The Schools Singing Programme held its annual Advent Mass in the stunning surroundings of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh on Thursday 5 December. P6 children from five schools in the surrounding area were involved singing all mass parts written by Colm Murphy, the Cathedral
Organist. The P6 children from Mt St Catherine’s PS, Our Lady’s PS Tullysaran, Our Lady’s and St Mochua’s PS Derrynoose, St Malachy’s PS and St Patrick’s PS had rehearsed mass parts and Advent pieces for 10 weeks alongside secular music in order to reach this point. The school
children sounded beautiful with secure harmonies and a small select group of singers came forward to sing the psalm and the gospel acclamation. At the end of the mass, the congregation enthusiastically supported the melodious sounds that the children had made.

The Schools Singing Programme is endorsed by Archbishop Eamon Martin whose Episcopal motto is Cantate canticum novum (Sing a new song) and he has made very public his love of music and singing. The Archbishop spearheaded this innovative work in the Archdiocese of
Armagh and Diocese of Dromore and as a result of this, the Schools Singing Programme is now in its second full year.