Religious Education

At St. Anselm’s our faith is an integral part of the life of the school. Religious Education is a core subject and embraces the whole curriculum. The school uses RE materials written by Dr Margaret Carswell.

Religious Education receives 10% of the Curriculum across the school as required by the Bishops' Conference.  Religious Education informs all areas of the Curriculum including our School ethos and vision; "Success for all." The children are educated in their faith to bring them to a deeper understanding of what it means to be an active member of the Catholic community.

Daily collective worship, led by the pupils, enables the children to respond to God’s love. The school’s programme for worship and liturgy follows the Church’s Liturgical calendar. The School community celebrates Mass in the Parish Church each term including holy days of obligation and the School's Feast Day.

Our R.E. Leader: Mrs Eileen Dhak

Our R.E. Governor: Ms Sue Cawley

Caritas In Action

At St. Anselm's, we use the 'Caritas in Action' scheme of work.  Catholic Social Teaching calls us all to work for the common good, help build a just society, uphold the dignity of human life and work for justice.

The 'Caritas in Action' programme covers learning outcomes for the Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1 and 2.  Through a series of seven core themes, which are underpinned; by the social teachings of the Catholic Church. 

The themes are building blocks and progress from EYFS to the end of Key Stage 2 (and beyond).

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is rooted in Scripture and it provides us with guidance on how we can live out our faith as followers of Christ in our local, national and global communities.  As head of the church, the Pope guides us in how we can apply the scripture to our modern-day lives and how the Church can respond to the challenges we face in our modern world.  Pope Francis' shared his own thoughts in his recent encyclicals Laudato Si' (2015) and Fratelli Tutti (2020).

Each of the principles is now rooted in St. Anselm's rhythm of the year and has been blended with our new Community point system. 

Oscar Romero Award

Saint Oscar Romero shows us that we must see God in all people and work together to build God's Kingdom of mercy, just and love on earth. 

St. Anselm's has been awarded the Participator Level of the Oscar Romero Award for our commitment to Catholic Social Teaching (CST).  The award recognises schools that place Catholic Social Teaching at the heart of their strategy, curriculum and practical work.

We are delighted to have been awarded the Oscar Romero 'Developer level' Award, building on the 'Participator Award' we received in September 2022.  Only one school in the Westminister Diocese has this level of award, out of hundreds of Catholic Schools registered with the programme in the U.K.  After a successful application, a validator came to tour the school and meet with staff, governors and children. 

The Oscar Romero Award recognises schools that have embedded the key principles of Catholic Social Teaching in their ethos and culture so that all can experience life to the full.  Our next step is to work towards the 'Innovator Level' of the award.

Prayer and Liturgy

Prayer and Liturgy are the time we take each day to give praise and thanks to God. Through our daily prayers and weekly reflection on the Gospel, the children have the opportunity to develop their relationship with God and know that they can turn to Him when they are finding things hard or want to thank Him for what they are grateful for.

In our weekly class reflection on the Gospel, we reflect on what Jesus is teaching us and how we can act our these teachings in our everyday life.  The children are encouraged to take time meditating, being still and quiet so that they learn to appreciate the world around them and become closer to God by speaking to Him in their own words.

Prayer Bags

Over the course of the year, every child in the class has a chance to take the Prayer Bag home to share with their family.  Inside, children find items to allow them to set up their focal point in an area of their home that will allow for special prayer time, on their own or with their family.  Children are encouraged to light a candle as a sign of Jesus' presence and to bless themselves.  As part of their experience, we encourage children (with the support of an adult) to complete the diary.

Year of Prayer

'Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him,

"Lord, teach us to pray..." '  Luke 11:1

In preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year 'Pilgrims of Hope'. 2024 has been designated a Year of Prayer by Pope Francis.  It starts this Advent.

A prayer for the Year of Prayer

God of blessings,

in this year ahead,

give us a spirit of listening,

of openness of your word

and longing for your kingdom.

As we journey toward the Jubilee,

a time of new beginnings,

we pray for help and strength,

to heal our relationships with each other

and all creation.

