Partial Re-opening 1st June 2020
Dear Parents,
Please see the links below with detailed information regarding the partial re-opening of our school and a WELCOME BACK! powerpoint to share with your children.
Welcome Back pdf
With thanks
Liz Heymoz
Wednesday Word – 7th Sunday of Easter (A)
This week, Sofia has prepared a beautiful powerpoint to take you through this Sunday’s Gospel. Click here to open it.
Spirituality Week: Friday 22nd May 2020
Spirituality Week 2020
Theme: The God who speaks
Friday 22nd May
The God who speaks through prayer
“Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with him, as to the dearest and most loving of friends.”
St Alphonsus
As we reach the end of our spirituality week, I would like to thank our year 6 House captains and Liturgy group for helping to make our week so special. To listen to your voices as you read from scripture made it so meaningful and I found myself listening to the prayer stations several times over! Thank you so much for your time and creativity.
Mrs Joyce
Today’s focus is to think about prayer and especially prayer through Adoration. So we invite you at 11’o clock to log onto the live streaming at Our Lady and St Vincent’s Church and join Fr Shaun and Deacon Axcel for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
Please remember to say the special Novena prayer that started yesterday, praying it each day until the feast of Pentecost. You will find it below.
NOVENA PRAYER
Mary, our Mother, you stayed with the disciples
in those ten long days between the Ascension and Pentecost,
still patient, still pondering, still trusting in your Son.
Be with us now as we remember how Jesus was taken from your sight.
Be with us now as we remember his call to share our faith.
Be with us now as we await his Holy Spirit.
Pray with us now, ‘Come Holy Spirit’, Thy Kingdom come’.
Amen
A Spiritual Moment
On Tuesday, Mrs Heymoz, Mrs Joyce and I had a spiritual moment. Deacon Axcel came to school to help assist in preparing the children with the bidding prayers for the Ascension Day Mass. He came with a beautiful gift for our school community: an icon of the saint St. Raphael which he painted himself. The name St Raphael means ‘God Heals’ and he is the patron saint of travellers, the blind, happy meetings, nurses, physicians, medical workers, matchmakers, Christian marriage, and Catholic studies. We thank Deacon Axcel for this wonderful gift which he has placed on our school altar.
We belong to a wonderful parish community!
Mrs McNamara
REFLECTION ON MY DAY
How am I feeling at the end of today?
What have I most enjoyed today?
What am I thankful for today?
When was I most peaceful today?
What are my hopes for tomorrow?
Spirituality Week : Thursday 21st May
Spirituality Week 2020
Theme: The God who speaks
Thursday 21st May
The Feast of the Ascension
Today is a special feast day in our church; The feast of the Ascension. Forty days after the Resurrection of Jesus when we remember when Jesus returned to his Father in heaven.
Please join us at 10 a.m. for live streaming of Mass at Our Lady and St Vincent church.
Activities
Read the story below from the Acts of the Apostles
Jesus is taken up to heaven
The apostles were all together. They asked Jesus, “Lord, are you at this time going to give the kingdom back to Israel?”
Jesus said to them, “The Father is the only One who has the authority to decide dates and times. These things are now for you to know. But the Holy Spirit will come to you. Then you will receive power. You will be my witnesses – in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”
After he said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up. A cloud hid him from their sight. As he was going, they were looking into the sky. Suddenly, two men wearing white clothes stood beside them. They said “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? You saw Jesus taken away from you into heaven. He will come back in the same way you saw him go.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Read by Samuel, one of our Liturgy Leaders
Activity
Many famous Artists have painted their interpretation of this story including Giotto regarded as the most important Italian painter of the 14th century. Look at his painting below called ‘The Ascension of Christ’ and think about what you notice in his painting and which part is the most striking to you?
Giotto, the Ascension of Christ, 1304-06. Fresco from the Scrovegni (Arena) Chapel, Padua, Italy. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giotto_-_Scrovegni_-_-38-_-_Ascension.jpg
Imagine you are a famous artist and have been asked to create a painting about the Ascension.
What would you paint?
What colours would you use?
Who would feature in your painting?
We look forward to seeing your creations.
REFLECTION ON MY DAY
How am I feeling at the end of today?
What have I most enjoyed today?
What am I thankful for today?
When was I most peaceful today?
What are my hopes for tomorrow?
