Religious Education News 

   Praying with Children:   Blessings and Family Prayers

Parents seek what is best for their children. This desire is expressed in a variety of practical ways every day; such as preparing healthy foods, ensuring adequate opportunity for sleep, teaching good manners, and sharing enriching activities as a family. Incorporating prayers of blessing into your family’s daily routine is another way to express this desire for the very best for your children. When we pray for God’s blessing, we acknowledge that God is the source of all that is good. In prayer, we ask God to bless us, to bless others, and to bless our activities. Daily life provides parents with many opportunities to offer prayers of blessing with and for their children.

Bedtime Blessings

As part of bedtime prayers, invite your child to name the people he or she would like to pray for. This can take the form of a simple litany, praying, “God bless . . .” as your child names family and friends. As your child grows older, you might offer a simple prayer intention for each person as you pray. For example, if a sibling is sick, you might ask for God’s healing presence, praying, “God bless [name] and help her [him] feel better soon.” Conclude by praying your own prayer of blessing for your child as you trace the Sign of the Cross on your child’s forehead.

Morning Blessings

Even in the most organised households, mornings can become a frenzy of activity as family members prepare to leave for work, day care, school, and daily errands. Establishing a morning routine that includes a prayer of blessing for family members as they leave the home can help to strengthen and encourage each person to live faithfully as a follower of Jesus. 

Mealtime Blessings

Meals are natural occasions for prayers of blessing. We pray in thanks to God for his goodness to us. We ask God to bless our food and make our lives a blessing to others. Mealtime can also be an opportunity to ask family members to name the good things that God has shared with them throughout the day and to pray together in thanksgiving.

Family Prayer for the end of term

Light three candles and pause after each one has been lit.

As we come to the end of another term, we remember the good times for they have filled us with excitement and pleasure, peace and satisfaction. (Light candle.)

We remember the hard times for without them we would not have had the chance to grow into better people. (Light candle.)

We rejoice in our achievements, no matter how small, and celebrate the challenges we have faced and overcome. (Light candle.)

With thankful hearts, gracious God, we pray for all who have enriched the life of our school throughout the term – our staff, students, parents and friends. We thank you for their valuable contributions in making our school what it is today.   Lord, hear us.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

Presentation inspired schools

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is of special significance to Presentation inspired schools. On the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which is celebrated this week on 28 June, Presentation people open their hearts to God and the world in a special way. 

In 1775, Nano Nagle gathered a small group of women around her. Their task was to work together to ensure that Nano’s outreach –  the education, empowerment and practical care of the poorest children and women - which she began in 1754, continued on beyond her own lifetime.  Nano named this group ‘Sisters of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus’, later to be renamed Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In Jesus, Nano experienced the human heart and face of God’s love and compassion and sought to share this love and compassion with the world.