Prayer and Liturgy

“Collective worship is outstanding. Pupils embrace the wide variety of opportunities for prayer and collective worship. Positive relationships with local clergy enable Mass to be celebrated regularly throughout the year. The lay chaplain and school leaders collaborate to provide opportunities for a well-planned range of timetabled and voluntary opportunities for pupils in appropriate settings. Pupils are encouraged to learn how to plan and to lead prayer and worship in a variety of imaginative ways. Pupils speak authoritatively and enthusiastically about celebrating their faith.”

Denominational Inspection Report, 2018

Masses / Services / Liturgies / Sacrament of Reconciliation

Students and staff have the opportunity throughout the year to take part in the celebration of mass on Holy Days of Obligation, our School Feast Day (Holy Cross Day) in September, year group or tutor group masses and other key times in the year as well. Services and liturgies are a prominent feature of our school life too, with special focuses on key times in the year – Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.

We are so thankful for the priests that support us by coming into school to celebrate masses and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

“The chaplain and school leaders have a thorough understanding of the Church’s liturgical calendar and of how a Catholic school community can celebrate significant school events as eucharistic celebrations or opportunities for prayer and worship open to all irrespective of faith or belief.” – Denominational Inspection Report, 2018

Assemblies

“There is a genuine enthusiasm for collective worship, reflected in the quality of communal singing, in the quality of prayerful silence and the depth of reverent participation in communal prayer.” Denominational Inspection Report, 2018

Our programme of assemblies aims to be creative, engaging, informative and enriching, presenting faith in a beautiful, life-giving way. Weekly whole school assemblies are held and students participate in year group, house and singing assemblies too. Many assemblies have input from students and are student -led. These form an important part of our collective worship.

Tutor Prayers

Every day we welcome God into our lives with prayer, and tutor group prayer times are an important part of this. These are encouraged to be student-led, with the guidance of the tutor. Resources are provided by our School Chaplain at the beginning of each year and at key times throughout the academic year. All tutor groups have a prayer resource booklet, a booklet of traditional Catholic prayers and the prayers in the Redemptorist homework planner.

“The lay chaplain is at the heart of a network that support prayer, worship and spirituality throughout the school community. She works closely with staff from a range of departments and with pupils to promote a wide range of opportunities of varying character and tradition for prayer, worship and reflection and to provide resources that support staff and pupil prayer.” Denominational Inspection Report, 2018

Seasonal Prayers

We highlight the Liturgical Year of the Catholic Church throughout the year and the different seasons of Lent, Advent and Eastertide are focused on in particular ways, through assemblies, special tutor prayer resources, celebration whole school assemblies at the end of each term and lunch and break time activities also. We also mark Remembrance Day with a special assembly and have opportunities for all staff and students to pray for loved ones who have passed away during the month of November.

“Members of Holy Cross School are part of a prayerful worshipping community that manifestly contributes to their spiritual and moral development irrespective of ability or faith background. Their respect for the faith and belief of others is reflected in the manner in which they prepare and participate in prayer and liturgy.” Denominational Inspection Report, 2018

Feast Day

“O Crux Ave Spes Unica” (Hail O Cross, Our Only Hope)

HOLY CROSS DAY is a long-standing tradition at our school, taking place shortly after the feast of the Triumph of the Cross, on which we celebrate our heritage of being founded by the Holy Cross Sisters and identity as a Holy Cross School Community. Celebrations include the joyful celebration of Mass, activities in tutor groups and houses and a focus on the theme of the year (a new theme is chosen and a badge competition launched every year). This year’s theme was “Solidarity” focusing on one of the Catholic Social Teaching Principles, and the badge is below:

Holy Cross Badge Competition and Theme 2023-2024

Designed by Mariana, in Year 10:  

I chose to design my badge in this way because one of the key values we are taught in school is to stand in solidarity with each other. This is why I have drawn five girls in Holy Cross uniform to represent how we as Holy Cross girls must stand together and how solidarity plays into our ethos and the Catholic Social Teaching. I also chose to draw a banner with the earth on it to symbolise how if we all stand in solidarity together, any trials or tribulations that get in our way will not stop us from doing what is right. This small action will spread and soon, we would all stand in solidarity. The circle that the badge is contained in, represents the everlasting peace and solidarity that  we must have in order for everyone to feel happy and safe in their place in the world.