Tuesday 18th September saw the Aquinas school community gather in our Parish Church of the Good Shepherd, Ormeau Road to pray God’s blessing on the academic year ahead. Staff and pupils joined together to lead the packed church in prayer and reflecti

on and the beautiful music provided by the school choir under the direction of Ms Gould and Mrs McWilliams certainly added to the dignity of the occasion. We were delighted to welcome Mr Nigel McClintock, Director of Music in St Peter’s Cathedral, who was our guest organist for the Mass.

In his homily Father Grant, our Chaplain, reminded us all of the importance of living up to the teachings of Christ embodied in our school motto. We read our motto in its entirety as the gospel acclamation:

Jesus said to those who believed in Him:

If you obey my teaching you are really my disciples;

You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8: 31 and 32)

Mr Kelly, our Principal, congratulated everyone for their eager participation in the celebration of the Mass and also for their excellent behaviour both walking to the Church and during the liturgy.

The Aquinas school community would like to thank Father Patrick McKenna, the Parish Priest of Holy Rosary Parish, for his warm and friendly welcome to our staff and pupils. We will celebrate many more liturgies during the year as classes and year groups in our own School Chapel and Assembly Hall, beginning with our Welcome Mass for Year 8 pupils and their parents next Thursday 27 September at 7.30pm, but we do look forward to coming together as a whole school community next September in the Church of the Good Shepherd.