Students at St. Mary School “shared the light of (their) faith” in a candlelight ceremony on Dec. 15, where they were able to raise $700 for a Nigerian seminary’s agricultural program.
The students crowded into the gymnasium at St. Mary School that morning to speak with Rev. Sabinus Iwu, who previously served as the priest at the St. Mary Catholic Church, via Skype.
Rev. Sabinus now serves as an administrator at the Seat of Wisdom Seminary in Owerri, Nigeria. He was very well-liked by the students, principal Sheila Glebe indicated.
Unfortunately, technical difficulties prevented Rev. Sabinus from communicating anything more complicated than a “hello” to the students of St. Mary School. Nonetheless, they were grateful.
“We are talking to somebody so far away that it’s very hard to make this work,” Glebe told the students.
The event also served as a fundraiser for the Seat of Wisdom Seminary in Owerri, Nigeria. The proceeds from the sale of candles to students went to the seminary’s agricultural program.
“Today, by lighting these candles, you’re helping to feed little children like yourselves all the way on the other side of the world. Children who don’t always have enough to eat,” Glebe told the students.
Glebe said they wanted to involve Father Sabinus in the ceremony because it was because of him they are involved in this fundraiser.
Glebe said they have managed to raise over $700 for the Seat of Wisdom Seminary, though the money is coming in.
“What ended up happening is we had people just start to donate money,” she noted.
The other reason for a candlelight ceremony is that the Evergreen Catholic Separate Regional Division’s (ECSRD) theme this year is “Sharing our Light of Faith,” said Glebe.
Also, the symbolism of lighting candles is also an important part of the season of Advent, she noted.
During the ceremony, Grade 12 student Chris Bourque read out a prayer asking God to make their candles a flame to warm their hearts towards their families, friends and “all my sisters and brothers around the world.”
He added, “Father, allow to serve others with a joyful heart. Never keeping score. Always giving. Never expecting to receive. Allow me to give of myself, to give of my talents and of my goods, to give of my time and of my energy. To give of my heart and my soul.”
After the school choir sang “We Are the Light of the World,” vice principal Vance Nakonechy read out a message from Rev. Ambrose Umeohanna, who currently serves at the Westlock Catholic Church.
“It is our calling to be the light for others,” Nakonechny read. “When we leave here today, let’s all commit to sharing our light of faith.”