Scottish Catholic Observer

Catholic students from around Scotland have been at the forefront of marking Holocaust Memorial Day.

From the east coast to west, Catholic pupils joined the First Minister, local provosts, councillors, religious orders and fellow pupils to remember the horror of the Holocaust, and other examples of genocide, in the hope they will not be repeated.

West Coast

In East Renfrewshire pupils from St Luke’s High School, Barrhead, and St Ninian’s High School, Giffnock, provided a musical accompaniment to a memorial event at Eastwood Park Theatre.

In front of students, parents and Provost Alex Mackie, journalist Mark S Smith gave a fascinating talk on his book Treblinka Survivor, the story of Hershl Sperling, a Polish Jew, who lived in East Renfrewshire after the Second World War. Mr Sperling survived the horrors of the Treblinka extermination camp where over 800,000 people entered and less than 70 came out.

Also in East Renfrewshire, primary seven pupils at St Joseph’s Primary in Busby marked Holocaust Memorial Day by putting on an Anne Frank assembly for parents and guests.

During the assembly children also spoke about the need for tolerance in today’s society and about how we can help those who suffer today either because of hatred or poverty. The children also stressed the need for tolerance in today’s society and about how we can help those who suffer today either because of hatred or poverty.

Pupils Adam Mayers and Caitlin McLaughlin said they were proud of the work their school did to improve the world.

“At St Joseph’s we take part in many charitable events,” they said. “All classes present Advent assemblies and this year primaries four and five chose Mary’s Meals as their charity. They had a back pack appeal and children were asked to bring in back packs with a selection of toiletries or stationery. Primary six collected hats, scarves, gloves and socks to be distributed to the homeless.”

Headteacher Carlyn Hill, said she was very proud of her pupils.

“[They have] worked so hard to raise the money and also for their understanding of the difficulties and hardship faced by so many children in society today,” she said.

East Coast

Pupils of All Saint’s Secondary School, Glasgow, travelled from the west coast to the east for a memorial service.

They took part in a special ceremony to mark Holocaust Memorial Day along with First Minister Alex Salmond, the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, Craigroyston Community High School, Edinburgh City Council and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

Mr Salmond expressed his delight at being able to take part in the event.

“I am privileged to be part of this year’s joint national and City of Edinburgh Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration, co-delivered and co-designed by the young people at Craigroyston Community High School and The Edinburgh Interfaith Association,” he said. “The young people of this school are a credit to themselves, their families and their community.

“Above all, they do a tremendous service to those who suffered in the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. By continuing to remember those whose lives were taken and honouring those who suffered and continue to suffer today, we not only keep memories alive but we gain an understanding of events that allows us to examine our own communities, share our own experiences and play our part in ensuring that genocide, racism, bigotry and victimisation are things of the past.”

As part of the service Ashleigh Mcintyre and Anton Ferrie of All Saints Secondary School spoke about some of the lessons they had learned from visiting Auschwitz last year.

The Rwandan genocide

Also in Edinburgh, the Lauriston Jesuit Centre teamed up with St Thomas of Aquin’s High School to highlight another genocide, the one that took place in Rwanda in 1994. The event consisted of a screening of the film Shooting Dogs, which is about the Rwandan genocide and a presentation from the Edinburgh based charity Wish for Rwanda.

Fr Chris Boles of the Lauriston Jesuit Centre said the event had

been a great success.

“It was a very powerful event, to see that film on the big screen had a strong effect on those present,” he said. “There was also a very good presentation from Ian Dunnet of wish for Rwanda that the pupil responded well too and hopefully that will be a start of a link between the charity and the school.”

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