A special community celebration

The Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust community came together to perform a carol service on the day of the Immaculate Conception.

The trust-wide carol service, Carols by Candlelight, was held at St Michael and All Angels Church in Woodchurch, Wirral.

In the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Holy

Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust had to host its previous two carol services online and bring the community together virtually. This time, however, students were able to share the stage together, in person.

Students of all ages from all schools performed in front of the packed church which consisted of over 450 parents in attendance.

A wide variety of songs were performed including ‘Mary Did You Know’, sang by Year 3 from Our Lady of Pity RC Primary School and ‘Love Shone Down’ by Team 4 from St Bernard’s RC Primary School.

The audience were also treated to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School’s joyous cover of ‘Mary’s Boy Child’, St Mary’s Catholic College’s very own choir singing a ‘spine-tingling’ version of ‘You Got the Love’ and a gospel version of ‘O Holy Night’ performed by St John Plessington Catholic College.

Audience members were left feeling inspired and entertained, with some even taking to social media to express their enjoyment of the event.

The celebration reinforced the trust’s mission of ‘building strong communities with Gospel Values at the heart’, as the event ensured to shine a light on

Our Lady, as it was also the day of the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Laurie Smith, director of music at Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “Our Carols by Candlelight service was such a wonderful and collaborative evening. Being able to hold the service in person rather than virtually made the event even more special. Music is a hugely important aspect of school life in our trust, and it was great to highlight the amazing singing that has been taking place across our schools this term.”