Sing your song of love over us,

renewing our faith and courage,

so we may join our voices together,

discovering new harmonies of hope,

new melodies of reconciliation.

Attentive to the Spirit,

and awake to the needs of the world,

may we seek your life-giving presence,

as we join as one global family,

in a great symphony of prayer and praise.

2025 Pilgrims of Hope Jubliee

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.

Amen.

Official Hymn for the 2025 Jubilee

Like a flame my hope is burning,

may my song arise to you:

Source of life that has not ending,

on life's path I trust in you.

Ev'ry nation, tongue, and people

find a light within your Word.

Scattered fragile sons and daughters

find a home in your dear Son.

Like a flame my hope is burning,

may my song arise to you:

Source of life that has not ending,

on life's path I trust in you.

God, so tender and so patient,

dawn of hope, you care for all.

Heav'n and earth are recreated

by the Spirit of Life set free.

Like a flame my hope is burning,

may my song arise to you:

Source of life that has not ending,

on life's path I trust in you.

Raise your eyes, the wind is blowing,

for our God is born in time.

Son made man for you and many

who will find the way in him.

Like a flame my hope is burning,

may my song arise to you:

Source of life that has not ending,

on life's path I trust in you.

Our School & Parish Altar Servers

We are very proud to have a number of altar servers participating at St. Anselm's Parish Church each week and supporting our school masses.  Anyone from Year 4, who has made their First Holy Communion, can become an altar server, once they carry out the required training. Serving at the altar is an important ministry, which helps the priest, deacon and people to be more focused on the prayer of the mass: many thanks to all our servers for the fine work in the service of the Lord.

Month of the Holy Rosary
By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a particular devotion. October is dedicated to the holy Rosary as the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary falls on October 7th.  The best way to celebrate the month is, of course, to pray the Rosary.

The Rosary draws its mysteries from the New Testament and is centred on the significant events of the Incarnation and Redemption with each decade referring to an event in the life of Jesus and Mary.  The Mysteries of the Rosary give us "thumbnails" of the life of Christ and his Mother.

• The Joyful Mysteries are taken mostly from Saint Luke's Gospel in the New Testament.  They involve the joyful events of Jesus' childhood.
• The Luminous Mysteries bring a deeper understanding of Jesus.  They fill in the blanks between the childhood of Jesus and His suffering and death on the cross.
• The Sorrowful Mysteries remind us of how much Jesus loves us.  They recall how He suffered and died just for us.
• The Glorious Mysteries tell us what happened after Jesus died-His Resurrection, the descent of the Holy Spirit and the love Jesus had for his Mother.

Other Faiths

Our whole school enjoyed Diwali day on Friday 10th November.  The children were invited to come to school in their Divali/party clothes to celebrate the day.  Thank you to Mrs Klair our guest speaker who was 'hot seated' by year 6 pupils on the 'festival of light'.  The children took part in various Diwali-related activities including designing rangoli, and henna patterns, making Diwali cards, decorating divas, Bhangra dancing and much more.

Children and staff thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Prayer for Ukraine

As a school, our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the current situation in Ukraine.

We will continue to pray for all who are directly affected and for those who are dedicating their time in supporting the wellbeing through their compassionate acts.

Pound for Peace

On Friday 4th March the children created a carpet of flowers and invited all our families to take part in the "Pound for Peace".  It was very moving to see the children create the flower carpet in front of the statue of Our Lady, Queen of Peace.  Later that morning we gathered to pray for peace in the Ukraine and across the world.  The children raised approximately £350 for the Ukraine Appeal. Thank you to all who supported this worthy cause.

Charities we receive support from:

Ealing Food Bank:

We are a designated "Food Bank Partner" and can offer food bank vouchers to any family requesting this support. Please ask for a "Confidential" meeting with Deacon Tito Pereira (Headteacher.)

https://ealing.foodbank.org.uk/

Catholic Children's Society Crisis Fund:

We can also access support from the Catholic Children’s Society Crisis Fund for any family experiencing extreme difficulties.