Liturgical Calendar 2020: Forthcoming Feasts / Solemnities
SUMMER TERM
During this time of school closure, the Staff Chaplaincy Teams at St Joseph's and St Gregory's, St Thomas More School and St John Rigby schools are keen to support your family. A new chaplaincy web resource can be found here and includes:
- Mass provision
- Availability of priests
- Weekly Virtual Fellowship
- Prayer Resources
- Prayer Requests
- Cana Prayer Group
- Helpful links
The chaplaincy team at St Joseph's and St Gregory's continues to be active during this time. Please do use the above, in addition to the resources provided below. Take care and God bless you.
Easter Season Week 6
Untier of knots Powerpoint resource
Easter Season Week 5
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life reflection
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life Powerpoint resource
Easter Season Week 4
The Lord is my shepherd reflection
The Lord is my shepherd Powerpoint resource
Easter Season Week 3
Our hearts burn within us reflection
Our hearts burn within us Powerpoint resource
Join our 'Virtual Worship
Every Friday at 3pm, a member of our Trust community shares a time of reflection and prayer. Everyone is very welcome to join us. See: https://www.olicatschools.org/news/?pid=36&nid=3
SPRING TERM
Throughout this term, Canon Seamus will also help to plan and lead our liturgical celebrations.
Deacon Kevin will visit school on Tuesday’s fortnightly.
APRIL 2020
END OF TERM – FRIDAY 3rd APRIL
30th March – 3rd April – Holy Week assemblies
12th April – Easter Sunday – during the holidays
Thursday 24th April – Trust Easter concert
MARCH 2020
Wednesday 4th March – Trust Chaplaincy Executive Group meeting.
Wednesday 4th March – staff chaplaincy meeting
6th March – World Book Day – focussing on ‘sea’ stories in the Bible.
6th, 13th, 20th and 27th March – Junior Chaplaincy Team to lead Stations of the Cross on the path
10th March – first Sunday of Lent
13th March - Sports Relief Day
Date to be confirmed - Junior Chaplaincy to lead a Lent assembly – forgiveness focus
School feast day - 19th March – St Joseph’s and also celebrating the ordination of our new Bishop, Rt Rev David Oakley
Weekly staff Lent reflections before school
Children Lent prayers at lunchtime
27th March, 1.15pm - Penitential Service Year 4-6 with Father Seamus. Forgiveness Assembly on both sites (AM).
FEBRUARY 2020
Date to be confirmed - Charity fundraising assembly
25th February – Shrove Tuesday – pancakes served at break, a mufti day, with proceeds supporting our school charity.
26th February – Ash Wednesday – school Mass with Canon Seamus. Ashes distributed in school.
28th February – whole-school assembly – wishing our ‘seafarer’ every blessing!
JANUARY 2020
Monday 6th January – Epiphany Liturgy, led by members of the Junior Chaplaincy Team.
Wednesday 8th January, 2.30pm - Trust Chaplaincy Executive Group Meeting
Thursday 16th January 2020 - staff chaplaincy meeting.
Friday 31st January - prayer tables audit - class prayer tables learning walk, led by members of the Junior Chaplaincy Team and Lower Primary Site Prayer Leaders.
AUTUMN TERM 2019
DECEMBER 2019
1st December - Launch of the Year of the Bible
2nd December - Advent assembly – led by the Junior Chaplaincy Team
4th December - Staff Advent reflection
6th December - Class prayer tables – learning walk
11th December - Staff Advent reflection
18th December - Staff Advent reflection
20th December - Christmas Liturgy, assisted by the Junior Chaplaincy Team
NOVEMBER 2019
*Month of remembrance – school Book of Remembrance on display.
