‘Pause To Remember What Truly Matters’– Fr. Stephen Ward

PICTURED ABOVE: ST. COLUMB'S COLLEGE CAROL SERVICE. . . . .Group pictured at the St. Columb's College Annual Christmas Carol Service at St. Patrick's Church, Pennyburn on Tuesday afternoon. From left, Mrs. Ursula Grimley, Vice Principal, Mrs Caroline McLaughlin, Principal, Fr. Stephen Ward, School Chaplain and Year 8 students Aeden Lusby and Matthew Smyth. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)

‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ was the opening hymn at the St. Columb’s College Annual Christmas Carol Service held in St. Patrick’s Church, Pennyburn on Tuesday afternoon, hosted by school chaplain Fr. Stephen Ward who called on all present to ‘Pause To Remember What Truly Matters at Christmas.’

The service opened with the school’s choir and band performing and a warm welcome from Fr. Stephen who had a special mention for the Board of Governors, Principal, Mrs. McLaughlin, staff, parents and guardians as well as representatives from the College’s chosen charities – Foyle Search and Rescue, St. Vincent de Paul and the Foyle Hospice.

IN PICTURES: St. Columb’s College Annual Christmas Carol Service

St. Columb’s College supports local charities at annual service held in St. Patrick’s Church, Pennyburn

Fr. Ward read from Isaiah 40:1,3-5, a powerful prophetic passage about divine comfort – ‘Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Prepare the way for the Lord! Make straight into the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it.’

During Tuesday’s Service the First Reading was delivered by Cormac O’Neill, 8A before the choir and congregation performed ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ followed by ‘The Miracle of Christmas’ – a beautiful poem read by Conall Hegarty, 8B. Adrian O’Connell gave the Second Reading from Hebrews 1:1-6 – introducing Jesus as God’s ultimate revelation, surpassing prophets and angels.

The homily was given by Fr. Ward who talked about Christmas, how we pause to remember what truly matters – not the rush or the noise but the quiet coming of God among us. ‘In a world that often distracts us with many things, God invites us, as He once invited the shepherds, to stop and listen, to wonder and rejoice.’

Further readings were given by Year 8 students Fiachra Hamilton; Jack McShane, Cathal Brown and Luca Hawkin before Principal Mrs. Caroline McLaughlin thanked all for coming and wished everyone involved with St. Columb’s College and a happy and peaceful Christmas.

After the final Blessing, the service drew to a close with a rendition of ‘Hark, The Herald Angels Sing’ and was followed by a presentation to the College’s chosen charities by Mrs. McLaughlin, Principal, Mrs Ursula Grimley Vice Principal and Assistant Chaplain, Mr Nathan Thiruvengadam.