We celebrated our Patronal Festival on Thursday 27 May, close to the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (31 May), the patron saint of our school. The Patronal Festival is affectionately known as the school’s birthday – 133 years old this year!

In years prior to Covid-19, Grades 2 – 12 and staff would gather in the Senior School Close for a celebratory Eucharist at which choirs and ensembles from across the school would lead the community in musical worship. Following the Eucharist, all the pupils would have gathered on the fields for a picnic.

Owing to lockdown regulations this year, it was not possible to gather such a large number of people together at a time, however, we were still able to celebrate in smaller groups. I led a Bible ring with the Little Saints on Tuesday, and gathered services in the chapel with the Junior Primary girls on Thursday, the theme of which was the Patronal Festival. The Little Saints asked to pray for beautifully coloured rainbows for the school’s birthday, and for love for everyone.

Grades 4 – 12 watched a pre-recorded service, in which Bishop Steve Moreo, the Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, preached on Psalm 81:1-7 and Luke 1:39-49. Bishop Steve highlighted how God emphasised the value of Mary and Elizabeth in God’s eyes, and citing our values of love, community and integrity, our Bishop encouraged us as the St Mary’s School community “to never shame the other person but honour each other just like Mary and Elizabeth did”. The prayers following the sermon were themed around the nurturing, motherly nature of God. Grade 7 – 12 girls assisted in leading parts of the spoken liturgy. The Senior School choir, instrumental ensemble, and Junior Primary Singing Angels all led choral or instrumental items throughout the service, including our school hymn, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind. English, Sesotho, Afrikaans and isiZulu featured throughout the liturgy.

At different times of the day, different sections of the school held their picnics to celebrate the school’s birthday. It was heart-warming to see children of all ages simply playing, their uniforms in various stages of disarray: ties around their heads, shoes off, shirts untucked. Our Senior School spirit squad moved across the school in order to lead smaller groups in the school war cry, Oh When the Saints!.

I am grateful to Dudley Trollope, George Potgieter and the music staff and girls, for the wonderful musical items in the pre-recorded service, and to the girls who led the spoken liturgy so beautifully. Thank you to Sasha Ehlers and Thabo Kunutu for their assistance in recording the various components of the service and compiling the service as a whole. Thanks also to all who sought to ensure that the day was a special school birthday for our pupils and staff, including events, support and catering staff.

REVD CLAUDIA COUSTAS
CHAPLAIN