Rain falls on their parade but can’t dampen schoolkids’ spirit at Mass

Sydney
9 June 2002

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Rain falls on their parade but can’t dampen schoolkids’ spirit at Mass

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Rain falls on their parade but can’t dampen schoolkids’ spirit at Mass

By Marilyn Kerjean

They began pouring out of school buses from all over Sydney an hour before Mass began but, as the clouds grew darker, they realised that the picnic that was planned for later would probably be called off.

The rain held off until just before the 2000 primary schoolchildren and teachers filed into St Mary’s Cathedral for Mass to commemorate the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians.

However, they still entered the cathedral with composure; proudly holding up colourful school banners bearing mottos that enshrine the highest ideals.

One group had left its banner back at the school, but a quick phone call to their dedicated school secretary ensured it was ferried to them just in time.

In all, 125 Catholic primary schools from throughout the Sydney archdiocese were represented, the first time that all the archdiocesan, systemic and congregational primary schools have come together to celebrate Mass at the cathedral.

Once inside, they quietly filled the pews and the extra plastic chairs, but some still had to sit on the floor.

Archbishop George Pell welcomed everyone, adding that he was sorry that people sitting around the edges didn’t have a good view.

“I promise you that next year we’ll have televisions on the side so that you will be able to follow the Mass,” he said.

But in St Mary’s it does not matter where you sit; the children’s faces as the entrance procession began showed something of the awe that its Gothic immensity, powerful organ, incense and tall candles can inspire, not to mention a 100-strong children’s’ choir plus musicians and, of course, the imposing figure of Archbishop Pell, flanked by concelebrating priests, deacons and altar servers.

“It’s good for us to get together to realise there are a lot of us,” said Dr Pell at the start of Mass.

“We all belong to one another, we should all look after each other and you’re not just a small group in your school and parish,” he said.

The children kept a minute’s silence to pray for all the soldiers who have died in wars, especially Alec Campbell, the last surviving Gallipoli soldier, whose funeral was held on the same day.

Dr Pell gave some background on the cathedral in his homily, noting that it might be the first visit there for some of the children.

He pointed out the bishop’s chair “over there on the left behind me – that big red comfy chair”.

He said: “The cathedral is where the bishop’s teaching chair is placed. ‘Cathedra’ is the Greek word for chair.”

St Mary’s began as a chapel dedicated to Our Lady in 1821 by the pioneer priest Fr John Terry. It was Australia’s first Catholic church.

It was named St Mary’s Cathedral when John Bede Polding became the first archbishop.

Dr Pell explained how the present cathedral was built after the first one and then a temporary building burned down, and that the cathedral and the archdiocese were placed under the patronage of the Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians.

“During your years in Catholic schools we want you to learn and understand some important and beautiful truths,” he told them.

“The most important truth of all is that God, the invisible spirit, is love.

“God is made of love. And this God loves all his creation and loves every person.

“God loves every one of you, God loves me, too.”

The second most important truth, he said, is that Jesus is Mary’s son and also the son of God who saved us through his death and resurrection.

“I know how you love your own mums,” he said.

“With your father, she is the most important person in your young lives. Mary is our heavenly mother.

“Nearly all children turn to their mother when they are sick, or in trouble, or in need of advice. I want you to turn to Our Lady, to pray to her, when you are in trouble.

“God listens to our prayers,” he said, “especially the prayers of children.

“So pray for peace in your hearts, in your schools and in your family.”

The choir and musicians came from several schools across the archdiocese. They had only one rehearsal together, but led the singing beautifully.

Their part-traditional, part-modern version of Ave Maria, featuring a solo by Matthew Corby, a student of St Joseph’s, Como-Oyster Bay, for the reflection was hauntingly prayerful.

Pupils from the eastern, southern and inner western regions led the Liturgy of the Word, made up the offertory procession and read the general intercessions respectively.

Natalie Wilson, 10, said the best part for her was singing in the choir.

Sarah McTaggart, 11, said the church was bigger than she thought it would be. She thought the archbishop was “really nice”.

“He spoke really well and he’s really kind,” she added.

When the students and teachers emerged after Mass it was still drizzling. The picnic lunch with Dr Pell was called off, but he chatted with them and saw them off as they trooped back on to their buses.

Pupils from Holy Family, Menai, were unperturbed. They had a plan B to fall back on – stopping off at McDonalds on the way back to school.

Br Kelvin Canavan, the executive director of schools in the Sydney archdiocese, says a combined schools Mass at the cathedral will be an annual event in honour of Our Lady Help of Christians.

Next year high school students will make the trip to the cathedral on her feast day.