Feast of St Kieran - Patron Saint of the Diocese of Ossory
Prayer Service for Primary Schools
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PRIMARY SCHOOL RESOURCES FOR LENT 2012
‘The fruit of silence in prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, and the fruit of service is peace’.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
As we begin the season of Lent we give thanks for this time of spring and new growth in our lives. Every Lent is an opportunity to grow a little more in our awareness of God’s loving presence. Traditionally the Church has celebrated Lent as a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, not as ends in themselves but as means of entering more deeply into communion with God and solidarity with one another. The quote from Mother Teresa of Calcutta given above could well describe the Lenten journey: a time for being silent, to fast a little each day from the noise of our busy lives to allow God to speak to us and for us to respond by lifting up our hearts in prayer. Prayer is a dialogue, a conversation between friends. When we open our hearts to God, we are filled abundantly with his love and that love begins to overflow into the lives of others. It is this overflow of love that enables us to ‘give alms’, to make sacrifices for others, to listen, to reach out, to give time, and in doing all this we give to those in the classroom, the staff room, our families and communities a glimpse of who God really is. Lent is God’s time when all of us are invited to bear fruit that is joy and peace in God’s service. This Lent I hope that you will find opportunities to make this a reality.
Click here for our Lenten Newsletter and other resources such as Trócaire initiatives, stations of the Cross for families and children; resources for use in the classroom and to assist teachers in their own Lenten journey. You can also click here to find a copy of Eucharistic Prayer 1 for use in Masses with Children which can still be used with updated texts and a prayer service for the Feast of St Kieran (5th March) will be available soon.
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EUCHARISTIC PRAYER 1 for use in Masses with Children
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RESOURCES…
The Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin has once again produced a resource for use during Lent & Easter in all Primary Schools. A hard copy has been sent to all our schools in Ossory further copies can be ordered from the faith development office Carlow
http://www.trocaire.org/resources/schoolresources
http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/stations/index.html
From the website of CAFOD (Catholic agency for overseas development, diocese of England & Wales)
From the website of EWTN
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Catholic Schools Week 2012 January 29 – February 4, 2012 Theme: ‘Catholic Schools: Christ’s living body active in our world.’
The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2012 is ‘Catholic Schools: Christ’s living body active in our world.’ The theme is taken from the anthem of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress, Though We Are Many – (Bernard Sexton), and reflects the overall theme of the Eucharistic Congress – ‘The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another.’
To download the Catholic Schools Week Flyer, please click here.
To download the Catholic Schools Week Newsletter, please click here.
To download the Catholic Schools Week poster, please click here.
RESOURCES for Catholic Schools Week 2012:
Click on image for Primary Resources
Click on image for Post Primary Resources
The Catholic Schools Week Steering Group has prepared resources for use in both primary and post primary during Catholic Schools Week. These resources can be used with the following groups: students in the classroom; staff members; parents; members of the board of management/ governors; the wider parish community.
This year Catholic Schools Week reflects on the school as a community having as its goal the full development of the pupil. Catholic schools consist of pupils, staff members, parents, school management and patrons. They form a vital part of the local community. The proverb says ‘it takes a whole village to rear a child’ and in its own way each school mirrors the local community in its nurturing concern for its pupils.
For the Primary Resources in Irish, click here.
For the Post Primary Resources in Irish, click here.
For Resources for the home in Polish, click here.
When the Catholic school community celebrates Mass they partake of the body of the Lord by participating in the elements of the liturgy. Truly the school is taken up into communion with Christ and all members of the school community with one another. ‘Because the bread is one, we though many, are one body, all of us who partake of the one bread’ (1 Cor 10:17). In this way all of us are made members of His Body, (1 Cor 12:27) ‘but severally members one of another’ (Rom 12:5).
No school pupil is immune to liturgy well done. Particularly in times of celebration and difficulty the entire community recognises and senses the presence of Christ in the Eucharist enhancing lives and offering support at critical moments. The Mass matters because Christ is present in a tangible way through the community gathered, the word spoken, the bread broken, the Body of Christ shared and the urgent invitation to live the love of God in the day to day circumstance of life and in the relationships of one with another.
Time and time again attention is drawn to the identity of the Church as the living body of Christ. The school community is made up of people who form part of each other as the limbs of a body. The Catholic school community, at a crucial time in the lives of young people, is for them the local Church making Christ present in new and unexpected ways but especially by being caring. So the mission of all is to be witnesses and ambassadors of the love of Christ in the world. ‘Catholic Schools: Christ’s living body active in our world.’
Resources for Home, School and Parish
To help schools celebrate Catholic Schools Week 2012 resources have been prepared and will be circulated to schools and parishes. The resources will enable pupils, staff members, boards of management, families, the entire school community, and parishes mark Catholic Schools Week 2012. It is recommended that Principals and Chairs of Boards of Management seek to ensure that CSW 2012 is celebrated by all associated with the school.
Day for Grandparents
It is envisaged that Grandparents will be invited to celebrate CSW 2012 with their grandchildren in the school as in previous years. A significant part of Catholic education is its commitment to build on the tradition of Catholic education in the area and in the particular school. The rich inheritance of the school is its stepping stone into the future. Grandparents are a vital link in helping children to give thanks for the work of the school and to look forward with joyful hope to the future. Pope Benedict XVI reminded us in his Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland: ‘As you take up the challenges of this hour, I ask you to remember “the rock from which you were hewn” (Isa 51:1).’
