The Religious Life of the School, Prep - Year 6, is focused on the second dimension of Religious Education, commonly referred to as “teaching people to be religious in a particular way" (Moran, 1991). The Religious Life of the School Prep - Year 6 provides a lens through which a school may audit and further develop its religious life.
Structure of the Religious Life of the School Prep - Year 6
The Religious Life of the School Prep – Year 6 comprises four interrelated components: Religious Identity and Culture; Evangelisation and Faith Formation; Prayer and Worship; and Social Action and Justice. Each of these components, while mutually reinforcing, provides a significant focus on a distinctive aspect of the religious life of the school. Each component is further sub-divided into three elements. Please click on the links below to find out more information about these components.
Whole School Celebrations
Whole School Masses, Liturgies and Services are celebrated throughout the year. The APRE coordinates these celebrations and each class has a role to play throughout the year. All celebrations are open to the whole School and Parish community.
Masses celebrated include:
- Opening School Mass
- Easter Resurrection Mass
- Pentecost Mass
- Catholic Education Week
- Guardian Angels' Day
- Our Lady of Mercy
(Feast Day – either celebrated as Mass or Liturgy) - St Francis of Assisi
(Feast Day – either celebrated as Mass or Liturgy); and - End of Year Mass.
| Liturgies celebrated include:- Year 6 Leadership Commissioning
- Ash Wednesday
- Harmony Day
- Holy Week – Passion Play
- National Sorry Day
- NAIDOC Week
- Grandparents Day
- Year 6 Graduation.
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Services celebrated include:
- Anzac Day Service
- Social Justice Initiatives
- Remembrance Day.
Other important events celebrated at assemblies:
Class Prayer
Prayer is celebrated daily in each classroom. During prayer the students engage in and lead various age appropriate formal and informal prayer and meditative prayer experiences. A prayer space is set up in each learning area across the school. The prayer spaces reflect the liturgical season and links to the curriculum content where possible. For example, when the students are learning about Mary, symbols such as Rosary beads, Marian books and prayers are displayed.
Sacramental Program
The school supports the Parish Sacramental Program. The APRE and school staff, work with the Parish to support our students through this special program.
Church & Classroom Visits with Father Thomas
Each class visits the Church at least once per term. This may be for a tour of the Church, Q&A session with Father Thomas, Class Mass, Confession, or daily prayer time. Further to this, Father Thomas visits the classrooms to support the student's learning of the RE Curriculum. The students can ask questions and make connections with our Parish Priest, who is a valuable member of our school community.
Year level Parish Led Masses
Year levels combine to lead one weekend Parish Mass each year. Students lead the readings, songs, offertory procession, prayers of the faithful and thanksgiving for these Masses. This is a lovely opportunity to further strengthen our Parish and School community connection.
Social Justice Initiatives
At Guardian Angels' we are committed to following the example of Jesus and living out the good news that Jesus proclaimed. We do this in our day to day lives and by being committed to social justice. We promote a vision of a just society that is grounded in the Bible and in the wisdom of Catherine McAuley and St Francis of Assisi. As a school community we live out social justice in practical ways supporting:
- Caritas
- St Vincent de Paul
- Catholic Mission
- Archdiocese Fund - Catholic Campaign
- Local organisation
Applying social action and justice requires two important dispositions:
At Guardian Angels' we work to build these dispositions in our students through programs for service learning, social justice programs and outreach experiences.
Staff Formation & Prayer
Staff prayer is at 8:00am on Wednesday mornings. Staff prepare a prayer experience with their teaching team once each term. This prayer might reflect the weekly Gospel reading, the work being covered in class, a special liturgical event or meditation. Staff create a prayer space using symbols that link to the theme of the prayer.
© Brisbane Catholic Education, Guardian Angels' School (2023)