Prayer is communication.
It can be spoken or silent. It can be a song or a story. It can be a picture or a dance.

Prayer can be done as often as you like.
Every week. Every day. Every hour.

Prayer can be done however you want.
There’s no right or wrong way to pray.

Prayer can be shared, but doesn’t have to be.
It can be done alone or with a favourite toy. It can be done with friends, family or pets.

Prayer can be done anywhere.
It can be done in your room or at the kitchen table. It can be done out in the playground, at the park or even at the zoo.

Prayer can be done in any mood.
You can be happy, sad, angry, scared or confused when you pray.

Prayer can be for yourself or someone else.
If you know someone who could use a little help — add them to your prayers.

Prayer doesn’t need a certain structure, length or specific words.
Whatever words you use, long or short, however your prayer comes out is fine.

Prayer doesn’t need a special occasion.
There are certain prayers appropriate to special occasions but you don’t need to wait for a special time to pray.

Prayer doesn’t have to be a request.
It can also be used to give thanks for what you have already received. “Thank you,” is a perfect prayer.

If you would like a copy of our school Prayer Book please click on the link below:

Prayer Book

Prayer is at the core of our Faith and to that end we have created some videos to help us encourage our school family to make this connection with God on a regular basis.  Fr. Rob shares with us what prayer is.  Our Headteacher, Mrs McNeill tells us why prayer is important for the children of St. Joseph's and Mrs. Biggs tells us how we can encourage our children to say prayers at home.

On Friday 29th November, Churches Together came to school and got us ready for the start of Advent. They reminded us that God's present to us was His son, Jesus. Churches Together also taught us a song about how Jesus was a refugee and didn't have a home when He was born. At this time of Advent, leading to Christmas, we are especially mindful of people who have little to nothing. Thank you for all donations so far to the Trussel Trust! 

On Wednesday 27^th November, Year 3 and 4 gathered for the Celebration of the Word for Advent.  The children prayed with reverence and helped us to reflect on the peace of Advent.  Thank you to the parents who attended and helped us with our reflection.  The message that we went forth with was to try and spread peace wherever we go - through a smile, a prayer or through a good deed.

On Tuesday the 5^th of November, Fr Rob came and celebrated Mass as a welcome to all new families joining our school this year.  He reminded us that we should try our best to go to Mass.  It was great to see so many parents there as well as parishioners.  Each Early Year child went home with a blessed key ring, guardian angel prayer card and prayer book.

This week, we had Fr Rob into to chat all of the children.  The children got to know him a little better and as per usual they were brilliantly behaved.  He discussed the following with them:

EY - who he is, why he wears what he wears,

Year 1 as above with all saying the Our Father together and a brief outline what the prayer means

Year 2 – Who he is, why/ how we bless ourselves, why we talk to God, different types of prayer.

Year 3 – what the Eucharist is and how we should receive it.  Why Catholics are unique in their faith.

Year 4 – How we can become closer to God.  What is Fr Rob’s favourite Bible story and why.

Year 5 – Saints and Relics.  What are they?  What they look like. What they mean.  Does he have any that he can show the children?  Who is his favourite saint and why? What are saints?

Year 6 – what a follower of God means.  How can we grow in our faith?  What can they do if they have doubts about their faith? How it relates to CST(Catholic Social Teaching). 

As you can see he covered a lot!  He also got to spend some time with the RE Champions to talk about their new role.  Thank you Fr. Rob for giving the children a blessing and for giving up your time to talk to all pupils about our faith.

We gathered to celebrate those in our St. Joseph's family who made their First Holy Communion. They all came dressed in their special outfits and they looked amazing! The children sang beautifully and prayed reverently as we reflected on how they have strengthened their relationship with God. Well done to those who made their Holy Communion and to those who helped them to prepare for their big day. As a memento the children made a prayer station to bring home and a blessed ( thank you Fr. Rob) St. Joseph's key ring.

Sister Cooey and Sister Lucy, Dominican Sisters, from An Apostolate of the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph. As Dominican Sisters, visited us again.  This time they addressed the staff about God's existance in our own lives.  They shared their own stories and how God is present in their lives and engaged in thought provoking talks to enable us to examine the presence of God in our own lives.  The staff appreciated their visit and the time given to reflect.

During half term we begin the liturgical season of Lent, with Ash Wednesday. On Wednesday of this week, Fr Rob came to school to show us how the ashes for Ash Wednesday are made. We burned the palm crosses from last year and Fr Rob blessed them.  Year 3 children thought about what they might do for Lent. They were fabulously behaved showing respect and reverence.  During Lent, as Catholics, we renew our commitment to living the holy life that Jesus asks of us.

As a school family, we gathered together to remember the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in serving our country in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping missions, as well as their families.  Our RE Champions and staff led the prayers and the children created poppies as a symbol or remembrance.  These poppies, along with poems written by the children are available to see in our reception area.

