Christmas Celebration

The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things.
Thomas S. Monson

On the 18th of December, 2015 the special assembly was a reaffirmation in the belief that the goodness, joy and the spirit of Christmas continues to reside in the hearts of man. The staff and students of SJBHS stood as a Josephite family to invoke the blessings of the Almighty through a meaningful prayer.

The ‘Christmassy’ backdrop - the red, green and white balloons as well as the crib and the Christmas tree - transformed the SJBHS quadrangle into a festive arena. There was carol singing by the students from the Kindergarten to the ISC sections. This, alongwith a dance by the students of Std 8 & 9, added to the festive atmosphere and brought in the holiday season with gusto.

In keeping with the Christmas spirit there was a skit – Story of Christmas portraying the simplicity and grandeur of the birth of Jesus Christ on this earth.

Rev. Fr. Clifford Sequeira, S.J., Principal of SJBHS, addressed the gathering, drawing the focus of the students on the central figure of the joyful feast of Christmas — Jesus Christ or Emmanuel— who came down to earth in the human form to show that ‘He is with us!’

Fr. Principal asked the students to be the ‘Voice of God’ and the ‘Messengers of God’ by standing up for the right ideals, virtues and values; by knowing that greatness does not come from wealth or pomp and show but by standing up for those who are unjustly treated: the marginalized and the downtrodden. He reiterated the fact that Christmas is a season to be human, transcending all barriers of caste, colour, creed and race.

Rev. Fr. Clifford Sequeira, S.J., Principal of SJBHS, addressed the gathering, drawing the focus of the students on the central figure of the joyful feast of Christmas — Jesus Christ or Emmanuel— who came down to earth in the human form to show that ‘He is with us!’

The surprise for the day was a dance by members of the PTA, and they received a standing ovation! The arrival of Santa Claus on the dais created much excitement and was a befitting end to the celebrations.

After the students went home, the teachers proceeded to the Auditorium for their own private celebrations and a sumptuous lunch. The Guest of Honour, Rev. Fr. Claude D’Souza, S.J., gave the Christmas message which echoed the principal of Humanity that ‘All are one’. He asked the teachers to cultivate a concern for the poor and the lost, “… as we must always keep in mind that ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only son to save the world!” And with these solemn words, the celebrations came to an end.