Our Parish and Community
Our Parish Church - St Mary's
St Mary’s, Cleator is our parish church and has been at the heart of Catholic life in the local community since it opened in 1872. Within the church grounds is the Grotto, a beautiful shrine in honour of Our Lady, built using stone from the local mine pit banks and created to represent the Grotto at Lourdes in France.
At St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, we are proud of our strong links with St Mary’s and with our parish priest, Father Paul. The celebration of Mass is central to our Catholic life and worship, and our regular visits to church help our children to grow in faith, reverence and understanding. Each week, one class attends Mass in person on a Tuesday, representing our whole school community. Parishioners warmly welcome the children and often comment on the respect and reverence they show during Mass.
Our relationship with the parish helps our pupils understand that they are part of a wider Catholic family. Through attending Mass, visiting the church and learning about the sacred spaces within it, the children deepen their love of Christ and grow in their understanding of the Eucharist.
This connection begins from the earliest years. Our EYFS children visit church on Fridays andare developing a strong sense of belonging to the parish community. In our EYFS unit, children have also created miniature Mass resources for small world play, allowing them to recreate and explore the celebration of Mass with Father Paul in a meaningful and age-appropriate way. This helps even our youngest children to recognise the importance of the church, the priest and the Mass in our Catholic community.
St Mary's Grotto
St Mary’s Grotto is a very special place of prayer and reflection for our school and parish community. Our children visit the Grotto throughout the year to spend time in quiet prayer, reflect on the Stations of the Cross and honour Our Lady.
The Grotto is also an important part of our wider Catholic life. Our First Holy Communion children take part in the annual parish pilgrimage, and we gather there for special celebrations such as the Festival for Mary during the month of May.
These visits help our pupils experience prayer beyond the classroom and deepen their sense of belonging to St Mary’s parish family. The Grotto gives our children a peaceful space to reflect, pray and grow closer to God.
Faith in action: our pupils serving at the altar at St Mary’s Church.
We are very proud of the pupils from St Patrick’s who serve at the altar at St Mary’s Church. Altar serving is a special ministry and gives our children the opportunity to take an active role in the celebration of Mass.
Sacrament Preparation: Holy Communion & Reconciliation
At St Patrick’s, we are proud to work in close partnership with St Mary’s Church, Father Paul, parish catechists and our families as children prepare to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.
The programme is led by the parish, with catechists supporting the children on their journey of faith. As a school, we help nurture the children’s understanding of the Eucharist through prayer, Religious Education, regular attendance at Mass and strong links with parish life.
Receiving First Holy Communion is a very special milestone for our pupils. We are delighted to support and celebrate with the children and their families as they take this important step in their Catholic faith journey.
Reception’s Church Journey
Our Reception children have a special link with St Mary’s Church. From their very first weeks in school, they begin to visit the church and become familiar with this sacred place at the heart of our parish community.
During their visits, the children explore the church, learn about key features such as the altar, statues, candles and stained-glass windows, and practise simple prayers and the Sign of the Cross. These experiences help our youngest pupils grow in confidence, reverence and understanding.
The children also visit St Mary’s on Fridays, giving them regular opportunities for prayer, reflection and quiet time with God. These visits help them to feel at home in the church and understand that they are part of our wider parish family.
Celebrating Parish Life
At St Patrick’s, we are proud to be active members of St Mary’s parish community. Throughout the year, our children take part in special events and celebrations held at St Mary’s Church, helping them to understand that the church is a living and active community.
Celebrating the Liturgical Year Together
Throughout the year, we join with St Mary’s Church to celebrate key moments in the liturgical year. These shared celebrations help our children understand the rhythm of the Church’s year and deepen their sense of belonging to our parish family.
Our school community comes together at St Mary’s for important celebrations such as our Start of Year Mass, Leavers’ Mass, St Patrick’s Day Mass, holy days of obligation and other special feast days.
One of our most cherished and well-attended events is our Christmas Carol Service. This beautiful celebration brings together pupils, families, staff and parishioners in prayer, music and reflection as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
By celebrating these important moments with our parish, our children learn that their faith is part of a wider Catholic community, rooted in prayer, worship and shared tradition.
St Patrick's Day
Christmas Carol Service
Carol Service comments from our families and community: