As a Learning Community centered in Christ, we walk hand in hand with God on our journey in faith.

We are

BUILDING THE KINGDOM

at English Martyrs' School

Our Religious Education Lessons and Sacred Prayer Times are underpinned by our daily reflections about our Mission Statement and how this is at the heart of everything we do at English Martyrs' School, all of our learning and expectations of behaviour throughout the week is based on this - we strive to walk hand in hand with God and with each other. These are not just words, our aim is to live these words out in how we respect and care for each other and our world.

Our Religious Education Lessons give us opportunity to delve deeper into the mysteries of God and how through Jesus' teaching, life, death and resurrection we can grow closer to God and each other.

We respect and value each other through our learning about RHE, Catholic Social Teaching, UNICEF rights and Global Goals. -  These important messages impact our lives as Faith Filled children of God. We learn how we can have an impact, and change the world we live in today and our future world.

In our Morning Prayers, we focus upon the Liturgical Year of the Church.

We also pray and reflect about:

Women of Scripture, our Virtues and CST. 

We pray about our charity work throughout the year.

We pray for our children and the important dates throughout the Liturgical Year that as a community, we come together to pray for our needs.

Click below for a more detailed outline of the INTENT, IMPLEMENTATION and IMPACT of RE at English Martyrs'.

Celebrating the Sacraments

Knowledge Organisers to support our Learning of RE

Building the Kingdom

Building the Kingdom underpins all our Learning as we walk on our journey, holding God's hand, together as a faith-filled community

Please look below at how we do this everyday in our school community

Catholic Social Teaching is part of this

Catholic School Pupil Profile Virtues is part of this

Each Class will be focusing upon Inspirational Women in Scripture

We will also do this during our Morning Prayer Time

Year Group Prayers - to be known by heart

Child led Prayer and Liturgy in our Classrooms

(MFL) Spanish Translation of Important Prayers

British Sign Language for Prayers

Archived 2022/23

Inspirational Women in Scripture

May Procession 2023

Catholic Social Teaching Information

Sursum Corda Pilgrimage  English Martyrs' welcome Holy Family School

Sursum Corda Pilgrimage  English Martyrs' visit St Ambrose Barlow

Sacramental Preparation for 2022-2023

Sacrament of Reconciliation 9.12.22

This will be a beautiful service held in English Martyrs' Church, for our Roman Catholic Children at 11am.

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Saturday 20th May 2023 at 10am

Class Martyrs 

Catholic Social Teaching

Archived 2021-2022

BUILDING THE KINGDOM 2022

Inspirational Women from the Bible

May Procession 2022

Archives 2021

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe - National Youth Sunday - Sunday 21st November 2021

The Season of Advent begins November 28th 2021

Many people may know that the Advent season focuses on expectation and think that it serves as an anticipation of Christ’s birth in the season leading up to Christmas. This is part of the story, but there’s more to Advent.

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus, his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, and his first miracle at Cana. During this season of preparation, early Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.

By the 6th century, however, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. But the “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world. It was not until the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.

November: Feast of All Saints and All Souls 

The Solemnity of All Saints has been transferred to Sunday 31 October. The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls) is on Tuesday 2 November. This time of year is always a very poignant time. During this month we will continue to pray for all those who have died and especially those members of our own families, our friends and school communities. It is also a time when we pray for those unknown souls for whom there is no one to pray for them. At this time we also offer up prayers for those who mourn those they have lost. In addition to this, on Remembrance Day (Sunday 14 November) we pray for all those who have died as a result of conflict around the world.

Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. It is known there as Día de los Muertos. People who are from Mexico celebrate the festival in other countries as well. The festival is celebrated to remember loved ones who have died. It also helps people accept and deal with the idea of death. It takes place over two days, on November 1 and 2.

Books to read to support your child when talking about All Souls

Saints Feast Days during Autumn Term

Saints to Reflect on Each day:

Seasons of Creation

The Season of Creation begins on September 1 which is the World Day of Prayer for the care of creation. The season runs until October 4 on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.  Within this season, the Day of Prayer for the Thanksgiving of the Harvest is Sunday September 26. 

The theme this year is ‘A home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God’. (Oikos is the Greek word meaning home).  This is an ecumenical event which means all Christian traditions around the world are invited to pray and participate throughout this time.  Throughout his Papacy, Pope Francis has highlighted the need for all the world to actively engage in the care for the environment. He wrote the encyclical, ‘Laudato Si’ which means ‘care for our common home’.   

This theme also links to the Catholic Social Teaching ‘Stewardship of God’s Creation’. Pope Francis not only asks us to look after our environment at a local level, but to petition those in power to care for the needs of all, especially the poor and marginalised.  

Click on the link below to access a number of resources linked both to Laudato Si’ and Catholic Social Teaching.

Important Dates and Events Coming Up for Autumn Term!

November: Dedicated to All Saints and All Souls

Day (week) of the Dead

The Day of the Dead - Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos, is a holiday celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November. It originated and is mostly observed in Mexico but also in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere. Although associated with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints' Day and All Souls', it has a much less solemn tone and is portrayed as a holiday of joyful celebration rather than mourning. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.

Traditions connected with the holiday include honoring the deceased using calverdas  and marigold flowers known as cempazúchitl, building home altar called ofrendas with the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these items as gifts for the deceased.