In our faith, remembrance is more than just remembering the past; it’s
about keeping our connection to God and to our loved ones alive. We
remember the saints and martyrs who came before us, their examples
guiding us on our own journey. We remember the sacrifices of Jesus and
we remember those who have passed away, their love and influence
continuing to shape us. Remembrance is a way to honour our past, cherish
our present, and hope for our future.
We pray particularly this week for those who have died during war and conflict around the world. As Catholics we commit to follow the example of Jesus by being peacemakers who strive for justice for all.
COMING UP… On Tuesday 19th November representatives from across the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi Academy Trust will gather together in Lincoln for the 2nd OLoL Trust Synod! It is an amazing event where children, students, staff, governors, central Team, clergy, Board Members and more all come together to discuss and listen to one another around some central themes – Relationships, Pathways and Places. As a school community we are going to spend some time over the next two weeks giving everyone a chance to reflect on those themes and to add their thoughts to those that will be shared with the rest of the Trust on Tuesday 19th November.
Day 1 – Head
On the first day of our prayer we will be reflecting on The Word of God to help us to understand our theme.
We begin our prayer this morning with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
In a week where we think about the people who have gone before us, making sacrifices for others and even laying down their lives to defend their faith and their country we listen to John’s gospel to remind us of what Jesus calls us all to do.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John
Glory to you O Lord
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
John 15: 12-17 ESV
There are so many inspiring stories and examples of Jesus’ words: ‘Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.‘ Discuss who inspires you the most by their action of love and sacrifice and share them in the comments section below.
For those who have died we pray,
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Day 2 – Heart
On the second day of the week we focus on our hearts. How can the scripture that we looked at yesterday impact our lives, and the lives of others? What themes can we draw from the scripture?
We begin our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Today we will reflect on this week’s scripture in light of one of our Trust Synod questions.
‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.‘
Discuss your answers to this question and share them in the comments section so we can take these reflections to the Trust Synod on Tuesday 19th November!
How can we, as members of the school / Trust community, deepen our relationship with Jesus and with each other,
and how can we better show God’s
love to those around us?
We end our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Day 3 – Hands
On the final day of the week we try to put into action the things we have learnt and reflected on previously in the week, hence the hands link!
We begin our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Today we have the opportunity to prepare for our Trust Synod on Tuesday 19th November!
Our scripture inspires us to take action and to make a difference:
‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide‘
Inspired by our scripture and the final question from our Trust Synod fill the comments box below with your ideas for our community!
How can we, as members of our school / Trust community, create a more welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and loved, especially for those who may feel excluded or marginalised?
We end our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Jesus sacrificed his life to us, our parents sacrificing their time. Some people donate blood.
People such as Wilfred Owen who have written poems before their sacrifice, Family members and friends, Jesus.
8DA thought about the time that our parents have invested in us and how many hours of sacrificial love they have given in bringing us up.
myself, grandparents, family, friends, because they teach us how to be better people and support us and our dreams. BELLA, ANGEL AND ZUZANNA 8RCA 🙂
Our parents, teachers, spiritual leaders, elders, betters, peers, influencers, Jesus all inspire us with the sacrifices that they make – they might be small or large but we appreciate them nonetheless. Some of us would sacrifice ourselves to save others…
We can show manners towards one another, and listen to one another. Be kind to one another and share with one another. We should try to empathise with others and trust them.