Catholic Life
Our pupils take pride in their faith and live out the Church’s teachings through their words and actions. This includes welcoming, including and celebrating pupils who have different beliefs. They have an acute understanding of what’s right and wrong. They achieve happiness through self-respect and respect for others. They embrace and understand their own community and are always curious and interested in the wider community and how they can contribute to a better world for all.
Throughout the year they direct and contribute to our learning environment, acts of worship, charitable activities, fundraising, and celebrations all of which develop the Catholic character of our school and prepare them for their lives beyond the school gates.
Our school has strong links with Holy Cross Parish; together we are at the heart of a close-knit and thriving parish life. Our Parish Priest, Fr Richard Hardstaff, plays an active part in daily school life and worship. Throughout the academic year, individual classes prepare and celebrate liturgies, which parents are invited to share in and the whole school worships together in the Church or the school hall.
Mrs Maria Williams (our Chair of Governors), a catechist at the Parish, helps Catholic pupils prepare for their First Holy Communion. This preparation includes receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation (First Confession), and several visits to the church to learn more about the Mass and our belief in the Eucharist. There is also an important role for parents in this preparation, which complements what the children are learning through the Year 3 RE curriculum.
A number of our children attend the popular Children’s Liturgy sessions at Mass each Sunday, which are also open to pre-school children, and from Year 3 upwards, both boys and girls are invited to learn how to serve Mass.
