The Christmas Cantata programme of Calcutta Boys’ School was held on December 18 in a reverent and joyous atmosphere, marking the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and the school’s 148 years of service under His guidance. The programme began with a solemn call to worship, seeking God’s blessings for the institution and its community. The ceremony was presided over by His grace Dr. C Selvin, Bishop of the Lucknow Episcopal Area of the Methodist Church in India and Chairman of the CBS Group of Schools. Several distinguished guests graced the occasion, including MP Mr. Sudip Bandyopadhyay, MLA Mrs Naina Bandyopadhyay, MLA Mr Manoj Tiwari, MLA Mr Swarna Kamal Saha, Mrs Lovely Shanti Selvin, President of the Regional Deaconesses Conference, Dr. Maria Fernandes, Vice Chair of the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation; Mr. Kaushik Saha, IAS; Mr. Gerry Arathoon, former CE&S, CISCE.
The dignitaries ceremonially lit the Christmas tree, following which the school choir presented soulful renditions of ‘First Noel’ and ‘Born to bring us joy’. Students from the Sonarpur, Beliaghata and Main campuses then staged meaningful musical enactments of the nativity spreading the message of Hope and Joy through a presentation of “The Promise’ (‘Echoes of the Promise’ by Sonarpur; The Promise Divine by Beliaghata and ‘Fulfilment of the Promise’ by the Main Campus) reminding the audience of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
In his address, Bishop C Selvin emphasized that God’s love and blessings remain ever-present. “We have gathered here at the main campus of the Calcutta Boys’ School to usher in the true spirit of Christmas. On this occasion, we praise God for giving us the opportunity to spread His mercy and share His message of love with one and all.” Addressing the gathering, MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said, “Bengal is a land where all cultures are celebrated with equal respect, and this programme is a true expression of that spirit of acceptance. Just as we celebrate all other festivals together, I am happy to be a part of this celebration organised by the Calcutta Boys’ group of schools.” Principal and Secretary Mr. Raja McGee expressed gratitude to the Almighty for His grace said “Today’s programme is a joint effort of the Calcutta Boys’ group of schools. We are celebrating Christmas to share its joy irrespective of the religion we belong to. Through this programme, we aim to spread a message of peaceful coexistence and harmony among all.”
The programme concluded with the singing of the CBS anthem, as students reaffirmed their commitment to their alma mater. The sharing of light from the Christ Candle symbolised the spread of the Gospel, education, and Christian values. The evening ended with a fellowship dinner, where guests and members of the school community gathered to share in the joy and spirit of the Christmas season.