Thy Kingdom Come Resources – Novena Prayer from Ascension to Pentecost
| THY KINGDOM COME – CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
NOVENA of PRAYER from ASCENSION to PENTECOST 21st – 31st May 2020 NOVENA PRAYER Mary, our Mother, you stayed with the disciples in those ten long days between the Ascension and Pentecost, still patient, still pondering, still trusting in your Son. Be with us now as we remember how Jesus was taken from your sight. Be with us now as we remember his call to share our faith. Be with us now as we await his Holy Spirit. Pray with us now, ‘Come Holy Spirit’, Thy Kingdom come’. Amen
Please pray this prayer every day from 21 – 31 May.
Your parent can download a fun prayer map OR app at https://www.thykingdomcome.global/resources/digital-family-prayer-adventure-map Below there is a thought and a prayer for each day Thursday 21st (Ascension Day) Theme: The call to share our faith. Who was Jesus? Pray for all your family and friends by name. Ask Jesus to help them know him better.
Friday 22nd Theme: For all who have lost sight of God, that they would see his love revealed in their lives Pray Lord Jesus I love you and I praise you. Help me to love as you love. May my love help to show others what you are like today. I pray especially for those who are worried and sad.
Saturday 23rd Theme: Trust. For those who feel isolated and alone. Pray Lord Jesus, I thank you and I place all my trust in you. Help us all to remember your promise that you are with us always.
Sunday 24th Theme: Forgiveness. That those in need of it will know the joy of God’s Mercy Pray Father I am sorry for the times I have offended you. Help me to be a better person.
Monday 25th Theme: Openness. That the hearts of those we know and love might be more open to Christ who waits to be invited in. Pray Lord, help me, and all who long to know you more, to open our hearts wide and welcome you in.
Tuesday 26th Theme: Curiosity. For all those who are beginning to show an interest in matters of faith, that their curiosity will grow into a desire for the living God. Pray Lord, help me never to be afraid to ask for what you will for me.
Wednesday 27th Theme: Seeking; that those who seek God may find their heart’s desire. Pray Lord, help me never to become distracted from my search for you.
Thursday 28th Theme: Encounter; for us all to encounter the person of Jesus Christ and experience life lived to the full. Pray Lord Jesus, I adore you. I give thanks for every opportunity to meet you each day.
Friday 29th Theme: Freedom; that those held down by past experiences, hurt or pain may know the freedom that Christ brings when we follow him. Pray Father, today we celebrate the freedom we received through the gift of Christ your Son. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me and to look for the good things about others.
Saturday 30th Theme: Faith; that we may all grown in faith, that we may all be filled with the hope of what is to come. Pray Lord, you give me so many wonderful things. Help me, and all who seek to grow in faith, to hear more clearly your word of hope.
Sunday 24th Theme: Thy Kingdom Come; for the whole Church to be filled with the Holy Spirit as by a new Pentecost. Pray Lord, at Pentecost we celebrate the gift of your Holy Spirit. We pray that the whole Church will be filled with the fire of your love. Come Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
PENTECOST SUNDAY (There will be no separate liturgy mailing)
Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. The first Christians received the Holy Spirit and then went out with lots of courage to tell all the people about Jesus.
Go to https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Children-s-liturgy Click on the word ‘pentecost’ You will find some activities, a video to watch about El Salvador and a colouring sheet. There is a second colouring sheet at
http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/descent-of-the-holy-spirit-at-pentecost
The next Children’s Liturgy mailing will be in the first week of June. Please post in your colouring to decorate the church.
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Spirituality Week: Wednesday 20th May
Spirituality Week 2020
Theme: The God who speaks
Wednesday 20th May
The God who speaks through Scripture
Reading biblical stories about Jesus’ power to heal can hearten and encourage us. Reading these stories can offer hope. Here are two stories from the bible which show Jesus’ healing power which shows us that Jesus has compassion for the sick.
Reception, Year 1 and 2
Jesus Heals the Ten Lepers
Luke 17: 12- 16
“As he was going into a village, ten men with leprosy came toward him. They stood at a distance and shouted, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ On their way, they were healed. When one of them discovered he was healed, he came back, shouting praises to God. He bowed down at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.”
Read by Sofia, one of our Liturgy Leaders
Activity: Make a thank you card today for some in your family who helps you. Give the card to them or post it to them if you have not been able to see them from a while.
Years 3, 4, 5 and 6
Touching his Cloak
Matthew 9:20 -22
“A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and barely touched his clothes. She had said to herself, ‘If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well.’ Jesus turned. He saw the woman and said, ‘Don’t worry! You are now well because of your faith.’ At that moment, she was healed.”
Read by Louise, one of our Liturgy Leaders
Activity:
Make the sign of the cross and say our Mission prayer. Read the story from Matthew above.