Christ present in the Eucharist
Ireland will play host to the fiftieth International Eucharistic Congress from June 10th to 17th2012. Describing the International Eucharistic Congress, Archbishop Martin said:
‘It is an important event for the Church in Ireland. It is an important event for the Church around the world. If you look at the Acts of the Apostles when they describe the early Christian community they always begin by saying they gathered and out of that sense of gathering came a particular lifestyle which is a lifestyle of communion and sharing.’
During CSW 2012 Catholic Schools are encouraged to enable students gather, celebrate and reflect on the Eucharist and thereby recognise Christ present in the school – bringing about a lifestyle of communion and sharing.
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The season of Advent provides all of us with an opportunity to focus once again on Emmanuel – God with us. In these days as we prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas and also his coming at the end of time, we remember that the Lord comes to us each day also, and it is important that we are able to recognise his voice, his face among us. Advent & Christmas is a particularly joy filled time for children. At home and at school and in the parish community their joy and ability to recognise the Lord, gives each one of us great hope and brings us once again to reflect on the mystery of God’s presence in the events of our lives. These Advent resources for our Primary Schools are intended to help children discover more and more the love of God at this special time and to also enrich the faith of our teachers to whom we owe immense gratitude for their witness to Christ and the role they play in handing on the gift of faith. These Advent resources can also be appropriately used in the home and in the parish community.
RESOURCES FOR ADVENT 2011
SIMPLY ADVENT – A Daily Service of Prayer Linking Home, School & Parish Community
Click here to view Simply Advent. Simply Advent is a prayer resource that can be used in the home, classroom or parish each day of Advent.
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OUR TEACHER NEWSLETTER
Click here to view Our Teacher Newsletter for Advent 2011.
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MASS FOR ADVENT FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Click here to view A Celebration of Mass for Advent for our Primary Schools
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BLESSING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Click here to view the Blessing of the Advent Wreath. This ritual can be used in the classroom during a prayer service or at a school assembly and can also be adapted for use at the beginning of a school Mass during Advent
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Other Advent Resources for the Classroom
Last year the resources prepared by the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin Primary faith development team proved very popular. The resource book contains material covering Advent and other faith celebrations during this time leading up to Christmas. Further copies are available on request from the faith development office in Carlow. Contact Christine at Tel: 059-9164084. Further resources are also available on the education website of the archdiocese of Dublin http://www.education.dublindiocese.ie and from the society of missionary children www.imi.ie
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APRIL RESOURCES
On our resource page this month we reproduce a resource published last year to help Children become familiar with the celebration of the Chrism Mass. Children especially candidates for Confirmation this year are encouraged to attend. The chrism Mass takes place on Wednesday 20th April in St Mary’s cathedral at 7.30 pm.
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The recent debate concerning the future of our Catholic Schools has left many Board of Management members, Teachers and Parents concerned as to what exactly might happen in relation to the status of religious education / sacramental preparation and future patronage of our schools. Therefore it is important that all of us be informed as to the main points of the current debate and be aware of arguments being put forward. Some of the recent contributions to the debate on the future of our Catholic Schools are available for your reflection. We hope you find them helpful in reflecting on the issues involved.
Links listed below:
Speech by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, at the Annual Conference of the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA)
http://www.cpsma.ie/AGM_2011/AGM_11_Minister.htm
New Governance Structures: Mr. Rónán Mullan BL
http://www.cpsma.ie/AGM_2011/New_Governance_Structures_CPSMA_AGM_2011.pdf
Catholic Schools in the Republic of Ireland
The Catholic Schools Partnership has published a position paper entitled ‘Catholic Schools in the Republic of Ireland’ as part of an ongoing consultation process on the future of Catholic schools in the Republic of Ireland. Click on the link below to download the position paper.
Policy for the Religious Education of Catholic Children Not Attending Catholic Schools
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RESOURCES FOR LENT
Lent
When
Begins Ash Wednesday, ends on Holy Thursday (although we usually keep our promises until East Sunday!)
Theme
A time of renewal, repentance, turning back to God. Focus on preparation through fasting, prayer and almsgiving.
Symbol
Desert, Lenten Promises
Liturgical Colour: Purple
The Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin has produced a resource for use during Lent & Easter in all Primary Schools. A hard copy has been sent to all our schools in Ossory and it can also be downloaded from the following link
http://www.kandle.ie/2011/03/02/lenten-easter-resources-schools-2011/
Other resources…..
Alive – O during Lent
Trocaire for Primary Schools
http://www.trocaire.org/resources/primary-resources
From the website of CAFOD
(Catholic agency for overseas development, diocese of England & Wales)
From the website of EWTN
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The Primary School resources created in connection with the 50th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) are now online. To access the material follow the directions below:
1. Go to the IEC website at www.iec2012.ie.
2. Click on ‘Pastoral Resources’ on the horizontal menu at the top of the page.
3. Click on ‘School Resources’ on the vertical menu at the left-hand side of the page.
4. Use the resources and make them known.