At St Mary’s Catholic High School our relationship with God can be found at the heart of everything that we do. We aim to foster within every member of our community a love of God and a desire to live the Gospel values. We journey together in our faith and we show through our kindness and caring for those around us that we hold Jesus in our hearts.
Our weekly assembly programme follow Gospel based themes and others that complement our school’s ethos and values. We aim to ensure that all pupils not only benefit from being present in the assemblies but are also active participants in their planning and delivery.
St. Mary’s Catholic High School - Weekly Themes 2018-2019
Liturgical Cycle B to C
Date |
Week No |
Church’s Year details |
School Theme |
Assembly lead (with additional possible assembly content ideas) |
Mon 3rd Sept &Tues 4th Sept Inset Day |
1 |
22nd week of year (cycle B) Feast Day 8th Sept |
Living by the rules We get instructions on how to use new equipment. God gives instructions on how to live. Jesus’ challenge is to make the ‘love one another’ rule come to life in our hearts (Mark 7:1-8) |
We have a belief in ourselves as successful learners |
Mon 10th | 2 |
23rd week of year Feast of Exultation of the cross 14th |
Open our ears & eyes The gospel story is about healing a deaf & blind person. The message is for us to reflect on whether we have our ears & eyes open to others and the wonder of creation (Mark 7:31-37) |
PSH We are reflective |
Mon 17th | 3 |
24th week of year Fri 21st Feast of St Matthew International Day of Peace 21/9 |
Who is Christ? The disciples wanted to model their life on Christ. The gospel this week sees them discovering that to be like Christ requires self-sacrificing love. As a community how can we show that same love for one another? (Mark 8:27-35) |
AFL We are able to appreciate other students and staff |
Mon 24th | 4 |
25th week of year Mon 24th Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham European Day of Languages |
No to violence The focus this week is the 2nd reading (from letter of St James). There is no place in the Christian community for violence, including violent language or attitudes. |
DBU We are able to balance feelings and wisdom |
Mon 1st OCT |
5 |
26th week of year Fri 5th Family Fast Day October is Month of the Rosary and Black History Month |
Justice for the poor Again the key idea comes from the letter of St James (James 5:1-6). There are so many people experiencing the unfairness on inequality. Fair Trade Fortnight is coming soon. |
DDE We have courage and take risks |
Mon 8th OCT |
6 |
27th week of year World Mental Health Day 10/10 |
Be like little children Young children are open & trusting. That is the model of faith presented in the Gospel reading. Can we find such faith in each other, in God? (Mark 10:13-16) |
HOY We are loyal friends |
Mon 15th | 7 |
28th week of year Thurs 18th Feast of St Luke |
The Word of God The word of God is alive & active (Hebrews 4:12-13). Translated into over 1500 languages, are we able to listen to God’s word in the modern world? |
VAR We are able to ask questions |
Mon 22nd | 29th week of year | SCHOOL HOLIDAY | ||
Mon 29th | 8 |
30th week of year Thurs 1st is Feast of All Saints, Friday 2nd All Souls |
Redemptive suffering Pain is difficult to endure, yet somehow people are able to endure suffering for the sake of others. Jesus is the prime example, however others make sacrifices for the benefit of others. (Isaiah 53:10-11) |
MIR We can persevere to overcome obstacles |
Mon 5th NOV | 9 |
31st week of year November is month of prayer for those who have died. Remembrance Sunday |
Love with all your heart The whole of the teaching of Jesus can be summed up as ‘LOVE’(Mark12:28-34). Simple, yet hard. It means going out of our way to be loving at home, kind & caring towards people we don’t always get on with. |
KGO We foster strength of character (JMA travelled to Haiti in the half term break – she could maybe be a useful person to include in this assembly to talk about/show pictures of what she achieved) |
Mon 12th | 10 |
32nd week of year Sunday was Remembrance Sunday 16th Nov – feast of St Margaret of Scotland |
Generosity The Gospel story tells of the poor person showing great generosity. It is a challenge for all of us to review our attitudes to possessions & sharing (Mark 12:41-44) |
