ST. Francis is Celebrated at J.C McGUIGAN Catholic S.S

800 YEARS AFTER HIS LIFE.

Ines G, Student Reporter, JC McGuigan CSS. Inspiring teacher Mr. L. DiGuglielmo

Almost eight-hundred years after Saint Francis of Assisi’s death, his stature still prevails with James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic S.S students and teachers.

On October the 3rd an outdoor procession involving the entire collection of JCM students and staff as well as four other feeder schools from the local neighbourhood, totaling to about thirteen hundred students. St. Charles Garnier, St. Francis de Sales, St. Jerome and St. Wilfrid all joined around 10a.m as all students began to gather in Fountainhead park for the beginning of the mass. Whilst the prayer of Saint Francis was being played in the foreground, all grades were filed into two sections awaiting the arrival of Father Paulos and another visiting priest.

Shortly after the mass had begun, a handmade mosaic of Francis was walked down between the sectors of students by some of JCM’s very own. As it was prayed upon, the sense of community began to set in throughout the liturgy in commemorating his importance at James Cardinal McGuigan.

Following the ceremony, all attendants were offered a barbeque lunch of chicken burgers and refreshments. Along with the catered meal, students were also able to enjoy a day spent playing outdoor activities whilst listening to broadcasted music from a DJ stand that was also set up. Festivities remained for the rest of the day, ending off yet another celebration of Saint Francis with the proper life and worship. 

The entire event, with about two weeks of planned coordination between a large number of staff members at JCM, came to a close with a success. Both JCM students and other attendants highlighted several aspects of the day. “The feast day was a great opportunity for us all to come together as a community to worship our school’s patron saint as well as have a lot of fun” said one student.

The Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

“Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me bring your love,
Where there is injury your pardon Lord,
And where there’s doubt true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

O Master grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive.
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

O Master grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
And to love as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive.
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

Make me a channel of your peace.”

-sung by Angelina