Children in Year 3 took part in a procession for the Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This  procession was  led by Father Anthony and Father Paul and was around the school's neighbouring streets in order to share this Catholic tradition with our neighbours.  The children enjoyed this experience.

During the month of May, we remember Our Lady and the special sacrifice that she made for us. To commemorate and celebrate this, our Year 3 children went on a Marian Procession so that our local residents would remember why this month is very important to Our Lady, as we remember her and the gift of the Rosary.  The children enjoyed this procession as one of our rich Catholic traditions as they offered up their intentions by saying a decade of the Rosary.

The children in there different Phase Groups have gathered together to worship.  These liturgies are special because they are an opportunity for the children and staff to welcome our family to participate in our collective worship.  Each worship began with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  Thank you to Father Anthony for leading us in our worship. The children sang hymns, shared prayers and enabled all in the room to reflect on this period of Lent and what it means for our lives.  Thank you to all who could join us and for supporting our two charities - CAFOD and The Kite Family Hub Team.

Thank you message below

'I would like to say a huge THANK YOU from the Kite Family Hub Team, part of The Kite Academy Trust, for the Easter Eggs you very kindly donated to us.

As a team of family support workers, we work with many vulnerable families who across our 10 schools and these eggs will provide a much needed ray of sunshine into these families lives.

Thank you once again and Happy Easter

Best wishes

Ruth'  

On our final day, before Christmas, we gathered together as a school family to hear the Christmas Story.  This was done using scripture, prayers and liturgical dance performed by dance club.  Perhaps a moment of reflection was when our older children shephered our youngest children to the crib and sharing this story with them.  

On Thursday the 29th November, the Year 5 and 6 children walked to our Parish Church to celebrate Mass.  Mass was said in Latin, with Fr. Anthony repeating it in English.  The children and staff and parents that accompanied them to St. Joseph's, Aldershot, enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate Mass in this way.  The RE Champions read the readings and said the bidding prayers with others taking the offertory and being altar servers.  Attending Mass, gave everyone the time to reflect on this period of Advent and what it means in our lives today, helping us to get ready for the Coming of Jesus.

We had a very special visit from Fr Anthony this week as he joined us in the Well to talk to Year 6 about one of our rich Catholic traditions - relics. He spoke about why we have them and how we ask these saints to intercede on our behalf to God. 

This tied in with our catholicity of praying with relics that happened in our mother church - St John's Cathedral, Portsmouth. 

Some of the relics the children looked at were:      

                                                        St. Cordelia 

                                                        St. Fortunata

                                                        St. Cecilia

In preparation for the transition from Year 2 to Year 3, our feeder school, All Hallows led a liturgy based on facing new challenges and how these new  beginnings can be difficult to embrace but it can be the start of some great opportunities and adventures. Lauren, Charlie and Grace offered up bidding prayers asking God to help the children to be courageous as they move from the Infants to the Juniors. Anna and Jessica were brilliant at helping out too! They did a great job planning and carrying out the liturgy and our children really appreciated their efforts and kind considerations. 

It was hot. It was a mess! However, to the rescue came children from our feeder school, All Hallows. They cleaned the wood and painted everything in sight. They were a tremendous help and on hand was our Director, Mrs McLaren! Good job people!

Some pupils from Year 5 were lucky to go and view a Bible exhibition in Aldershot.  It was based on the first five books of the Bible and the children got to learn quite a lot about the Jewish faith.  They enjoyed their time learning about another faith that is so closely related to our faith.

St Joseph’s is privileged to have a spiritual room set apart for class liturgies, prayer and reflection.  At the heart of “The Well” is the tabernacle where Jesus is truly present at the heart of our school in the Blessed Sacrament – the Eucharist – made present for us at every Mass. Within ‘The Well’ we build upon the spiritual life of the school and are conscious of the spiritual needs of both staff and pupils and endeavour to make Christ present for everyone.  “The Well” as a sacred space is used by children from our Crèche, Pre-school and all year groups.  Once a month, staff have a short Reflection and Prayer Service which enables them to build upon their own prayer life, often in the context of Eucharistic Adoration. All children in the school experience Eucharistic Adoration within their Advent and Lent Liturgies and at other times. Holy Mass is celebrated several times during the school year and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is made available during Advent and Lent for children in Year 4 and above.

The atmosphere within ‘The Well’ is of a sacred space, often with sacred music playing softly and it is in this atmosphere that the children come to learn about our Catholic faith, the Liturgical Year of the Church, God’s Word and the people of God.  They listen to stories about Jesus’ life, His ministry and His teachings, they explore and discuss stories about His miracles, and of the greatest commandment he left us with, ‘Love one another as I have loved you’.