Togetherness 2026-27

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Welcome to Togetherness 2026-27.

This year invites us to grow in fullness of life – body, mind, heart, and soul. Rooted in God’s love, we walk together as one community, caring for ourselves, for one another, and for our common home.

We are glad you are here. Join us in this journey of love and wholeness.

Our schools, families, and young people are living in a time marked by many challenges. We are surrounded by news of wars and repeated failures to build peace. Questions about the development of artificial intelligence continue to rise. Many families are experiencing breakups and instability. A culture of superficial pleasure is becoming more common. The cry to care for our common home, especially on our island, is growing louder. These and other realities can easily create feelings of alienation among people in our country.

Into this reality, Jesus points us to a healing power: Love. When asked about the greatest commandment, He replied: “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12: 29-31).

This teaching is echoed in Pope Leo XIV’s motto, In Illo uno unam – “In the One, we are one.” His words and reflections remind us that unity and communion with God and one another are the path to fullness.

The theme Wholesome calls us to this wholeness. It is about fullness and integration — body, mind, heart, and soul. It aligns with the growing attention in education to holistic well-being, resilience, and inclusion. When students and educators are supported not only academically but also emotionally, socially, and spiritually, learning becomes more than preparation for exams. It becomes preparation for life.

To be wholesome is to live with integrity and balance. The love of God, the love of neighbour, and the love of self are not separate paths but one journey. The more, with God’s grace, individuals become whole, the more they can love. This is what gives depth to our mission in schools and communities this year: to walk together in this quest for wholeness, guided by Love.

Planning with the School Leadership and the pastoral teams is essential. The earlier we plan, the more we demonstrate that spiritual and pastoral development is a vital aspect of school life. What should one keep in mind when planning?

Resources to Help You Plan

The following file is a scheme that includes week-by-week ideas and themes for the whole educational year related to Year Theme 26-27 about Togertherness:

Download the 2026-2027 Scheme

SDS offers various programmes and services to help the school community grow in God’s love. Explore more in the following brochure, which you will receive in hard copy at school. We encourage you to analyse the school’s spiritual needs and plan spiritual activities with the religious counsellor/spiritual director. If you need SDS’s contribution, fill out the Request a Service Form so we can make time to serve you. Contact us if you want to speak with us.

SDS-Brochure-25-26_f

These prayer spaces can be used for the year theme – Togetherness

Olympic Rings

This prayer space, inspired by the interlocking rings of the Olympic Games, invites one to pray for oneself and those around.

One Vine

Inspired by the biblical passage of the unity between the vine and the branches ( Jn 15: 5-19) this prayer space inspires one to appreciate and pray for unity specifically amongst Christians of different denominations.

Flame of Faith

Throughout this prayer space one is encouraged to reflect on empathy through flames of an oil lamp.
Praying with Nature

Praying with Nature

In this prayer activity, one prays in nature while reflecting on memories and using technology to gain further knowledge.

Heart Strings

In this prayer space one is invited to express positive attitudes towards people who are different.

Beatitudes: Peace

In this prayer space one thinks about situations of conflict and then prays on bringing peace and reconciliation.

Forgiveness Stones

In this prayer space one reflects on the good feeling of letting go and forgiving someone who caused pain.

Glass of Water

Bus Blessings

During this prayer activity, the participant can appreciate the relationships with their families and friends and be grateful to God and for them.

Building Blocks

In this prayer space one is asked to relfect on one’s daily actions and how such actions are helping to build a better world.

Readings adapted for children for the first Friday of the month

Many schools celebrate Holy Mass on the first Friday of the month. Click on the button to download the document with all the adapted readings for the first Friday of the month between October 2025 and June 2026 in Maltese.

Download all the Readings

Click on the month to download the PowerPoint presentation of the Readings in Maltese.

OctoberJanuaryApril
NovemberFebruaryMay
DecemberMarchJune

Ideas for Better Participation during Holy Mass

Helpful resources and ideas to celebrate the Eucharistic celebration in a more engaging and participative way.

Ħallu t-Tfal Jiġu Għandi

F’dil-paġna diversi temi għaċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-Quddiesa. Kull tema għandha qari relatat u diversi minnhom huma fi stil djalogat. Ibda għalhekk mill-bżonnijiet tal-komunità u għażel it-tema li tixtieq tippreżenta.

Sejjaħtilkom Ħbieb

Dawn ir-riżorsi huma maħluqa biex jkunu ta’ għajnuna għat-tfal biex jifmu u għalhekk jieħdu sehem aħjar fil-quddiesa. Hu importanti ħafna li t-tfal jifhmu dak li qegħdin jagħmlu – jagħrfu li bis-sehem tagħhom fil-quddiesa jkunu qegħdin ifaħħru ‘l Alla.

Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

If you have resources related to the theme and want to share them, please CLICK the button below.

I want to share my resources

During Lent, educators are invited to take part in four Spiritual Exercises sessions inspired by the year theme Togetherness.

These sessions offer a quiet space for prayer, reflection and discernment, helping educators reconnect their daily mission with the Social Teaching of the Church and their concrete life.

Dates: 15 February, 23 February, 3 March, 11 March
Time: 8:00pm–9:00pm
Venues will be announced later.

More details will be published in the coming months.

Request a Service from SDS
Apply Now >>

Overview of the sessions

Wholesome Heart: Filled and Overflowing

What do we understand by “heart”? What comes to mind? What attitudes? Through the story of a confident woman who carried an alabaster (translucent!) jar, we are going to hear about how love is a gift that flows most abundantly from a sincere heart that has been freed, forgiven, and made whole. Click >>here<< for the session.

Keywords: Love, forgiveness, sincerity.

Wholesome Soul: Enlightened and Focused

What do we understand by “soul” or “spirit”? Through the story of Blind Bartimaeus, we are going to hear how the soul is related to our identity – and how a blurred vision of the self could enable us to ask for a true purpose in life we can trust and follow. Click >>here<< for the session.

Keywords: Identity, trust, purpose.

Wholesome Mind: Caught and Renewed

What do we think about when we hear “mind” and its capabilities? Through the story of the Miraculous Catch, we are going to hear about how, despite their potential, minds can be caught in moments of discouragement and unworthiness – moments that can also make us encounter a new reason for hope and empowerment! Click >>here<< for the session.

Keywords: Encounter, reason, empowerment.

Wholesome Strength: Seen and Restored

What comes to mind when you hear “strength”? Is it just muscles? Through the story of Zacchaeus, we will be hearing both about physical strength and bodily limits — a reality we cannot hide, but when our efforts are seen through compassionate eyes, new opportunities for change and gaining true strength arise. Click >>here<< for the session.

Keywords: Effort, compassion, change

Booklet for Early and Primary Years Sessions >>
Booklet for Middle and Secodnary Years Sessions >>

Sessions

Twenty-minute sessions are prepared for a group of students

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Programmes

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