PHA We have goals and are able to move toward them |
Mon 19th | 11 |
33rd Week of year Feast of Christ the King is 25th |
Hope We all have hopes for the future. They could be for a target fairly soon or something to long into the future. To achieve those hopes we need to act now (Mark 13:24-32). |
GTA We are optimistic |
Mon 26th | 12 |
Feast of Christ the King Weds 30th is Feast of St Andrew |
Christ the King This great feast reminds us of the Christian belief that the victory of the Cross & the resurrection of Jesus is the great hope for all people (John 18:33-37) |
EEN We can be patient when needed |
Mon 3rd DEC |
13 |
1st week of Advent Note: We start readings cycle C (8th Dec is the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception) |
Free from fear To be free. To be loved. These are what people want. Advent is a time for us to examine how ‘free’ and how ‘loving’ we are (Luke 21:25-28). |
AFL We accept that along with rights come responsibilities |
Mon 10th | 14 |
2nd week of Advent |
Prepare the way It is easier to prepare for things than to prepare ‘ourselves’ as people. The true meaning of this Advent time is to reflect in our own lives and what needs changing (Luke 3:1-6). |
HOY We are able to apologise when necessary |
Mon 16th | 15 | 3rd week of Advent |
Sharing what we have People are generous Christmas. We should give simple because it is good to do so (Luke 3:10-18). The hampers collection is an expression of that giving; |
DBU Service to the community |
Mon 24th | 4th week of Advent | SCHOOL HOLIDAY | ||
Mon 31st |
Holy Family 31st December 1st Jan is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God |
SCHOOL HOLIDAY | ||
Mon 7th Jan JAN |
16 | Feast of Epiphany (Sunday was Epiphany & 2nd week of Christmas Season) Baptism of the Lord 7th January |
A gift to the world Happy Christmas! This great feast is about the gift of Jesus being ‘shown’ to the whole world. In some parts of the world this is when people give presents to each other. (Matthew 2:1-12) |
MIR We are each a unique gift to the world |
Mon 14th | 17 | 1st week of the year |
My favour rests on you The gospel reading tells of the baptism of Jesus and the start of his public ministry. All the baptised share in carrying on that work. |
AFL We are valuable (Possibly introduce Kintbury to Year 10s?) |
Mon 21st | 18 |
2nd week of year (week of prayer for Christian unity) |
Unity As a community we are all individuals who share a fundamental equality. (ICor 12:4-11) We need each other and we become better people by recognising that truth. |
HOY Tender We have community spirit |
Mon 28th | 19 |
3rd week of year 27th January is Education Sunday Presentation of the Lord Feb 2nd |
Light of the world (Holocaust Memorial Day-27th) The Holocaust is a stark reminder of what humans can do to harm. We can be comforted & inspired by the words of Psalm 24. |
PHA We have empathy for others |
Mon 4th FEB | 20 | 4th week of year |
Christ is fully human The early Christians had long discussions about how Jesus could be BOTH God & Human. The key point is that Jesus, as a human can fully understand our feelings. (Luke 4:21-30) |
PSH We are compassionate and caring |
Mon 11th | 21 |
5th week of year International Day of Women and Girls in Science 11/2 |
Take up the challenge! Jesus was tempted and resisted for 40 days. Can we take up that challenge and resist something we really like? The prophet Joel says why! |
DDE We have integrity |
Mon 18th | 6th week of the year | SCHOOL HOLIDAY | ||
Mon 25th | 22 |
7th week of the year St David’s Day 1st |
Find out Gods’ will In the reading from Genesis we hear of the extraordinary faith of Abram. How can I find out what God’s will may be for me? By prayer, listening to wise advice & by being open and honest with ourselves. |
KGO We can manage our feelings |
Mon 4th MARCH | 23 |
8th week of the year Ash Wednesday 6th March World Book Day International women’s day 9th |
Repent One of the most difficult words to say is ‘sorry’. It requires a sense of humility & honesty. Lent is about finding that humility & honesty within ourselves. (Luke 13:1-9) |
HOY We are able to learn from and move on from our mistakes |
Mon 11th | 24 | 1st week of Lent |
Reconciliation The ‘joy’ of lent is found in the story of the ‘forgiving father’. (Luke 15:1-3; 11-32) Don’t focus so much on the son who went away, but the father who welcomed him home in love. |
AFL We are able to apologise and receive apologies with grace |
Mon 18th | 25 |
2nd week of Lent 19th March feast of St Joseph St Patrick’s Day 17th International Day of Happiness 20/3 |
Try, try, try again Jesus tells the woman to ‘Go and don’t sin any more’. (John 8:1-11) This is the message of lent; if we are truly sorry, God will forgive & we can start again. |
VAR We are aware of our own strengths and weaknesses |
Mon 25th |
26 Annunciation March 25th |
3rd week of Lent |
DBU | |
Mon 1st APRIL |
27 Term ends on 5th April |
(4th week of Lent) School’s HOLY WEEK 21st April is Easter Sunday |
HOLY WEEK This is a very special week. There will be prayers and services to mark this time of reflection & prayer to get ready for the Triduum & Easter Celebrations. |
EEN We know the importance of taking time out to reflect |
Mon 8th |
5th week of Lent |
SCHOOL HOLIDAY |
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Mon 15th |
Holy Week |
SCHOOL HOLIDAY |
||
Mon 22nd | 28 |
Easter Octave 23rd April = St George’s Day Shakespeare Day 24th |
The Good Shepherd The image of the caring, guiding shepherd presents the belief that Jesus gives care and guidance to people. (Jn 10:27-30) |
MIR We are friendly and welcoming Service to the community |
Mon 29th | 29 |
2nd week of Easter |
Love one another That simple instruction does not get any easier! Or is it the real challenge? (Jn 13:31-35) |
DDE We are reflective learners |
Mon 6th MAY | 30 |
3rd week of Easter |
The peace of Christ Peace comes from inside us, from feeling good about ourselves. That peace helps us develop good friendships. In this way we can bring peace to others. (Jn 14:23-29) |
PHA We are respectful and respect other’s differences |
Mon 13th | 31 |
4th week of Easter |
Ascension A great feast of the Church. Jesus is taken up in glory. (Lk 24:46-53) The disciples are left to carry on the message, presumably because they (we) are considered ready for the task! |
AFL We have confidence |
Mon 20th | 32 |
5th week of Easter |
Come, Holy Spirit This feast is the ‘birthday of the Church’ because it celebrates the gift & inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1-11) |
DBU We have self-worth |
Mon 27th |
6th week of Easter |
HALF TERM |
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Mon 3rd JUNE | 33 |
7th week of Easter Ascension June 2nd |
Feeding Faith The key part of story of the feeding of the great crowd is that they ‘all ate as much as they wanted’. (Lk 9:11-17) For the Catholic community the Eucharist (or Mass) is a celebration of the gift of Christ that feeds faith |
HOY We are learning to be good communicators |
Mon 10th | 34 |
Pentecost |
Compassion The word ‘compassion’ comes from two Latin words cum passio, which means ‘suffering with’. That is why we say ‘let me know if there is anything that I can do’. (Lk 7:11-17) |
KGO We have a belief in ourselves as successful learners |
Mon 17th | 35 |
Trinity Sunday World Refugee Day 20th |
Forgiveness Saying ‘sorry’ is difficult, however it is the starting point for forgiveness. The Gospel story demonstrates the power and risk of forgiveness (Lk 7:36-50) |
GTA We understand and manage our feelings and know how to seek help |
Mon 24th | 36 |
Corpus Christi Birth of John the Baptist 24th |
Equality St Paul’s letter to Galatians makes the point - the rich are not better than the poor, men are not better than women. (Gal 3:26-29) |
DBU We are proud of our successes without being arrogant. |
Mon 1st JULY | 37 |
13th week of year 29th June is Sts Peter & Paul |
Commitment The feast of Ss Peter & Paul is an example of two people who showed extraordinary faith and commitment. That is why they are considered to be such great leaders. |
AFL We have courage and take risks |
Mon 8th | 38 |
14th week of year |
Peace to this house We are whole persons; if we are upset or anxious it affects our whole life. That is not having peace. True peace is achieved by being trusting, forgiving, generous, caring. Let that be our gift! (Lk 10:1-12) |
MIR We are generous and welcoming |
Mon 15th | 39 |
15th week of year |
Love your neighbour This theme is central to the vision of the Gospel and the school. If we centre our lives on these words we can’t go far wrong. |
HOY We believe we can make a difference |