Scottish Catholic Observer

Schoolchildren from across Clydebank gathered in St Peter the Apostle High School where they performed a special concert commemorating All Saints Day.

The concert, organised by Fire.Cloud, saw pupils from St Joseph’s Primary School in Faifley and Our Holy Redeemer Primary School, Whitecrook, join forces for the exciting performance, in front of an appreciative audience.

Fire.Cloud, the driving force behind the concert, is an independent Glasgow-based organisation, which works to build vibrant communities through faith and arts, encouraging others to cultivate and use their personal talents. Its mission is underpinned by Catholic social teaching, in conjunction with the Clydebank schools.

Focus on talent

The focus on talent was crucial to the preparation, as Maire-Claire O’Connell, whose primary seven class performed in the concert, told the Scottish Catholic Observer.

“The pupils loved working with Fire.Cloud,” she said. “I didn’t know how they would react a first, particularly as we have a lot of primary seven boys who don’t like singing and dancing, but I was surprised to see what a great relationship they developed with the people at Fire.Cloud.

“Each session started with a prayer, and remained open throughout the session, reinforcing to the pupils that during this time they were offering their talents to God. It reminded them that they each have God-given talents which they should use throughout their lives.

“I am really proud of the way my pupils prepared for their performance.”

Throughout the concert Robert Wilson and Sam Begbie from Fire.Cloud guided the pupils from Our Holy Redeemer and St Joseph’s, while the Fire.Cloud band featuring Keith Beattie, Suzanne Caldwell, Kenny Waters, Suzanne Bunniss and James Fleming provided some soulful music and even orchestrated some audience participation.

Using God’s gifts

“Our hope for the night was that both performers and audience would feel their spirits lifted by using and witnessing the creative gifts we’ve been given for the service of the world,” Suzanne Bunniss, Fire.Cloud’s director said after the performance. “The challenge to become saints of the future may seem an impossible task but tonight’s event demonstrates that it is an idea worth considering.  Everyone involved with Fire.Cloud is delighted that we can play our part, however small, in promoting hope in the future saints and leaders of our community.

“We want to say well done to all those who performed and a huge thank you to all the friends and family who came along to support this event, we couldn’t have done it without you!”

The evening also marked another step towards the Pope Benedict XVI Caritas Award for the 6th Year pupils of St Peter the Apostle, who took time out of their evening to decorate the stage and ensure the concert went without a hitch.