in their engagement with the world, changing what they can do for the better.
• Intentional in the way they live and use the resources of the earth, guided by conscience; and prophetic in the example they set to others’

Heart of the School

At the heart of our school stands our chapel, offering a silent oasis in the midst of our learning environment, a place of sanctuary and encounter with the living God. Here, we can spend time with Christ, present to us in the bread of life, the Eucharist, inside the Tabernacle.

Staff and pupils gather in St. Mary’s on the following occasions throughout the year to worship together.

September Whole School Mass

As a Christian community, the school values collective worship. The September Mass celebrates the beginning of the new academic year and is an opportunity to welcome all new pupils and staff to the St Mary’s community.

New Year 7 Welcome Mass

This Mass is always a wonderful opportunity for pupils to come together and share their hopes for the future with parents, carers and loved ones. 

Pupils from each Form group create a banner representing their form and their House saint. Pupils also help to write the reflections, which look at their House patron, their virtues and how they can aim to incorporate these values into their everyday lives in order to be the best version of themselves.

Holy Days

On Holy Days, which fall during term time, Mass is celebrated during the day for the whole school. 

The liturgy is carefully prepared by the RE Department and our school chaplain, Fr Andrew. Our pupils play an active part in the planning and delivery of these celebrations as servers, readers, singers, musicians and welcomers.

House Masses

House Masses are also celebrated throughout the year for the feast days of each of the patron saints. All year groups join together to celebrate the work and example of their House saint.

In addition to the services for the whole school students are invited to pray in the following ways:

Assemblies
Assemblies are held every week for each year group and reflect the liturgical year, alongside the Virtue Pairs.  These assemblies are led by the Headteacher or a member of the Senior Leadership team, or by the Head of Year. 

Daily Prayers

Prayers are said at the start of every day in the chapel. This time is open to any who would like to attend and offers a calm, reflective start to our day.

Prayers are also said during Staff Briefings, with a rota published at the beginning of each new half-term.

Prayers are said in forms during the time allocated for Sacred Spaces (see attachment below on Sacred Spaces). Pupils are encouraged to take a turn in leading this act of worship.

Voluntary Mass

Mass takes place in the school Chapel every first Friday of the month during extended morning registration. This Mass is an opportunity to pray for any members of our school community. Our pupils play an active part in the planning and delivery of these Masses as servers, readers and welcomers.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

During Advent and Lent, all pupils attend a penitential service, to enable them to either receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation or to simply reflect on the relevant themes covered and to talk with a visiting priest. All staff may also receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Works of Charity

As a Christian community, we take very seriously our commitment to charity. We regard works of charity as an essential part of our pupils’ education.

LENT and ADVENT fund-raising activities

The school takes part in a variety of fund-raising activities throughout Lent and Advent.

A Reverse Advent Calendar collection of food and gifts is donated to the local foodbank and homeless people. We also have a Christmas jumper day for staff and pupils to raise money for Save the Children. Other fund-raising activities take place as opportunities arise. 

CAFOD Youth Group

Our links with CAFOD are at the heart of our fundraising activities during Lent. Pupils are given the opportunity to join our CAFOD Youth Group. This is an excellent way to volunteer and speak out about social justice. 

During Lent, a variety of events are organised each year; for example, non-uniform days, pupil-led cake sales, raffles and games in order to provide practical ways to respond to the needs of others. All the proceeds of these activities go to support the work of CAFOD.

In November 2022, our school launched a Youth SVP Group at St Mary’s. The aim of this group is to help young people turn concern into action and engage with the community to make a positive difference, as well as learning new skills and developing faith. The Youth Group meets weekly and considers how to provide support and assistance in practical ways, rather than just monetarily.

Liturgical Calendar

 

Sacred Spaces Prayers