At Christ the King, we warmly welcome families from many different faiths and traditions. As a Catholic school, some aspects of school life include religious language and practices that may be unfamiliar to non-Catholic parents and carers.
Students are encouraged to participate respectfully in school worship, but are not expected to practise Catholic beliefs.
This page is designed to explain commonly used terms in clear, everyday language and to help you feel confident about what your child may experience at school.
Worship and Prayer
Celebration of the Word
A “Celebration of the Word” is a short, structured gathering centred on listening and reflecting on the Word of God (the Bible), and are intended to be inclusive, reflective, and accessible to students of all faith backgrounds. They are led each morning by staff and students.
Word of the Week
Each week, we have a different Word of the Week which you will find on our Social Media and on the pop up of our home page. This is the basis for our Celebrations of the Word that week.
You can find home resources for every Word of the Week on our dedicated hub, CTK Pray.
Liturgy
The word liturgy refers to a structured act of public worship in the Catholic Church. They consist of readings from the bible, music, spoken prayers and reflections delivered by our Chaplaincy Team.
Every year, we hold an Advent Liturgy (at Christmas time) and a Lenten Liturgy (at Easter time) at The Church of the Good Shepherd.
Mass
Mass is the central act of worship in the Catholic Church and includes readings from the bible, prayers, a homily (short talk) by a priest and holy communion (the sharing of bread and wine). We celebrate Mass at the start of the school year and hold Voluntary Mass once per term on a Friday. We also celebrate House Masses on “Feast Days”
People and Places
Priest
A priest is an ordained minister in the Catholic Church who leads Mass and offers spiritual guidance. Priests may visit the school for Masses, liturgies, or special celebrations.
Chaplain
Our Chaplains supports the spiritual and pastoral wellbeing of students and staff. This role focuses on care and community, rather than formal religious instruction. You can find more about our Chaplains here.
Chapel
We’re lucky to have a peaceful chapel in our school, open to all students regardless of their faith.
Catholic Terms
Sacrament
A sacrament is a special religious ceremony in the Catholic Church, such as Baptism, Confirmation, or Holy Communion.
Feast Day
A feast day is a special day in the Church calendar that celebrates an important religious figure or event. Throughout the year, we mark Feast Days of our House Saints by celebrating Mass in our hall.
The Catholic Church Year
The Catholic Church follows a yearly cycle called the Church Year (or liturgical year). This calendar helps Catholics reflect on different parts of Jesus’ life and teachings throughout the year.
In school, the Church Year may shape assemblies, prayers, Religious Education lessons, and special events. Families and students are not expected to have prior knowledge of this cycle.
Advent (late Nov–Dec) – A time of preparation and reflection leading up to Christmas.
Christmas (Dec–early Jan) – Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Lent (Feb–Mar/Apr) – A reflective period focused on self-discipline, generosity, and helping others.
Holy Week (week before Easter) – Remembers the final days of Jesus’ life.
Easter (Mar/Apr–May) – Celebrates new life and the belief that Jesus rose from the dead.
Pentecost (50 days after Easter) – Celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit and is often called the “birthday of the Church.”
Ordinary Time (two periods during the year) – Focuses on Jesus’ teachings and everyday Christian living.
