St Joseph’s is a Roman Catholic School. Its central aim is to help children know, love and serve God and their neighbour. The whole of the curriculum content and methodology, especially the teaching and living of the Roman Catholic Faith, is designed to achieve this central aim.
School Prayers, Collective Worship and Masses
All children have a daily act of worship. These take different forms. Each week the children gather to praise God in singing, which supports our spiritual life and preparation for Mass and Prayer gatherings.
We believe that Collective Worship in our school aims to provide opportunity for all pupils and staff to:
- Contemplate something of the mystery of God
- Reflect on spiritual and moral issues
- Explore their own beliefs
- Respond to and celebrate life
- Experience a sense of belonging and develop community spirit
- Develop a common ethos and shared values
- Enrich religious experience
- Grow in liturgical understanding and development
- Reinforce prayers which are part of the Catholic tradition
- Reinforce positive attitudes
- Participate fully
- Take time out ‘to wonder at’, ‘to come to terms with’ and ‘to give worth to.’
In order to achieve the above, Collective Worship is organised as follows:
Monday – Whole School Gospel Prayers
Tuesday –Whole School Prayers based on the Virtues.
Wednesday – Class prayers.
Thursday – Collective Worship prepared and led by the children in class.
Friday – Prayers of Thanksgiving – This is led by members of the SLT. Individuals selected as pupil of the week. Children are recommended for a variety of reasons e.g. sharing with others/ achievements in sport/effort shown in all areas of the curriculum. The House cup is presented to the House with the most House Points.
Each class leads one class assembly during the year for the whole school to watch. Parents are invited to watch and be part of our weekly celebration assembly.
Non-Catholic parents will have discussed with the Principal the school’s mission and the integral nature of our prayer life, daily assemblies and Masses for the children’s spiritual development. This will assist parents when deciding whether St Joseph’s School is suitable for their children’s education. Parents will have been informed of their right to withdraw their children from all aspects of assemblies, Masses and prayers.
Any non-Catholic families who want to know more about the Catholic faith should contact our parish priest, Father Michael Ho.
Monday – Whole School Gospel Prayers
Tuesday –Whole School Prayers based on the Virtues.
Wednesday – Class prayers.
Thursday – Collective Worship prepared and led by the children in class.
Friday – Prayers of Thanksgiving – This is led by members of the SLT. Individuals selected as pupil of the week. Children are recommended for a variety of reasons e.g. sharing with others/ achievements in sport/effort shown in all areas of the curriculum. The House cup is presented to the House with the most House Points.
Each class leads one class assembly during the year for the whole school to watch. Parents are invited to watch and be part of our weekly celebration assembly.
Non-Catholic parents will have discussed with the Principal the school’s mission and the integral nature of our prayer life, daily assemblies and Masses for the children’s spiritual development. This will assist parents when deciding whether St Joseph’s School is suitable for their children’s education. Parents will have been informed of their right to withdraw their children from all aspects of assemblies, Masses and prayers.
Any non-Catholic families who want to know more about the Catholic faith should contact our parish priest, Father Michael Ho.
Children’s Mission Statement
The following Children’s Statement has been adopted by the school Academy Committee and is evident throughout the school:
To follow in Jesus’ footsteps, caring for each other when we work, play and pray
A Prayer for Saint Joseph
This prayer, which can be seen in our entrance hall, was written by the St Jospeh's House Captains .
Saint Joseph, Jesus' Father on Earth.
Help us to remember the love and grace that you showed in caring for Jesus.
Help us to be more like you and to listen to God's voice.
Saint Joseph, guide us through life and keep us safe.
Thank you for being with us as we work, play and pray.
Amen .
Who was Saint Joseph?
Also known as:
Joseph the Betrothed
Memorial:
19 March
1 May (Joseph the Worker)
Profile:
Descendant of the house of David. Layman. Carpenter. Earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Foster and adoptive father of Jesus Christ. Visionary who was visited by angels. Noted for his willingness to get up and do what God told him.
Died:
1st century, prior to the Passion, of natural causes
Patronage:
against doubt; against hesitation; Americas; Austria; diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Belgium; diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi; Bohemia; diocese of Buffalo, New York; bursars; cabinetmakers; Canada; Carinthia; carpenters; diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming; China; Church; confectioners; craftsmen; Croatian people (in 1687 by decree of the Croatian parliament); dying people; emigrants; engineers; expectant mothers; families; fathers; Florence Italy; happy death; archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut; holy death; house hunters; immigrants; interior souls; Korea; labourers; diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin; archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire; married people; Mexico; diocese of Nashville, Tennessee; New France; New World; Oblates of Saint Joseph; people in doubt; people who fight Communism; Peru; pioneers; pregnant women; protection of the Church; diocese of San Jose, California; Sicily; diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; social justice; Styria Austria; travellers; Turin Italy; Tyrol Austria; unborn children; Universal Church; Vatican II; Viet Nam; diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia; wheelwrights; workers; working people.
Representation:
bible; branch; carpenter’s square; carpenter’s tools; chalice; cross; hand tools; infant Jesus; ladder; lamb; lily; monstrance; old man holding a lily and a carpenter’s tool such as a square; old man holding the infant Jesus; plane; rod.
