RE Focus: What is Prayer?

Our school Religious Education curriculum has different definitions of the word prayer, that develop with the student’s knowledge and understanding.

In infants, prayer is defined as ‘talking to God.’ In infants, students learn that prayer is those things we do when we are talking to God. Students learn about important elements of prayer such as making the sign of the cross and the word ‘amen’ (which essentially means I agree.)

For stage 2, prayer is further defined as ‘communicating with God.’ In years 3 and 4, students develop their understanding of prayer to see that prayer is a two-way conversation between themselves and God, not only talking to God but also listening to God, through his stories in the bible and in so many other ways.

For stage 3, prayer is defined as ‘expressing a relationship with God.’ In years 5 and 6, students develop their understanding of prayer to see that prayer can take on many other forms and doesn’t always require talking with God or communicating with God. Prayer can be silent and contemplative and students learn that prayer is something intrinsic and personal.

No matter what stage of their faith journey our students are at, prayer is an important part of our daily school routine. Our school has three common prayers that we recite each day, in the morning, at lunchtime and in the afternoon.

Our morning and afternoon prayers end with the line ‘and may we live Jesus in our hearts, forever.’ This line, taken originally from the Christian Brothers, a religious order of teaching brothers from Ireland, is a reminder for us to make Jesus real each and every day but trying to live just like Jesus did and being kind and loving to everyone we met.

RE Focus: The 2025 Sacramental Program

Parents or Carers of children turning 8 or older this year who are baptised and would like their children to be Confirmed, receive their first Eucharist and first Reconciliation this year, are invited to attend THE INTRODUCTION TO SACRAMENTS session being held at school in the hall on Thursday 13th March 2025, beginning at 3:30pm. This session will outline the commitment for families for the sacramental program as well as give a brief introduction to each sacrament. Following from this, the session dates for 2025 are listed below:

Information and registration afternoon – Thursday 13/3 @ 3:30pm in the school hall.

Reconciliation preparation – Sunday 30/3 @ 3:00pm in the school hall (Followed by mass @ 4:45pm).

Sacrament of Reconciliation – Tuesday 8/4 @ 5:30pm - OLOR Taree.

Confirmation preparation – Sunday 18/5 @ 3:00pm in the hall (Followed by mass @ 4:45pm).

Confirmation practice – Friday 23/5 @ 5:30pm - OLOR Taree.

Sacrament of Confirmation – Sunday 25/5 @ 9:30am - OLOR Taree.

First communion preparation – Sunday 14/9 @3:00pm in the hall (Followed by mass @ 4:45pm).

Sacrament of First Communion – Sunday 21/9 @ 4:45pm mass – OLPH Wingham.

Parents or Carers of children who are not baptised and are interested in having their children baptised in the church, this sacrament can be done throughout the year and arranged by contact the Parish Office on 0436 312 222 Tuesday – Friday between 9:00am – 3:00pm.

If you have any questions regarding this or would like more information, please contact Mr Buchtmann or Mrs Hunt at school.