Primary School MissionWhy a Sion Community Primary School Mission?
Speaking about catechesis and children, Pope St John Paul II said: “…the initial evangelisation has often not taken place. A certain number of children baptised in infancy come for catechesis in the parish without receiving any other initiation into the faith and still without any explicit personal attachment to Jesus Christ…” 
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Vision
In the light of the teaching of the Church our vision is to present anew to the children, staff, governors, parents, and all those involved in the mission, the Gospel message that God, in His great love for us, has sent us His Son to set us free and give us new life in Him, a life which starts now and goes on forever… Aim We aim to present the Gospel message in a modern, lively and stimulating way in order to encourage all concerned to take a fresh look at our faith and to live it more deeply. Our missions bring a powerful, impacting, time of renewal to the whole school community, to refresh faith and bring a new desire to continue on the journey of following Jesus and to bring His message of love to others. Together with Parish Missions
Our Primary School Missions are most effective when held alongside Parish Missions. Our experience proves that much greater links and involvement can be made when missions are done together like this. However, a Primary School Mission can also work excellently as a stand-alone event. |
How?
Through lively, thought-provoking assemblies, year-group work, presentations, classroom sessions and prayer times we aim to present the message anew to children, staff, governors and families. As a mission team, we also experience ourselves how God works for our own renewal too. A variety of methods are used in bringing the Gospel to life during the mission: drama, video, PowerPoint presentations, puppet shows, music and song, actions, movement, games, humour, question and answer sessions, personal testimonies, Scripture, prayer, reflection and silence…culminating, where possible, at the end of the week, in Mass for the whole school and a time of led adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for the older children. Retreat days
In addition to our week-long missions, we also offer retreat days to schools. Retreat days can also be offered to parishes for their 1st Communion programmes. |
Still not sure about booking a Sion Community Primary School Mission? Click below to find out what the Catholic Church says about “mission”
What St John Paul II said about Catechesis...
“The specific character of catechesis, as distinct from the initial conversion - bringing proclamation of the Gospel, has the twofold objective of maturing the initial faith and of educating the true disciple of Christ by means of a deeper and more systematic knowledge of the person and the message of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But in catechetical practice, this model order must allow for the fact that the initial evangelisation has often not taken place. A certain number of children baptised in infancy come for catechesis in the parish without receiving any other initiation into the faith and still without any explicit personal attachment to Jesus Christ; they only have the capacity to believe placed within them by Baptism and the presence of the Holy Spirit; and opposition is quickly created…” (St John Paul II)
The initial evangelisation spoken of involves the proclamation of the basic Gospel message:
“Evangelisation will also always contain…a clear proclamation that, in Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man, who died and rose from the dead, salvation is offered to all men, as a gift of God's grace and mercy…which indeed has its beginning in this life but which is fulfilled in eternity.” (St Paul VI)
But in catechetical practice, this model order must allow for the fact that the initial evangelisation has often not taken place. A certain number of children baptised in infancy come for catechesis in the parish without receiving any other initiation into the faith and still without any explicit personal attachment to Jesus Christ; they only have the capacity to believe placed within them by Baptism and the presence of the Holy Spirit; and opposition is quickly created…” (St John Paul II)
The initial evangelisation spoken of involves the proclamation of the basic Gospel message:
“Evangelisation will also always contain…a clear proclamation that, in Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man, who died and rose from the dead, salvation is offered to all men, as a gift of God's grace and mercy…which indeed has its beginning in this life but which is fulfilled in eternity.” (St Paul VI)
How are we to reveal jesus christ to our children?
“How are we to reveal Jesus Christ, God made man, to this multitude of children and young people, reveal Him not just in the fascination of a first fleeting encounter but through an acquaintance, growing deeper and clearer daily, with Him, His message, the plan of God that He has revealed, the call He addresses to each person, and the kingdom that He wishes to establish in this world with the "little flock" of those who believe in Him, a kingdom that will be complete only in eternity? How are we to enable them to know the meaning, the import, the fundamental requirements, the law of love, the promises and the hopes of this kingdom?”
Given that so many of the children in our schools come from families whose regular practice of the faith has ceased, our Catholic schools now have an increasingly important role in helping to answer this question. Given that “the initial evangelisation has often not taken place”, there is a great need for a dynamic proclamation of the Gospel to the children.
Given that so many of the children in our schools come from families whose regular practice of the faith has ceased, our Catholic schools now have an increasingly important role in helping to answer this question. Given that “the initial evangelisation has often not taken place”, there is a great need for a dynamic proclamation of the Gospel to the children.
How can Sion Community help?
Sion Community Primary School Missions aim to provide such an opportunity for a clear, lively, child-friendly proclamation of the Gospel message. A proclamation which is aimed at all members of the school and, indeed, the mission team too! For:
“The Church is an evangeliser, but she begins by being evangelised herself…she needs to listen unceasingly to what she must believe, to her reasons for hoping, to the new commandment of love…she always needs to hear the proclamation of the "mighty works of God"…In brief, this means that she has a constant need of being evangelised, if she wishes to retain freshness, vigour and strength in order to proclaim the Gospel.” (St Paul VI)
“The Church is an evangeliser, but she begins by being evangelised herself…she needs to listen unceasingly to what she must believe, to her reasons for hoping, to the new commandment of love…she always needs to hear the proclamation of the "mighty works of God"…In brief, this means that she has a constant need of being evangelised, if she wishes to retain freshness, vigour and strength in order to proclaim the Gospel.” (St Paul VI)
What does Pope Francis say?
Schools are in urgent need of self-criticism, if we consider the results of their pastoral outreach, which in many cases focuses on a kind of religious instruction that proves often incapable of nurturing lasting experiences of faith… Catholic schools remain essential places for the evangelization of the young... Ulysses, in order not to give in to the siren song that bewitched his sailors and made them crash against the rocks, tied himself to the mast of the ship and had his companions plug their ears. Orpheus, on the other hand, did something else to counter the siren song: he intoned an even more beautiful melody, which enchanted the sirens. This, then, is your great challenge: to respond to the crippling refrains of cultural consumerism with thoughtful and firm decisions, with research, knowledge and sharing”. Many young people have come to appreciate silence and closeness to God. Groups that gather to adore the Blessed Sacrament or to pray with the word of God have also increased. We should never underestimate the ability of young people to be open to contemplative prayer. (Christus Vivit - paragraphs 221-224, abridged.)