Three recent graduates of Brigidine Catholic College, Randwick, donned their school uniforms one last time to perform Gregorian Chant at a Mass in Lewisham to celebrate a special sacred music program run by Sydney Catholic Schools this year.
The college is the only school in the system to have formed its own schola this year under the direction of fortnightly music teacher and youth ministry coordinator Robyn Ross and with help from visiting facilitator Australian Sacred Music Association’s Ronan Reilly.
It’s one of several schools to have embraced the sacred music tradition, along with Trinity Catholic College in Regents Park, St Michael’s Catholic Primary School at Belfield, St Jerome’s Primary School at Punchbowl, St Patrick’s Primary at Summer Hill, Holy Family Catholic Primary School at Menai, and All Hallow’s Primary School at Five Dock.
Students were taught the Simple Mass Ordinary as well as various other chants.
Brigidine College graduates Madeline Maher, Marcelle-Rita Zarzour and Jasmine Delaney joined the student choir which gave a soaringly beautiful performance at the recent Mass led by Bishop Richard Umbers at St Thomas of Canterbury church.
For the students, learning chant had helped them to connect with the faith and its musical traditions.
At Belfield, St Michael’s school principal Mary Colagrossi said it had been one of the highlights of the school year.
“We have a very strong faith community in Belfield and our parents and parish priest were also very open to the idea,” Mary Colagrossi.
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