The Liturgical Year at St Thomas Aquinas.

At St Thomas Aquinas School we take the time to celebrate the seasons and feasts of the Church Year. We spend time during R.E lessons learning about important events in the calendar and celebrate many of them together through collective worship and assemblies. Older children walk up to All Saint’s Church to join the parish congregation for Masses on Holy Days of Obligation.

Autumn Term

September – Mass to bless the new school Year joined by our school community, governors and parents.

October - Month of the Holy Rosary: The rosary is prayed on Mondays before school. The legion of Mary representatives join with classes to pray the rosary.

October – Education Sunday – children from our school take leading roles in the parish 11am Mass – welcoming, reading, singing, serving.

November – All Saints Day – Mass is celebrated in school and all children attend. Parishioners and parents are invited too.

November - Holy Souls – all children complete prayers and lessons to commemorate those who have died. A special Mass is held for the deceased loved ones of staff members.

November – Armistice Day - Remembrance Day is marked by a moving assembly lead by Year 4 children.

November – Christ the King Sunday – children from school join the parish for Sunday Mass with singing and celebrations.

Advent – Waiting and preparing for the birth of Jesus by blessing the Advent wreath during a whole school Mass in school.

December – Christmas is marked by KS1 children taking part in a dramatization of the Nativity for parents and parishioners. The older children perform in an evening carol service at All Saints Church. All are welcome.

Spring Term

January - Epiphany is marked by a special assembly.

January - St Thomas Aquinas Feast Day – A day of celebration with a whole school Mass, party and games.

February – Ash Wednesday – marked in school with a special liturgy lead by one of our parish priests. All children receive ashes.

Lent – On going lessons and assemblies guide us through the season of Lent. We hold a Lenten Reconciliation Service for all children and older children and staff have the opportunity to go to individual confession.

Lent – Holy Week – The Stations of the Cross are prayed by classes in an age-appropriate way. The events of Holy Week are retold by Year 5 during a moving Passion assembly.

Summer Term

Easter – The resurrection of our Lord is celebrated during the school holidays but are covered through RE lessons and a special assembly and art competition. 

May – The month of Mary. Our parish priests lead the school in a beautiful liturgy of prayers and hymns as we honour and crown Our Lady.

May – Ascension Thursday – KS2 children walk up to All Saint’s Church to join the parish Mass.

Pentecost: children throughout the school enjoy a Holy Spirit themed day of art, music, dance, poetry and much more.

Corpus Christi: Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. Eucharistic Adoration in church Year 5 and Year 6.

June - Feast of St. Peter and Paul is celebrated with Mass in school or with KS2 children walking to church while KS1 and EYFS have a special liturgy in school.

July – Leavers’ Mass - A farewell celebration for the Year 6 children including outdoor Mass attended by all children and staff, a PTA summer social and disco on the school field.