‘Christmas is JOY, religious joy, an inner joy of light and peace.’ Pope Francis

The chill in the air, the stars adorning the towering heights of the SJBHS facade and the well- sculptured crib announced the approach of the festive season – the season of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The second unit test gave way to a solemn ‘Thanksgiving Mass’ on the 14th of December followed by class-wise competitions for all the classes to spread the message of joy, peace and happiness through skits, collage making, card making and the like. On the 15th of December, the stage was set with all the Christmas trimmings.

The Christmas programme held on the 16th of Dec commenced with a prayer giving thanks to God for His bounty and mercy. After the prayer that the shepherds, angels, the three kings bearing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and the drummer boy descended on the SJBHS stage to form the ‘Live Crib’, taking us back to the birth of the Savior in a lowly manger all those many years ago.

The Christmas Tree dance by the pre-primary students, alongwith the carols and dances by the students of the primary, high school and the ISC sections, brought out the joy and tranquility of the season. The dance by the PTA members reiterated the strong bond between the parents and management of SJBHS.

Our Principal, Rev. Fr. Clifford Sequeira SJ, in his message to the staff and students said that Christmas is not only about gifts and Santa but it is about ‘Emmanuel’ meaning ‘God is with us’. Jesus Christ not only became man to identify with us but He is with us in joys and sorrows, ups and downs, life and death, sickness and health. Each one of us is called to manifest God through his or her life. Hence, the feast of Christmas renews our commitment to serve God by serving the poor, the homeless, the downtrodden and the weak. Fr. Principal also reiterated that the joy of Christmas transcends all differences of caste, creed, race and colour and so he wished everyone present ‘A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with hope, peace, love and fulfillment.’

Santa Claus then made his grand appearance among the crowd and the hoots, laughter and screams that followed brought out the frivolous side of the days’ festivity.

The students went home bursting with the joy of the holidays while the staff proceeded to the school auditorium for the Christmas message by Rev. Fr. Hedwig D’Souza SJ who said that Christmas is a time for giving and receiving gifts based on the greatest gift that humanity has received — Jesus Christ, the son of God. The carols by the teachers brought in the spirit of festivity and fun followed by games for the staff and the traditional Christmas lunch which heralded the close of the year, the onset of the vacations and the feeling of good will and fellowship.