Six hundred and fifty. That’s how many copies of the Catholic News were requested and sold every week at St Gabriel’s Girls’ RC School, San Fernando, in recent school terms.

The amount ranks second only to the archdiocese’s largest parish, Santa Rosa, Arima, which takes around 900 copies weekly.

St Gabriel`s was one of several schools that answered the call made to Catholic principals in September 2007 to use the archdiocese’s weekly newspaper as a teaching tool for teachers and children in our Catholic schools.

Catholic News business manager Lucille Nathu presents St Gabriel’s principal Ann Marie Braxton with reading material.

St Gabriel’s Liturgical Committee: (from left) Janet Chinnia, Gloria Martin, Carol Sirju, Ann Marie Braxton – principal (standing), Denise Grant, Mariella Scott, Tabitha Auguste, Zita Baptiste – vice principal. Missing: Aura Victor

Some other schools that have since started subscriptions are: Arouca Girls’ RC; Bassterre RC, Moruga; Carapichaima RC; San Fernando Boys’ RC; Hard Bargain RC; Sacred Heart Boys’ RC, Port of Spain and Success RC, Laventille.

For their efforts, business manager Lucille Nathu personally presented children’s bibles and other reading material to school principal, Ann-Marie Braxton, teachers and the student body after the recess break on April 18.

During the hour-long visit to the school, Ms Nathu and photographer Raymond Syms chatted with teachers and visited classes, some of whom were using the activities on the Children’s Page at the time.

Janet Chinnia, a Second Year Infants teacher at the school for 30 years, is responsible for coordinating sales, along with the school’s Liturgical committee members, comprising Mrs Braxton, Gloria Martin, Carol Sirju, Denise Grant, Mariella Scott, Tabitha Auguste, Zita Baptiste and Aura Victor. 

“We have found the Children’s Page an inspiring tool to allow the children to learn about and love the Word of God and increase their faith,” Chinnia said, noting some children even gave up their snackette allowances to purchase the paper.

The school was responsible for preparing the material on the Children’s Page from the Christmas term 2007 to the Easter term 2008. Sirju and Martin were responsible for the illustrations while other members of the committee made contributions.

“St Gabriel`s has set a high standard for our Catholic schools. I commend them on their efforts,” said Ms Nathu. “As Catholics we must recognise the need to teach the faith in our schools. The Catholic News can assist our teachers and by extension our homes in the teaching of our faith. It takes only some dedicated teachers, one willing principal and a call to our office.”

Schools interested in subscribing can contact the office:
623-6093 or via e-mail, mail@catholicnews-t.net