September is the end of the summer and the beginning of a new school year. Back-to-school is an important time in the lives of students and teachers. To make the best of this beginning and prepare for the challenges of school, it’s important to take the time to entrust the school year to God. Let us thank God for this new year, for what we will experience, and let us ask him for his help and support for elementary, middle and high school students, as well as for their teachers through a time of personal prayer, as a family, parish or in the chaplaincy.
The Church accompanies everyone through life, and the beginning of the school year is an important time for families. In parishes, the month of September is therefore an opportunity to mark this time of re-entry, whether with the resumption of the catechism, the chaplaincy, or specific times of prayer, such as the blessing of the backpacks.
But we can also, as a family, take the time to celebrate this back-to-school to go through this time in a serene and confident way. This can be the occasion for prayer in the family, during which everyone can also entrust their hopes, joys, fears and anxieties to feel supported by others. This is also the time to create a small ritual, entrusting your school day to the Lord with a small morning prayer.
"Tomorrow is back to school! We came back from the summer with lots of beautiful memories in our heads. Bless you, Lord, for all your summer gifts: the good days with family, the joy of friendship, the landscapes and the sun.
Tomorrow is back to school! A year full of discovery begins in school, in the catechism, in our activities. Give us curiosity and enthusiasm!
Tomorrow is back to school! We'll meet up with our friends. And also discover new classmates. Prepare our hearts for all these meetings. Let us go to others and never leave anyone alone in the playground. Help us not to make fun of those who are different from us. Let us find friends to share our joys and games with.”
Prayer from the Family Prayer Book, Mathilde Ray, 2019,
“Lord, we pray for the teachers to whom we entrust our children for much of the day.
Let them be competent, attentive to their progress and their difficulties, diligent in their work; let them welcome the faith of our family.
Let our children not meet bad people, not hear bad ideas or bad words, but meet people who stimulate them and give them the joy of learning.
We pray for teachers who are struggling. Amen ”
Prayer by Father Ludovic Lécuru
(Also read the teachers' prayer to help them through this new year with their students.)
“O God, our heavenly Father, who loves humanity, and is so merciful and compassionate, take pity on these children who are yours, Your servants, for whom we humbly pray to You, and commend them to Your gracious protection.
O God, You deign to be their guide and guardian in all their endeavors; guide them on the path of Your Truth, and bring them near to You, that they may live a righteous and godly life, loving You and fearing You; fulfilling Your will in all things.
Bless and strengthen their teachers. And give them grace that they may be moderate, hard-working, diligent, pious, and charitable.
Defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all temptations and corruption of this present life; lead them on the way of salvation, for the love of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and through the intercession of his most holy mother, your blessed saints, and their guardian angels!
Amen!” “
To give ourselves courage, we can give our children a comforting and encouraging Word of God. By inviting them to keep it in their hearts, we will help them not to forget that they are not alone in everything they will experience. Here are 5 beautiful Bible verses to guide them on the way to school!
“Whatever your work is, do it with a good heart, as for the Lord and not to please men” (Colossians 3:23)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Psalms 31:8)
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)
Hozana accompanies you throughout the year to live closer to God every day through prayer and the spiritual journey. Through novenas and proposals - for both adults and children - you can entrust your joys and sorrows to the Lord throughout the year, carried by the Hozana prayer communities.
You can find novenas online as well as the Hozana events organized during important time of the year: Advent, Lent, Easter, and more.
But also daily proposals for living each day this year with God, such as the verse of the day or a daily gospel in art.