Scottish Catholic Observer

All money raised was donated to the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) and will be used to help refugees.

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow was the guest of honour, and joined SCIAF’s schools officer Mark Booker, Sr Jill of the Salesian Sisters and John Deighan, chief executive of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children Scotland, in judging the various performances.

First prize went to Sabrina Mandulu and Erin McEvoy of Lourdes Secondary who performed a beautifully haunting song they had written especially for the occasion, titled Who Can Bear to Feel Themselves Forgotten? The school is now seeking sponsorship to have the song recorded and sold.

Second place went to Clodagh and Shannon O’Donnell, sisters from St Ninian’s in Giffnock, who performed on the harp and fiddle. And third place went to Indian dancers Alphi Robert, Helga Joseph, Jovanna Joseph—and their choreographer Merlin Kumjomon—from S2 in Lourdes, a particularly fitting honours as the young pro-life group members had come up with the idea for the event.

S6 volunteers then took up the project in collaboration with the Lourdes Pro-Life group, with the senior pupils saying they wanted to put their beliefs into practice by using their talents to help others.

The event was compared with wit by Lourdes co-hosts Seamus Brady of S6 and Alan John of S3 and Mass which was concelebrated by Archbishop Tartaglia, Lourdes chaplain Fr Gerry Walsh, Mgr John Gilmartin and Fr John Carrol , Holyrood Secondary chaplain and previously Lourdes Secondary’s chaplain of eight years.

“I was delighted with the enormous amount of hard work, determination and enthusiasm as well as talent that pupils invested,” Kathleen McBride of Lourdes Secondary said. “They were filled with compassion for the plight of those who are most vulnerable in the world, and they want to make a difference—they’re an inspiration.”

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Pic: Paul McSherry