1st November - All Saints Day Mass in school, assisted by the Junior Chaplaincy Team
4th – 8th November - Whole school poppy making from recycled bottles and installation on the school path
11th November - Remembrance Assembly and lunchtime poppy colouring activity
12th November - Deacon Kevin visiting Year 6 to share his vocation story. He will then visit classes on the Upper Primary site
29th November - School Reconciliation Service
OCTOBER 2019
4th October - Feast of St Francis – Bedford Catholic Schools’
Patron
4th October - Class prayer tables – learning walk – led by the Junior Chaplaincy Team
7th – 13th October - Our Catholic Schools’ Week
11th October - Diocesan schools’ Mass – Year 3 children and Junior Chaplaincy Team Leaders
13th October - Children attend parish Mass at St Joseph’s and St Gregory’s. Members of the Bedford Catholic Schools’ Trust senior leadership team will speak at Masses in parishes across Bedford.
16th October - Staff Chaplaincy Team meeting
18th October - Harvest Liturgy led by the Junior Chaplaincy Team School chaplain, Canon Seamus, visiting to train new altar servers for Mass
SEPTEMBER 2019
Junior Chaplaincy Team recruitment – ‘Called and Chosen’
10th September - Staff Chaplaincy Team meeting & Trust Chaplaincy Team meeting
20th September - School Chaplain, Canon Seamus, having lunch with the new Junior Chaplaincy Team members
24th September - Staff Chaplaincy Team meeting & Trust Chaplaincy Team meeting

JULY 2019
2nd July – staff chaplaincy team meeting
4th July – Staff meeting formation on a fruit of the Holy Spirit (link to Pentecost):
GENEROSITY
8th July – Year 6 – ‘It’s Your Move’ event
10th July – Trust Chaplaincy Executive group meeting
12th July – Mission fundraising activities
14th July - Final parish Mass of the year (to be confirmed)
15th July - JCT assembly – thanksgiving and review of their year. Looking ahead to next year.
JUNE 2019
*Junior Chaplaincy Team – to design and plant the new Lower Primary Site prayer garden after half term.
7th June – Whole school assembly to review CAFOD fundraising efforts
10th June - Pentecost Picnic - Pentecost is celebrated in churches on 9th June.
13th June – Staff meeting formation on a fruit of the Holy Spirit (link to Pentecost): PEACE
20th June – Staff meeting formation on a fruit of the Holy Spirit (link to Pentecost): GENTLENESS
23rd June – Corpus Christi
24th June - Corpus Christi – Junior Chaplaincy Team (JCT) assembly
24th June – week-long school celebration of and response to Laudato Si
27th June – Adoration - JCT to lead lunchtime Adoration (20 mins) of the Blessed Sacrament on the LPS.
27th June – Staff meeting formation on a fruit of the Holy Spirit (link to Pentecost): PATIENCE
28th June or 1st July – Holy Communion Mass for children and parents (date to be confirmed)
29th June – Feast of Sts Peter and Paul and Queens Park Parade
MAY 2019
3rd May – ‘Easter afternoon’ – Years R – 4 to make Easter bonnets and enjoy Easter activities.
8th May - staff chaplaincy team meeting.
8th May - singing assembly to focus on joy.
10th May – Junior Chaplaincy Team assembly - focus on the rosary and Mary.
11th May - Queens Park Iftar
15th May – Trust Chaplaincy Executive Group meeting
30th May – Ascension of the Lord
Eastertide: Joy!
Whilst Lent lasts forty days, Eastertide is celebrated for 50! During a large part of our Summer Term, therefore, we will be celebrating the joy of the resurrection of Jesus.
APRIL 2019
24th April - Singing assembly – focussing on celebrating Easter joy!
25th April – Easter celebration evening for families at St Thomas More school involving our school choir led by Mrs Tyrell (Year 4) and Mrs Aghorighor (Year 5). Also, involving the Junior Chaplaincy Team.
25th April - Staff meeting – reflection on Easter joy
26th April – Junior Chaplaincy to run their take on an Easter Egg hunt on the school path.
30th April - St George’s Day
February – April 2019

Friday 8th February
St Josephine Bakhita’s day.
Monday 11th February
Our Lady of Lourdes
February 22nd February - Feast of the Chair of St Peter, Apostle – Junior Chaplaincy Team to lead assembly.
