At St Mary’s, our Catholic life is alive. It’s not just about what we do in R.E. lessons — it’s how we live, pray, serve, and grow together. School life at St. Mary's shows real examples of faith in action—connecting local, national, and global traditions, and drawing inspiration from what our mission is with Christ at the Centre of all we do.

Our Mission Statement:

"Our Community, Growing and Learning together with Christ"

Faith is at the heart of everything we do at St Mary’s. We strive to ensure that every member of our school community—pupils, staff, families, and parish—feels welcomed, loved, and connected to God’s story. Our Catholic identity is nurtured every day through prayer, worship, service, and learning.

• Prayer tables draped in purple appear across all classrooms, marking the season of Advent.

• Our Advent Prayer Bags travel home nightly, inviting children and families into shared prayer—complete with a cloth, candle, crucifix, prayer booklet, and artefacts like a star, heart, and pipe cleaner. Pupils bring back prayers written at home to share with their class.

• We celebrate together in the parish: a Family Mass marks the First Sunday of Advent, the Blessing of Bambinellis (baby Jesus figurines) recalls Rome’s tradition, and our Candle-lit Carol Service fills the school with sacred music and reflection.

• Drama and song bring the Christmas story to life: KS1 and Early Years present the Nativity, while KS2 lead scripture-based tableaux.

• The choir visits Kelvedon House Care Home, bringing music and festive joy to residents.

• In a special highlight, we joined a Virtual Christmas Concert with all Academy schools and our partner school in Poland, SP118—uniting hearts in song across continents.

During Lent and Holy Week, our faith comes alive through prayer, reflection, and service:

Our classrooms and assemblies host prayer spaces for reflection on the Gospel.

• We strengthen our solidarity with others through fundraising for CAFOD:
   • EYFS ran a Cake Sale
   • Years 1 & 2 hosted a Danceathon
   • Year 3 completed a Sponsored Run
   • Year 4 powered through a Sponsored Skip
   • Year 5 held a Sponsored Family Quiz
   • Year 6 walked a 4-mile pilgrimage to St John Bosco, praying as they went

• These acts of faith and charity remind us that Lent calls not only to prayer and fasting, but also to action.

• During Holy Week, each year group leads a liturgical reflection:
   • Palm Sunday (EYFS & Year 1) with song, readings, and prayers
   • The Cleansing of the Temple (Years 2 & 3)
   • The Last Supper (Year 4)
   • The Garden of Gethsemane (Year 5)
   • The Stations of the Cross (Year 6)

• These services deepen our understanding of Christ’s journey and help us enter the mystery of Easter more fully.

We mark the great feasts of the Church not as optional extras, but as vital moments of communal worship and spiritual renewal:

• On All Saints’ Day, we attend Mass together, honoring saints as models of faith.

• At the Annunciation, Reception through Year 6 gathered at Mass to celebrate Mary’s “yes” to God. The church resonated with hymn, prayer, and enthusiastic voices as our children read, sang, and reflected together.

• Throughout the year, we also join in Epiphany, Pentecost, and our Patronal Feast Day, ensuring that the liturgical rhythm pulses through school life.

• At times, we host special themed days, like “Wear Purple for Purpose”, to unite faith and fundraising, or invite guest speakers and celebrations around particular saints or feasts.