Whole-School Worship

Whole-school worship is a cherished part of life at Pope Paul School, bringing our community together to celebrate, reflect, and grow in faith. Rooted in our mission to care for others, respect each individual, use our God-given talents, do our best, and build a better world, these moments of collective worship inspire our children to live out Gospel values in their daily lives.

Our weekly cycle of whole-school worship revolves around the Sunday Gospel and is structured using the liturgical format of We Gather, We Listen, We Respond, We Go Forth. Assemblies throughout the week serve as opportunities for prayer, reflection, and praise:

• Thursday: The week begins in classrooms with a focus on the Gospel introduced through the Mark 10 Mission, inviting children to consider its message and meaning.
• Friday: In our Celebration Gospel Assembly, the whole school gathers to reflect on the week’s Gospel, led by Mrs Heymoz.
• Monday: Separate Key Stage 1 (led by Year 2 Liturgy Leaders) and Key Stage 2 (led by Year 6 Liturgy Leaders) assemblies, guided by Deacon Sean, deepen children’s connection to the Sunday Gospel.
• Tuesday: Worship takes place in classrooms, where pupils lead Celebrations of the Word in small groups. Using the Wednesday Word resource, they plan and guide their peers in prayer, scripture reflection, and responses, fostering independence and liturgical understanding.
• Wednesday: The school comes together for Praying Through Song, where hymns and songs linked to the Sunday Gospel help children lift their hearts in prayer and praise while preparing for upcoming liturgies.

Class assemblies are another integral part of our worship life. Each class is given the opportunity to prepare and lead an assembly during the year, sharing a message inspired by Gospel teachings and our mission values. These assemblies foster leadership, creativity, and spiritual reflection, as children use their talents to communicate faith in meaningful ways.

At Pope Paul School, whole-school worship creates a vibrant atmosphere of faith, unity, and purpose, inspiring our children to take their prayer and mission out into the world as they seek to build a better future.