Monday 25th February – to introduce our school Lent Programme in assembly
Monday 25th February – CAFOD fundraising assembly
Charity for Lent = CAFOD
Tuesday 26th February – Staff meeting formation input - Fasting
10 mins input on the theme led by staff.
Friday 1st March – Assembly
Feast of St David, Patron of Wales – feast
Mufti day.
LENT PILGRIMAGE 2019
Themes: Pilgrimage, Prayer, Fasting, Declaration of Faith and Charitable Giving.
Week 1: 5th – 8th March
THEME: FASTING
Monday 4th March – Fasting focus in assembly
Tuesday 5th March – Shrove Tuesday
Pancakes to be given out to all children and staff at break time.
Mufti day.
Tuesday 5th March – staff meeting formation input.
Charitable giving
Wednesday 6th March – Ash Wednesday
Canon Seamus – whole school liturgy on the UPS
Friday 8th March – Morning staff reflection
Led by: Staff rota
Friday 8th March - Celebration assembly
Week 2: 11th – 15th March
THEME: CHARITABLE GIVING
+Class CAFOD fundraising all week – to begin.
Monday 11th March – Assembly
Focus – on charitable giving and to launch the CAFOD fundraising initiative.
Tuesday 12th March – Staff meeting formation input - Pilgrimage
Wednesday 13th March – School Patrons’ Day: St Joseph and St Gregory
Mass celebrated in school.
Wednesday 13th March - weekly staff Lenten reflections
Lunchtime – 12.45pm on both sites Led by: Staff rota
Friday 15th March – Stations of the Cross
Led by the Junior Chaplaincy team to lead at lunchtimes.
Friday 15th March – Morning staff reflection
Led by: Staff rota
*Sunday 17th March – Parish Mass with the children.
St Joseph’s and the Holy Child Church
Week 3: 18th – 22nd March
THEME: PILGRIMAGE
+Class CAFOD fundraising all week.
Monday 18th March (Monday) – Pilgrimage focus in assembly
Tuesday 19th March – Staff meeting formation input - Declaration of Faith
Wednesday 20th March – school retreat day – ‘Mustard Seed’
Rise Theatre Group led. Whole-school involvement.
Wednesday 20th March - Weekly staff Lenten reflections
Lunchtime – 12.45pm on both sites Led by: Staff rota
Friday 22nd March – Stations of the Cross
Led by the Junior Chaplaincy team to lead at lunchtimes.
Friday 22nd March – Morning staff reflection
Led by: Staff rota
Week 4: 25th – 29th March
THEME: DECLARATION OF FAITH
+Class CAFOD Fundraising all week.
Monday 25th March – Solemnity of the Annunciation – assembly – link to declaration of faith.
Tuesday 26th March – Staff meeting formation input - Prayer
Wednesday 27th March - Weekly staff Lenten reflections
Lunchtime – 12.45pm on both sites Led by: Staff rota
Friday 29th March – Stations of the Cross
Led by the Junior Chaplaincy team to lead at lunchtimes.
Friday 29th March – Morning staff reflection
Led by: Staff rota
Week 5: 1st – 5th April
THEME: PRAYER
+Class CAFOD fundraising all week.
Monday – Friday: Holy Week Liturgies
We will celebrate the Holy Week liturgies during the last week of term.
Monday 1st April – Assembly
Holy Week focus and prayer theme
Tuesday 2nd April – Holy Week Liturgy: Year group led
Wednesday 3rd April - Weekly staff Lenten reflections
Lunchtime – 12.45pm on both sites Rota
Wednesday 3rd April – Holy Week Liturgy: Year group led
Thursday 4th April - Holy Week Liturgy: Year group led
Thursday 4th April – Sacrament of Reconciliation
To invite Catholic children to receive the Sacrament, if they have made their First Confession.
Friday 5th April – Holy Week Liturgy: Year group led
Friday 5th April – Morning staff reflection
Staff rota
--------------------------------------
EASTER HOLIDAYS
-------------------------------------