Mangaluru, Dec 24: Christmas is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for coming together with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly decorated packages.
It was surely a Christmas to remember at St Agnes CBSE School. The essence of Christmas came alive on December 19 when the students and teachers got together and shared the merriment amid the pandemic.
The programme began by invoking God's blessings by the students through a virtual prayer service. Christmas is something more than gifts, lights and holiday spirit. Students rediscovered the true meaning of Christmas by explaining the meaning of the Christmas symbols like the babe in the manager. Misletoe, angel, candle, bell, wreath, gift with a bow and the meaning of red and green colour.
Singing carols at Christmas time is a popular activity to bring the families and friends together. The students virtually sang melodious Christmas carols and danced beautifully. They wished one another. Several online competitions were conducted for the students of grade I and grade II students dressed like little angels and Christmas tree. Grade III students prepared a snowman, grade IV students had to prepare a Christmas bell and grade V Santa Claus Card. Grade VI and VII students prepared a Christmas wreath and star. The higher class students of grade VIII, IX and X participated in making a Christmas card, wreath and star-making respectively.
Not only did the students celebrate the birth of our Saviour, the principal and the staff too made the event a grand success. The teachers in the programme invoked God's blessings and prayed that this Christmas shower all with positivity and strength to fight the challenges corona virus is posing us with. The significance of the festival was explained by the teacher through the Christmas story.
Teachers Nayana and Shanthi compered the programme. The presence of the tableau and the carols made the festivities even more magical. The celebration took place in the open air in the natural surrounding of the school. Leaving no stone unturned to sprinkle the magic of love, the trees and the vegetable garden of the school were decorated by the teachers with stars, tinsel, balloons etc to make the Christmas spirit come alive.
Santa Claus with two magical elves arrived at St Agnes jingling the bells of happiness and joy on his scooter to meet his loving fans. Santa and his team conducted various games for the teachers Christmas cake and Kuswar were shared. The boundless joy of Christmas was visible on the faces of the staff when they exchanged the handmade Christmas card to their secret friend. The celebration was graced by the appearance of the guest, Sr Dr Lydia Fernandes AC, the superior and the joint secretary of the institution.
The chief guest appreciated the teachers for putting up a vibrant programme amid the pandemic. She delivered a message to celebrate the true Christmas by welcoming the Saviour into their heart and to reach out to the poor and the marginalized.
The principal Sr Maria Gracilda AC along with her staff gave a benevolent touch to the entire celebration by sharing their joy with the underprivileged by visiting the inmates of
1. Veronica Vihar home for aged, Maryhill
2. Inchara Children's home
3. Snehalaya home for abandoned
4. Seva Asliram, Pavur
Grocery items, sweets, biscuits and toiletries were distributed to the inmates, teachers presented a tableau and sang Christmas carols to greet them. It was wonderful to see the joy on the faces of the inmates.
Christmas joy was also shared with the staff of St Agnes Higher Primary School, Alcoholic Anonymous of Bendur unit and with the needy familles of the neighbourhood.
Christmas is the day that upholds all time together. Peace on earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day. May the miracle of Christmas fill our hearts with warmth and love to spread from home to home, from heart to heart from one place to another.
Click the link below to view the Christmas celebration:
Video link: https://youtu.be/_dMGpbmvQeA