Celebrating the Spirit of Catholic Education Award 2026

21st January 2026

I am delighted to share that our school has been recognised with the Spirit of Catholic Education Award. A wonderful affirmation of the faith-filled life of our community and our commitment to placing prayer at the heart of all we do.

Mr Conlon, Fr Paul Strain, two pupils and I were presented with this prestigious award on behalf of our school and our parish. We took part in a beautiful mass and presentation ceremony before enjoying some light refreshments in in St. Mary’s University College, Belfast. Our pupils were an absolute credit to our school.

Each day in Mary Queen of Peace PS, prayer is more than a moment. It is a way of living. From morning prayer and class intentions, to quiet reflection, liturgies, and our shared celebrations throughout the Church year, we strive to help every child grow in a loving relationship with God. In simple, everyday moments before lessons, at times of need, and in thanks we learn together that prayer helps us to listen, to be kind, and to live with hope.

One of our key initiatives to promote prayer this academic year was coming together to pray the Rosary in October 2025. I led the school community by introducing the Joyful Mysteries and modelling how to pray the Rosary. Throughout the month, staff, pupils, and parents joined in, taking time to pause, reflect, and grow in their relationship with God. I was delighted by the strong engagement and the positive feedback from children, parents, and colleagues—it felt like a real moment of shared faith across our school community.

This award belongs to our whole school family. We thank our pupils for their reverence and commitment, our staff for leading prayer with care and creativity, and our parents and parish community for supporting faith at home and in school. Together, we are building a community where children know they are loved by God and encouraged to live out their faith in words and actions.

Please take a look below at some of the examples of how we live out prayer in our school community.

Mrs L McLoughlin

RE Co-ordinatior