PRAYER CORNER
Religious Education and the experiencing of a Christian ethos are the main reasons for the existence of St Boniface High School. For this reason, it is essential that our teachers give an excellent example, to pray with the learners and to encourage them to participate in a sound religious education programme based on CORD. Long after the learners have departed from St Boniface, they are still influenced by the ethos, religious atmosphere, prayer life and good living of their teachers and colleagues. The prayers and atmosphere of their surroundings influence their whole life. This is what makes the Catholic school the most important education center for our young people. This is why our young people look back and are grateful for the education they receive in a Catholic school.
The learners are encouraged to buy the school Prayer Book. The Introduction to this Prayer Book is as follows:
When you were baptized a white garment was put about you. The celebrant/priest/minister said:
N.N…. you have become a new creation, and have clothed yourself in Christ. See in this white garment the outward side of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.
(Then someone from your family e.g., mother, godparent, lights the child’s candle from the Easter candle and says: “Receive the light of Christ”.)
Then the celebrant says: “Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly as you go through life. Christ has enlightened this child of yours. He/She is to walk always as a child of light. May he/she keep the flame of faith alive in his/her heart? When the Lord comes, may he/she go out to meet Christ with all the Saints in the heavenly Kingdom.”
The celebrant touches your ears and mouth with his thumb and says:
“The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May He soon touch your ears to receive His word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father?
ALL: Amen.
On the great day of my Baptism I began my journey towards God my Father and to my home in heaven.
All our learners, irrespective of Religion, experience the following religious happenings:
(a) Ten minutes is allotted to each class teacher to attend to his/her class. During
This time Morning Prayers are said. The learners are encouraged to say
Spontaneous prayers for their Parents and those in need. The class is tidied for
the day, a short talk is given to motivate the learners, and they are encouraged
to study hard, live well and respect their seniors.
(b) All learners stand and say a prayer when a teacher enters at the beginning of each period.
(c) After each break period the learners stand and wait for the educator to enter. Then they pray.
(d) At twelve o’clock the learners stand and say the Angelus.
(e) At the end of the school day, all stand again for specified prayers that are said.
(f) All our learners experience religion classes three days a week.
(g) Prescribed prayers are said before Religious Education.
(h) They have a formal Assembly once a week that is prayerful and uplifting..
(i) The learners have a religion book and Parents are asked to review and examine the child’s book.
(j) All the classes experience a Mass once per quarter. They have the opportunity to receive Holy Communion.
(k) There is the possibility of attending Prayer Meetings once a week for those who wish.
(l) Class Retreats and Youth for Christ retreats are often experienced by the classes. The classes either go to Nazareth House Farm in Fourteen Streams or Deo Gloria to experience a week-end of close communication with Jesus.
(m) The learners are asked to collect money and food to contribute to the elderly and disadvantaged and Street Children.
(n) Many learners have the opportunity to join the Edmund Rice Society. In this group they meet for prayer together once every week and then go out to help the poor, visit the elderly, visit hospitals, collect food for the poor, and many other generous works.
(o) Learners celebrate important Feast days e.g. Founders Day.
(p) Matrics celebrate end of year Masses where Parents and parishioners are invited to attend.
(q) Prayer services and Paraliturgical Services are frequently conducted during the year, especially where we cannot obtain the services of a Priest. This happens especially on Ash Wednesday and other important Holy Days.
(r) The school has a Prayer Room that we intend to improve upon. There, the learners pray and meditate.
(s) One of the greatest assets to the school is the presence of four members of Religious Orders. These are three Dominican Sisters and Br Madden, the former Principal who teachers Religious education in Matric. Sr Clarissa teaches Religious Education in four classes. Sr Hildagunde is working in the Library and counsels several youngsters. Sr Angela is working in Thutong ya Banna.
LEARNERS AT THUTONG YA BANNA
There is a plan for the future where the school intends to build a Youth Centre. In this centre problematic learners will be counseled, nurses and doctors will be invited in to speak to them periodically, and a prayer room will be available. In the Prayer Room there will be a lighted Candle with a large book on a table in front of it. The learners will be able to enter their prayer requests and put forward problems in family, their fears, anxiety, losses, deaths, hurts personal difficulties and many other requests.
MORNING PRAYERS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
O my Jesus, thank you for keeping me safe during the night. Please give me the grace necessary to go through this day with patience and a firm will to do all that is good in Your name. I ask you this because I know that I can do nothing without Your help. Please, Lord, help me always and make my weakness Your strength.
May He support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done, then in His mercy, may He give us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last. Day after day I will bless you, my God: I will praise your name for ever, yes, for ever and ever. Out of Your goodness, Lord, keep me from sin today. Blessed are You, Lord, God of our fathers, worthy you are of praise. Glorious Your name for ever. Amen.
PRAYERS BEFORE SCHOOL
Direct we beseech You
Direct, we beseech you, O Lord, our actions by your holy inspirations, and carry them on by your gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may always begin from You and by You be happily ended, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the most pure heart of Mary, I offer to You this day, all my thoughts, words , actions, joys and sorrows, for all the intentions of Your Most Sacred Heart , in reparation for all my sins, and for the Pope’s intentions of this month.
Our Father
Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail,Mary
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit
of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was inn the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Prayer to my Angel Guardian
O Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide . Amen.
Dear Lord, help me to live this day as if it were my first day, as if it were my last day, as if it were my only day.
PRAYER BEFORE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:
Act of Faith:
O my God, I believe in You, and all that Your Church teaches, because You have said it and Your word is truth.
Act of Hope:
O my God I hope in You for grace and for glory, because of Your promises, Your mercy and Your power.
Act of Love:
O my God, because You are so good, I love You with all my heart, and for Your sake I love my neighbour as myself.
Act of Sorrow:
O my God, because You are so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against You, and I will not sin again.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth
Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful; by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that, by the gift of the same Spirit we may be always truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
( Add : Prayer for learners’ needs, for families, spontaneous prayers from learners)
PRAYERS AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY:
Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy. Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us. And after this , our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, 0 loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate despise not my petitions, but, in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
PRAYER CORNER RESOURCES
Benedictine Meditation: Lectio Divina - CLICK HERE
© 2010 ST BONIFACE HIGH SCHOOL KIMBERLEY