Religion in School

RACIAL JUSTICE  - This statement has been issued by the Bishops’ Conference.

Bishops stand in solidarity with US sisters and brothers as they challenge the evil of racism and the brutal killing of George Floyd.

“We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the USA as they challenge the evil of racism and the brutal killing of George Floyd. As the US Bishops made clear: “we cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice.”

“Systemic racism is embedded in our own society. The disproportionate harm suffered by BAME people throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted profound inequalities, marginalisation and injustice here in the UK. The peaceful Black Lives Matter protests taking place in our towns and cities this week reflect the understandable anger that so many people feel about this.

“As Catholics we recognise that racism is an evil which must be opposed; we all have a responsibility for actively promoting racial justice. Whenever we ignore racism or dismiss BAME people’s experience of it, we are complicit in violations of human dignity. We pray for God’s help to overcome racism in all its forms and that we might protect everyone who suffers its consequences. We are all made in God’s image.”

Bishop Declan Lang
Lead Bishop for International Affairs

Bishop Paul McAleenan
Lead Bishop for Racial Justice

Pope Francis’s prayer to Our Lady during coronavirus pandemic

O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus' pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

In the report from the Bishops’ Conference on the Coronavirus, a three stage response is recommended. At present, we are in the first stage, but the news continues to report more cases every day. Clergy and laity across this Diocese have asked for further precautionary measures to be taken. For this reason many priests have already implemented those contained in the second stage of the report, and some vicariates have voted to do so. Bishop Alan supports them in this.

The principle measures are:

·      The exchange of the sign of peace at Mass is suspended.

·      Giving the Precious Blood to the people at Mass is suspended.

·      Holy water is to be removed from the stoups.

·      Holy Communion is given in the hand only.

·      Clergy and extraordinary ministers should wash or sanitise their hands before and after distributing Communion.

Please keep in your prayers those who are sick and those who have died, as we continue to pray for a swift conclusion to this.

The Year of the Word 2020

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales have designated 2020 as The God who Speaks: A Year of the Word to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Verbum Domini - Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation on ‘The Word of the Lord’. This also commemorates the 1600th anniversary of death of St Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin.

The Year of the Word is a time where we are invited to celebrate, live and share God's word. 

Dear Families,

The Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Office have purchased the rights to a Jesse Tree Advent Devotional digi-book and ornaments, available for download as a gift to all primary school families across the Diocese of Brentwood this Advent.

Many of your homes will be filled with traditions as you make preparations for Christmas through the season of Advent. This year, the Marriage and Family Life team have purchased a fantastic resource, which we have made available FOR FREE to all families in our Diocese, in order to help with spiritual preparation.

The Jesse tree is a family Advent devotional, which helps us connect the custom of decorating Christmas trees to the events leading to Jesus’ birth. Each day through Advent, we decorate a Jesse tree with illustrated ornaments that represent the people, prophesies, and events leading up to the birth of Jesus. Each ornament tells the story of God and his relationship with the ancestors of Christ in the Old Testament, connecting the Advent season with the faithfulness of God across four thousand years of history.

This is a really lovely way to spend time with your children, and with God this Advent. The guide we have purchased is designed for families with young children, put into terms that are easy to read and discuss. There are pre-coloured or colourable ornaments available for those looking for a craft activity.

You can request a copy of the free digital book, printable tree and ornaments from anna.mccormick@dioceseofbrentwood.org

Wishing you a happy and holy Advent and Christmas.

Anna McCormick

Project Officer – Marriage and Family Life

Diocese of Brentwood

anna.mccormick@dioceseofbrentwood.org

07972438179

The 24th - 28th April is our whole school  'Other Faith Week'. Our other chosen faith is Islam.

Muslims are followers of the religion of Islam, which began in Saudi Arabia around the seventh century. they believe in one God, Allah. there are two main groups of Muslims, Shi’ah and Sunni. the Sunnis are the larger group. their beliefs are similar but they differ on the forms of leadership. what the children learn in this programme of study is a middle way, offering what is most general in Islam. the spelling used is Makkah rather than the common version Mecca to avoid confusion.

Below is an overview of topics taught in each year group.

Journey in Love 

(PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS)

Journey in Love is the Brentwood Diocese Personal Relationship programme. In order that children may grow and develop healthily and holistically toward an understanding of successful future relationships, they must be at ease with themselves and grow in self-knowledge.

The following is an outline of what each class covers:

Reception

GOD LOVES EACH OF US IN OUR UNIQUENESS

The children will know and understand that God has made them unique and that although we are all different we are all special to him.

The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.

Year 1

WE MEET GOD’S LOVE IN OUR FAMILY

The children will know and understand that they are growing and developing as members of their own family and God’s family.

The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.

Year 2

WE MEET GOD’S LOVE IN THE COMMUNITY

The children know and understand that they are growing and developing in a God-given community.

The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.

Year 3

HOW WE LIVE IN LOVE

The children know and understand the virtues essential to friendship e.g loyalty, responsibility… and experience the importance both of forgiving and being forgiven and of celebrating God’s forgiveness.

The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.

Year 4

GOD LOVES US IN OUR DIFFERENCES

The children will know and understand that they are all different and celebrate these differences as they appreciate that God’s love accepts us as we are and as we change.

The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual. In physically the children will look at the difference between a boy and a man’s body parts (Same for girl – women). They will also look at the growth of a baby from conception – 20 weeks.

Year 5

GOD LOVES ME IN MY CHANGING AND DEVELOPMENT

The children will know and become aware of the physical and emotional changes that accompany puberty – sensitively, mood swings, anger, boredom, etc. And grow further in their understanding of God’s presence in their daily lives.

The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.

The children will also discuss puberty and the many changes they will face in this stage of their development.

Year 6

THE WONDER OF GOD’S LOVE IN CREATING NEW LIFE

The children will develop, in an appropriate way for their age, an understanding of sexuality and grow further in their appreciation of their dignity and worth as children of God.

The children will explore the above learning objective through these 5 areas: Physical, Social, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual.

The children will also discuss puberty and the many changes they will face in this stage of their development.