Catholic Life

Welcome to our Catholic School

Welcome to Christ the King Catholic High School & Sixth Form Centre. We are proud to serve the pupils and families of Southport and surrounding areas by providing high standards of education which is founded on the values and traditions of the Catholic faith.

“Do not withhold good to others when it is in your power to act.” - Proverbs 3:27

These words from the book of Proverbs, which are on our school badge, give us a solid foundation for our daily mission at Christ the King. We have all been given a special power: to do good. It is through our daily prayers and our Catholic tradition that we encourage everybody to share that power with others in their thoughts, their words and their actions.

Our message is alternative, counter-cultural and revolutionary. It is a message of hope, peace, and love – all of which are gifts from God that we are encouraged to share with all who we meet (and even those who we don’t meet).

Faith in Action

Parents Information

Teaching & Mission

The Chapel

“When you pray, go into your room and pray to your Father. Your Father, who sees all, will reward you.” - Matthew 6:6

We are fortunate to have a space in our school that is solely dedicated to prayer. The Chapel is open all day every day for anybody to spend some time in prayer and reflection.

Form Masses are held throughout the year as well as our voluntary Monthly Masses which are open to families and parishioners (as announced in parish newsletters). All pupils visit the Chapel at different points in the year to help them with their formation and understanding of what it means to be part of a Catholic school and how we can live the values of the faith in our day-to-day lives.

Year 7 Retreat & Welcome Mass

All Year 7 pupils begin their time at Christ the King with a retreat day, led by the Chaplain and the Archdiocesan Youth Ministry Team ( animateyouth.org ). As part of this retreat pupils learn about the importance of our community, how to contribute their own God-given gifts and they begin preparation for the Year 7 Welcome Mass. During our Welcome Mass, every single pupil is involved in the celebration with parents, families and parishioners invited.

Feast of Christ the King

Every November we have a whole-school celebration for our feast day. In the weeks leading up to Mass every class group comes to the Chapel to reflect on the readings and the theme and to consider the significance of Christ the King. On the feast day itself, every House celebrates Mass together, has time in classes to focus on our mission as a school and, of course, the obligatory chocolate treat for all!

Prayer Spaces

Form rooms contain a space at the front of every room to utilise different ways of praying. They provide creative ways for pupils to reflect on, and - if they want to - to take ownership of the space to pray for their own needs and to create resources and personalised ideas for praying as a form group.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

We host services of Reconciliation every Lent with all pupils being invited to receive the Sacrament from our local priests. Reconciliation is also available throughout the year on request.

Sacrament of Confirmation

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23

Following the Archdiocesan programme for Confirmation, we support our local deanery with the Sacrament. Pupils receive their Confirmation theology in RE lessons and they are encouraged in Year 8 (and above) to attend the preparation sessions in the deanery. We also support the deanery with follow-up retreats for those who have received the Sacrament.

For more information or to sign up for the Sacrament of Confirmation, please go to: liverpoolcalled.co.uk

Prayer & Liturgy

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Every day at Christ the King begins with prayer. It is important that we take these moments each day to offer the day ahead to God and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in all that we do. The themes for our prayers link directly to the calendar of the Church and are created to be relevant, meaningful and reflective for our pupils. They include opportunities to gather, listen, to participate, to pray and to respond and use a variety of different styles of prayer, including story, music, imagery, silence, reflection and videos.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” - Matthew 7:7

Each week every year group gathers together to look at the theme in greater detail, with the Sunday scripture at it’s heart. These gatherings are led by the Chaplain, Senior Leaders and Heads of Year with every form group preparing and leading a celebration of the Word throughout the year.

“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” - Matthew 7:8

Liturgy

Liturgies are the formal rituals of the Catholic Church. Throughout the year there are opportunities for pupils and staff to gather collectively to celebrate together - Mass, Reconciliation, Confirmation (linking to the parishes of the local deanery). For more information about the Sacrament of Confirmation (which is open to Year 8 and above), please go to liverpoolcalled.co.uk . Pupils or parents who wish to be received into the Catholic Church can make enquiries at their local parish or speak to the school Chaplain. Pupils are encouraged to collaborate and lead in liturgical ministries (reading, serving, music, Eucharistic Ministry).

“The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the font from which all her power flows.” - Catechism of the Catholic Church §1074

Page updated

Report abuse