Welcome to Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Barnstaple

Catholic Life

Religious Education

At Our Lady's R.E is one of the core subjects and as such it has a prominence on the school timetable. Along with other CAST schools we use the God Matters Curriculum.

As well as formal R.E lessons the children also have unlimited interactions with God. We have daily prayer times as well as Acts of Worship four times a week.

Throughout the year we celebrate Mass at St Mary's Church, with the children playing active roles in the celebrations. Parents and friends are always welcome to these.

A recent development in the Catholic Life of the school is the 'Experience Church' events held at St Mary's Church. These workshops are run by members of the CWL as take place during key times in the liturgical calendar. These are a great opportunity for the children and church community to come together and our a firm favourite of the children.

Mrs Caroline Cohen is the lead for R.E in the school and works closely with advisers and colleagues from CAST to ensure we are always striving to enhance to Catholic Life of the school. If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Catholic Life of the school please contact either Mr Meech or Mrs Cohen on the main school number.

Following the news that public worship has been suspended, our diocesan Education Service has pulled together some resources to encourage our children and their families to pray at home. This list may be growing over the coming days but we are starting with how to engage with the Mass including links to live streams. Accordingly, please see copies of the letters sent out by our bishops secretary with details of how to access daily live streams of Holy Mass. Our cathedral will also be live streaming Mass at 11am every day.

We would also encourage all staff and families to join in with the Churches Together initiative by lighting a candle in a window of their homes and offering a prayer at 7pm this Mothering Sunday. You are all very much in our thoughts and prayers as we continue to show love and support to each other, especially the vulnerable, during the days and months ahead. May God bless you all and keep you safe.

Canon Mark, Sarah Barreto, Helen Brown, Jeremy Skelton, Jackie Staines

At this time when so many children (and adults) are feeling unsettled making a point of asking for support from one of the many ways in which God directly watches over us and looks after us may help allay some fears:

sdc.me.uk – worksheets and prayer/liturgy resources which can be printed onto A4 paper and can easily be used at home with children without a need for huge amounts of pre-knowledge or information.

Suggestion to look at St Patrick’s Breastplate it gives an excellent summary, through a simple prayer, of how many of us would want a conversation with Our Lord to go;

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ beside me,

Christ be in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right hand,

Christ on my left hand,

Christ with me when I lie down,

Christ with me when I sit down,

Christ with me when I arise,