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Welcome to Togetherness 2026-27.

The Spiritual Development in Schools, together with the Secretariat for Catholic Education, will continue to support educators who wish the best for their students by contributing to building a community, beginning with the truth that God created us for relationship and loves every person. Recognising ourselves as loved by God frees us to love others and see each person as a gift.

A school should therefore become a community where everyone belongs, is heard and contributes. This calling can be developed through five movements: being together, participating together, serving together, celebrating together and growing together. Through presence, listening, respect, prayer, forgiveness and care for creation, we overcome exclusion and selfishness. Jesus walks with us, unites us and helps us build peaceful, welcoming communities where everyone grows as one family in love.

God created us for relationships. From the first moments of life, we depend on others to live, grow and understand who we are. Our families, schools, friendships, churches, neighbourhoods and the whole of creation are places where we learn to live together.

Togetherness means more than being in the same place. It means recognising that every person has a place, a voice and something valuable to offer. It means welcoming differences, caring for one another and working for the common good. At the heart of this journey lies our relationship with God, who loves us and gathers us as one people.

Our identity begins with a simple truth: we are loved by God.

“You are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.” (Colossians 3:12)

When we recognise God’s love, we become freer to love others. We begin to see each person as a gift rather than a burden. When we pray, we are responding to God, who has already called us. Even our desire to pray is a sign of his invitation.

Education cares for the whole person: mind, heart, conscience, relationships, freedom, responsibility and openness to God. A school is more than a place where knowledge is gained, and results are achieved. It is a community where we learn to grow in our relationships with ourselves, with others, with creation and with God. Healthy relationships also support the wellbeing of each person and the whole community.

The theme of Togetherness develops through these five movements.

Being Together

A person grows when they feel welcomed, heard and loved. A school should be a community where everyone feels they belong. This requires genuine presence and care for those who feel lonely, unheard or excluded.

Participating Together

Every person has a voice and something to contribute. Participation means listening before speaking, sharing our ideas respectfully and making space for others. Saint Paul compares a community to a living body. Every member has a purpose and needs the other members. No one should be treated as unimportant.

Serving Together

Jesus teaches us that love becomes visible through service. A community grows when we recognise others’ needs and respond. We are called to offer our time, gifts and resources for the good of people and creation. Progress should be measured by the dignity given to each person and by the good we build together.

Celebrating Together

A healthy community recognises and celebrates the goodness, efforts and contribution of every person. As a Christian community, we celebrate God’s presence among us. We gather in prayer, listen to his Word, celebrate the Sacraments and thank him for life, for the people around us and for creation.

Growing Together

Selfishness, exclusion, bullying, hurtful words, indifference, unhealthy competition and the misuse of technology divide us. Change begins when we recognise our mistakes, ask for forgiveness and choose a better path. Patience, kindness, humility, gentleness, forgiveness, love and gratitude create healing relationships and make room for everyone. The SDS team is working with other teams within the Catholic Church in Malta that minister to children and young people to make change more effective. These include the Secretariat for Catholic Education, Lifelong Catechesis, Diocesan Commission for Children, MCYN and Għaqda Nazzjonali tal-Abbatini Maltin.

This year, we want to support schools to become more of a community where no one is left out, every person is heard, and everyone takes part. These five movements help us build a culture of presence, listening, respect, service, prayer and change. Jesus walks with us, unites us and helps us become a community that welcomes, learns, serves and builds peace. In him, we find the strength to love and grow together as one family.

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.

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Resources

Being Together
A Session about Building Long-lasting Relationships and a True Communion

Serving together
Voluntary Work: Helping students put love into action through service, volunteering and partnership.

Participating Together
A Story about Participation with questions for discussion.

Communicating Together
A Series of Reflections on Digital Etiquette

Growing Together
A Session about Growing and Changing Together in Communion, Participation and Mission.

Overview of the Resources

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 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

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.

Booklet for Early and Primary Years Sessions >>
Booklet for Middle and Secondary Years Sessions >>
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Programmes

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