Over thirteen hundred people filled the stunning interior of St George’s Cathedral last week as the Richard Challoner School community celebrated its annual Challoner Day Mass. Bringing together students, staff, parents and friends for a highly emotive and celebratory service, this year’s exceptionally high turnout highlighted the enduring strength of the school community. The milestone event also celebrated fourteen years of hosting this beautiful tradition within St George’s Cathedral.
Challoner Day provides the school community the opportunity to formally mark the birthday of Bishop Richard Challoner, an inspirational and highly influential Bishop who died in 1781. The “Challoner family” continually aspires to live by the Bishop’s core principle and ethos:
“To do ordinary things, extraordinarily well.”
The immersive music throughout the Mass was performed by a dedicated ensemble of over seventy students and staff, with powerful harmonies to enhance the congregation’s singing. The introduction of Karl Jenkins’ ‘Benedictus’ added a profound new layer to the musical liturgy. The bar is raised higher every single year, and the choir showed immense dedication through many hours of rehearsals. Alex Leach, the school’s Director of Music, commented: “Any trepidation ahead of Challoner Day, and the two busy weeks of rehearsals preceding it, vanished during our run-through at St George’s two days prior. It was clear then that the school was in store for something rather special, and the choir certainly did not disappoint.”
The Principal Celebrant was Canon Victor Darlington, assisted by the previous and current Parish Priests of St Mathias Church in Worcester Park, Fr Kevan Hayden and Fr Sean O’Connor respectively. In his sermon, Canon Victor started by commending the school for being outstanding in particular respects and, on behalf of Archbishop John Wilson, he thanked the Challoner community for their support to the school. He urged students to ask for God’s blessings for the new academic year ahead and to remain thankful for their many gifts and achievements.
Canon Victor urged his congregation to never dismiss their ‘calling’ and to remember that God has a unique purpose for every individual. Grounding his message in scripture, he referenced Jeremiah 1, noting God’s words: “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you”. Canon Victor concluded by reminding the congregation of Our Lord’s promise:
“Do not be afraid – I am with you always”.
The complex Challoner Day celebration was organised with meticulous attention to detail by Neil D’Aguiar, the Lay School Chaplain, who ensured that over a thousand students, including those requiring additional support, were attentively looked after throughout the event by high levels of staff. Mr D’Aguiar reflected: “I have the privilege each year of being stood on the sanctuary facing the school for our Challoner Day Mass – this year there was a special atmosphere – so many staff and students were making eye contact with me, were engaged, and were smiling – it was a really powerful spiritual experience“.
Sean Maher, the school’s Head, addressed the congregation at the end of the Mass, and reiterated his gratitude to the many key staff whose immense logistical efforts had ensured the continued success and impact of our Challoner Day. Reflecting on the special Mass, Mr Maher said:
“I have been attending Challoner Day, except in the one year when we had to cancel due to COVID, for the last 26 years. Every year I wonder if it will be as great a success and celebration as the year before and every year the school community, choir, readers and servers always seem to rise to the occasion and go one step further than the year before. I like to imagine what it must feel like for those new Year 7 boys as they witness the behaviour, prayerful reflection and singing of all the older students in that very special and sacred place. What a wonderful introduction to secondary school life and what an example to us all to follow”.
The deep-rooted history of this school tradition started back in the 1980s, and the school’s recently retired Vice-Chair of Governors, John Sabourin, is proud to have attended every whole-school Challoner Day since he started at the school, joined at various times by his two sons and grandson.
