Last week, our 90th anniversary celebrations culminated with a Mass of Thanksgiving, led by Bishop Paul McAleenan. It is 90 years since the Sisters of Mercy founded St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Primary School on Vanda Crescent, St Albans. We wanted to give thanks to God for the charitable work of the Sisters, and for looking after and sustaining our school for 90 years!
The Mass was attended by past and present pupils, staff, Governors and families. We also welcomed the Sisters of Mercy and the Mercy Associates. The Mass began as representatives of the school brought up some objects to symbolise thanksgiving for our school: a Mercy Cross to show that our school was founded by the Sisters of Mercy; our School Mission Statement and Values to represent our school’s purpose and the principles that we try to live by; an orchid to symbolise joy and to remind us that our upper school was built on the site of an orchid nursery; and a photograph of one of the former teachers with her pupils to remind us of all of those who have been a part of St Alban & St Stephen over the years. Incredibly, one of the former Head Teachers, Sister Winifred, was present at the Mass and recognised that this was a photograph of her with her class!
Our Pupil Chaplaincy Team, Prayer Leaders and other Year 6 pupils read the Scripture readings, prayers, while Year 6 singers led us in the sung Gospel acclamation and a beautiful version of Psalm 23 ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’. We also sang a new hymn which we had learnt for the occasion, the Suscipe of Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy
Bishop Paul spoke to us about the significance of 90 years of growing and learning to be more like Jesus. He told us that we must continue to rejoice and to give thanks. We learnt some sign language with Bishop Paul and were all able to try to sign his message:
“We thank you God for the gift of our school.
We thank you God for all your gifts.”
After Communion, Sister Maura read a prayer for the Beatification of Sister Catherine McAuley. Finally, Mr Dolan, our Chair of Governors, thanked everyone for their work in supporting the school, especially the staff.
The Mass ended with a rousing rendition of ‘Shine, Jesus Shine’, asking Jesus, light of the world, to shine on us as we go out from our school into the world to show His grace and mercy to others.
The Mass was a wonderful and very moving occasion. Thank you to everyone for supporting our 90th anniversary celebrations, especially the staff, pupils, Father Michael and Father John, The Mercy Associates, and Bishop Paul McAleenan for leading our Mass.