Draw a large cloak like the one Jesus was wearing and inside it write the following prayer or create your own.
Father,
I pray that my faith in you grows.
I feel you with me.
Give me the courage to ask for your help,
the way the sick woman did.
In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.
REFLECTION ON MY DAY
How am I feeling at the end of today?
What have I most enjoyed today?
What am I thankful for today?
When was I most peaceful today?
What are my hopes for tomorrow?
Spirituality Week: Tuesday 19th May 2020
Spirituality Week 2020
Theme: The God who speaks
Tuesday 19th May
The God who speaks at Prayer Stations
Prayer Stations are – literally – stations! They are places where people can stop and reflect. Usually, there is something to prompt reflection and, quite often, something for people to do. They are particularly useful for people who are very sensory – who find that God speaks to them through what they see, hear, touch , smell or taste. They can be used as part of a focal point – at the back of church or in a school entrance or in people’s homes.
Read by Elysia, one of our Liturgy Leaders
For each station, click on the play button underneath each image to hear the House Captains leading you in prayer.
Station 1: Mikey Station 2: Evie Station 3: Jude Station 4: Owen
Station 5: Giovanna Station 6: Jonathan Station 7: Jack Station 8: Maria
| Station 1
The God Who Speaks Through The Cross
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| Station 2
The God Who Speaks Through the Ordinary
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| Station 3
The God Who Helps Us
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| Station 4
God’s Gift
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| Station 5
Hand Prayers |
| Station 6
Blessing Prayer
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| Station 7
Prayer for the World
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Station 8
The God Who Takes Away Our Worries
REFLECTION ON MY DAY
How am I feeling at the end of today?
What have I most enjoyed today?
What am I thankful for today?
When was I most peaceful today?
What are my hopes for tomorrow?
Spirituality Week: Monday, 18th May
Spirituality Week 2020
Theme: The God who speaks
Monday, 18th May |
The God who speaks through Creation |
Tuesday, 19th May |
The God who speaks at prayer stations |
Wednesday, 20th May |
The God who speaks through scripture |
Thursday, 21st May |
The feast of the Ascension |
Friday, 22nd May |
The God who speaks through prayer |
Monday 18th May
The God who speaks through Creation..
Today is the start of our annual Spirituality week and the theme for this year is “The God who speaks.”
To begin our special week we are going to think and remember each other and look forward to when we can all see each other again in school.
We pray for each other today and remind ourselves that God loves us all and we are his unique creation.
God speaking through creation or the natural world means that when we look up at the stars or gaze at the bluebells, we see the fingerprints of God. The more we fix our eyes on the wonder of creation, the more we must conclude that these things could not make themselves.
Read by Liam, one of our Liturgy Leaders
Class Teachers to lead:
Remember your class friends today
“God loves you very much and you are his unique creation. Listen as you hear the names of all your class read out”.
……………………………………
Reception
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Activity One
Draw a large bubble on a piece of paper with the words “God Loves you” Then, write the names of everyone in your class inside hearts around the bubble.
Activity Two
Look at the power points of God’s Creation and God’s creation in Potters Bar.
Read the poem.
Poem read by Oliwia, one of our Liturgy Leaders
God who made the earth
By Sarah Bett Rhodes
God who made the earth,
The air, the sky, the sea
Who gave the light its birth,
Careth for me.
God who made the grass.
The flower, the fruit, the tree,
The day and night to pass.
Careth for me.
God who made the sun,
The moon, the star, is he
Who, when life’s clouds come on,
Careth for me.
Write a prayer entitled ‘God is Glorious’. Here is an example to help you.
God is glorious in the falling of the green oak leaf.
God is Glorious in the rainbow in the evening sky.
God is glorious in the blackbird singing in the spring air.
REFLECTION ON MY DAY
How am I feeling at the end of today?
What have I most enjoyed today?
What am I thankful for today?
When was I most peaceful today?
What are my hopes for tomorrow?
Wednesday Word – 6th Sunday of Easter (A)
Each week, a Year 6 Liturgy Leader will be guiding you through the Wednesday Word. Take the time to follow it as a family and reflect on each Sunday’s Gospel reading.
This week, Elysia has prepared a beautiful powerpoint to take you through yesterday’s Gospel. Click here to open it.
May Procession 2020
Today we honour Our Lady with our special May procession.
Bring flowers of the rarest, bring flowers of the fairest
From garden and woodland and hillside and vale;
Our full hearts are swelling, our glad voices telling
The praise of the loveliest flower of the vale.
O Mary, we crown you with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May.
