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Catholic schools to ring the Angelus daily

23/01/2013

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Fra Angelico, The Annunciation and Life of the Virgin. Image: Public domain

Bishop Anthony launched the initiative at Catholic Education's system leadership day

Over 43,000 students and 4,500 staff in Catholic schools as well as Catholic Education Office and Chancery staff in the Diocese of Parramatta will pray the Angelus at noon each day to join in the beautiful tradition of prayer as a sign of ‘unity, reverence and dignity’.

In launching the initiative at Catholic Education's system leadership day, Bishop Anthony Fisher OP said the praying of the Angelus was an important ‘interruption’ to the day.

'While the Angelus will only take a few minutes to pray each day, it is an important reminder that there is more to life, much more, than the toil of everyday routines,' said Bishop Anthony.

The Angelus is a simple prayer recalling the Incarnation - the gift of God's Son - and dates back to the 12th Century with St Anthony of Padua encouraging the practice of reciting the Hail Mary three times a day.

It was in the 16th century that the form of the Angelus known today with the ringing of the bells was fixed. The ringing of the bells is more than a call to prayer, they represent the prayer itself. Three bells ring throughout each of the three verses with nine bells throughout the final prayer.

Bishop Anthony also launched new social outreach and fundraising guidelines for schools titled, ‘Love one another, as I have loved you’ and announced a 2013 review of Religious Education in Catholic schools in the diocese.

Executive director of schools, Greg Whitby, said the three initiatives were critical to the evangelising mission of Catholic schools.

‘Religious Education, prayer and social justice are pillars of evangelisation and formation in schools,’ said Greg. ‘We need to ensure our Catholic schools provide authentic formation experiences for the young people in their care.’

The system leadership day brings together over 400 school and education office leaders to provide a focus for the new school year.

Angelus Prayerbook