CTK – Diversity- Prayer Resources – W/C 9/2/26
Hello everyone, and welcome back to CTKPray.
The prayer theme for this week is Diversity (Year A)
This week is the Fifth Week of Ordinary Time – prayer table cloths should be green
Chaplaincy Notices
- Chaplaincy team – Encounter team, meeting Thursday 12th Feb 12:45-1:15 – Please remind your form tutor to register you
- Bake sale – There will be a bake sale on Thursday 12th Feb during break/lunch in the dining hall to raise money for Lourdes
Here are some ways to introduce this week’s theme of Diversity…
Extra-Ordo-Nary flip book
Read the theme and talk about what this word means to you in your pairs.
As a form, reflect on what Diversity means to you all.
Watch this video
This video reminds us that everyone is different in their own way, and those differences are important. It shows that diversity includes where we come from, what we believe, how we live, and what makes us who we are. By respecting and celebrating these differences, we help create a community where everyone feels valued, included, and able to belong.
As you watch this video, think about:
- What are some of the ways people are different from one another?
- Why do you think these differences are important?
- How can recognising and respecting diversity help everyone feel included and valued in our form and school?
Prayer
Prayer
Loving God,
thank You for the gifts You have given to each of us
and for the rich variety of people and cultures in our world.
You have created us wonderfully different,
yet united in Your love.Send us Your Holy Spirit
to help us appreciate and respect one another,
to listen with open hearts,
and to see Your image reflected in every person we meet.We think of the saints who welcomed others,
who crossed boundaries with compassion
and used their gifts to serve all people.
May their example encourage us
to stand against division,
to celebrate diversity,
and to live with kindness, courage, and faith.Guide us in all that we do,
so that our lives may give glory to You
and help build a world of understanding and peace.
Amen.
Take a quiet moment now to reflect on the word Diversity and what it means for you in your life today.
Below you will find this week’s Gospel reading from Sunday’s mass and another piece of scripture on our prayer theme.
If you would like to explore your own scriptures, the link below will take you to open bible which allows you to explore scripture on any theme. Please use the English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK) translation –
https://www.openbible.info/topics/joy
Choose somebody in your form to read one of the scriptures below – you may also want to read this from the bible in your form room.
Sunday Gospel Reading Matthew 5:13-16
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Glory to you O Lord
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
Prayer Theme Scripture Colossians 1: 16-17
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Colossians
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
If your reading is from a Gospel, we invite you to say/ sing the Alleluia beforehand.
Let us take some time today to respond and reflect on our theme of Diversity
Please pick one of the below sections to help you to respond to this week’s theme. Let us know how your form gets on in the comments below.
Watch this video
This is me
Each one of us is unique, and those differences are what make our community strong.
Diversity means recognising and valuing the many ways people are different — where we come from, our cultures, our interests, our talents, and our experiences. No two people are exactly the same, and that is something to celebrate.
This is your chance to share a little about who you are with your form.
You might choose to:
- bring in an object, photo, or item that represents you or your culture
- talk about where you or your family come from
- share a hobby, interest, or talent you enjoy
- speak about a tradition, value, or experience that is important to you
By listening to one another and sharing respectfully, we learn more about each other and help everyone feel valued and included. Celebrating diversity helps us build a community where everyone belongs.
Reflection
Pick one of the songs in the music tab to listen to.
As individuals or as a form, reflect on one or more of the following questions:
- Can you think of a time when you chose to welcome or include someone who was different from you?
- What helped you make that choice — was it another person, a moment, a prayer, or something you had learned or seen?
- Where do you notice diversity in everyday life, not just at school or in church?
- How might the Holy Spirit be gently guiding us to notice, respect, and appreciate differences in ordinary moments?
- Many saints welcomed people who were different from them, even when it wasn’t easy.
- What can make it hard for us to accept or understand differences, and what could help us listen more carefully to God’s call to love and include everyone?
In the comment section below…
Answer one of these questions together as a form.
Diversity reminds us that God created each person uniquely and lovingly. Our differences — in culture, language, abilities, ideas, and experiences — are gifts that help us learn, grow, and care for one another.
When we welcome diversity, we reflect God’s love more fully.
Our CARE mission shows us how we can value diversity and help everyone feel they belong in our school community.
C – Community
Look for ways to include others in your community.
Welcome someone who may feel left out, celebrate differences, and help create a place where everyone feels safe and valued.
A – Achieve
Challenge yourself to learn something new about someone who is different from you.
Diversity helps us grow when we are open, curious, and willing to understand others.
R – Respect
Respect other people’s ideas, backgrounds, and beliefs, even when they are different from your own.
True respect means listening carefully and treating everyone with dignity and kindness.
E – Encounter
Take time each day to encounter God in prayer or Scripture.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see others as God sees them and to respond with love, fairness, and compassion.
You might like to create your own prayer on the theme of Diversity, asking God to help you celebrate differences and build unity in your everyday life.
Here are some song suggestions that you could use this week
This week in school, our theme is Diversity.
Diversity reminds us that God created each person uniquely and with great love.
It means recognising, respecting, and celebrating our differences — such as culture, background, abilities, opinions, and experiences.
Diversity helps us understand one another better and builds stronger, kinder communities.
When we welcome diversity, we reflect God’s love more clearly.
The Holy Spirit gently guides us to be open-hearted, to listen carefully, and to treat everyone with dignity.
Diversity reminds us that God is always with us, calling us to love others just as they are.
Conversation Starters
Use these questions to start a chat together
What makes people different from one another, and why do you think those differences are important?
Think about differences you see at school, at home, or in the wider world.
Can you think of a saint or holy person who welcomed or cared for people who were different from them?
What about their life inspires you, and how could you follow their example?
Have you ever felt left out or noticed someone else feeling left out?
What can we do as a family to make sure everyone feels included and valued?
Prayer
Loving God,
thank You for the gifts You have given to each of us
and for the wonderful diversity of people in our world.
You have made us all different,
yet united in Your love.
Send us Your Holy Spirit
to help us appreciate one another,
to listen with open hearts,
and to respect every person we meet.
We think of the saints who welcomed others
and shared kindness across differences.
May their example encourage us
to build bridges, show compassion,
and live with courage, faith, and love.
Guide us in all that we do,
so that our lives may give glory to You
and help create a world of peace and understanding.
Amen.
Mission
Together, choose something to do:
- Create a “Diversity Wall”
Put up a sheet of paper or poster in your home. Throughout the week, each family member adds something that celebrates diversity — a drawing, word, photo, flag, prayer, or short note about what makes people unique. By the end of the week, you’ll have a visual reminder of God’s beautiful variety. - Try a “Listening Moment”
Choose one short time this week to sit together and let each person share something about themselves — their thoughts, feelings, or experiences — while others listen respectfully. Thank God for the gift of each person. - Celebrate Together
Choose a meal, song, story, or tradition from a different culture or background. Use this time to talk about how learning from others helps us grow and understand God’s world better.
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