| Section 7
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE
Religious Observance
Religious Observance in a Catholic school is the experience of the
worship of God. It enables the members of that faith community to
grow in knowledge and love of God, to grow deeper in faith and to
come closer together in their witness of faith.
Worship and Celebration
Aims:
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to acknowledge and worship God as individuals
and as a community;
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to deepen relationships with God and
with one another;
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to make Christ present in the life of
the individual and the community through the celebration
of the Eucharist and other Sacraments;
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to celebrate the great events of the
Liturgical Year;
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to nurture faith through the experience
of communal prayer and personal prayer;
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to foster the spiritual life of the school
as a worshipping community of faith;
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to familiarise pupils with the language
and symbolism of worship.
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The Liturgy is the official worship of the Church, which makes
the mystery of Christ present in the life of the individual and
the community. It adds an experiential dimension to the faith,
which is presented and explored in the Religious Education programme
in a Catholic school.
The chaplain has a vital role to play in the liturgical life
of the school and can often support liturgical celebrations, either
as participant or adviser.
Teachers and other adults in the wider community have also an
important role to play by offering their own witness to faith
as they join pupils in worship and celebration.
No matter what the religious background of their homes might
be and whether or not they identify with parish worship, Catholic
pupils have a right to experience the Catholic tradition of worship
and celebration.
Since some members of the school community may be from non-faith
or other-faith backgrounds, care should be taken to ensure that
they do not feel isolated from the liturgical life of the school.
A thoughtfully presented liturgy should offer a message of love
to all members of the school community, regardless of level of
spiritual development or faith commitment.
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