Christ the King High School marked the commencement of a year-long celebration of its 90th anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving on the occasion of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe at the Holy Family Cathedral on Thursday 30th November 2023. The milestone event is being celebrated under the theme, “Reclaiming our Foundation for a Stronger Future.”
The jubilant occasion was also marked by the presence of His Excellency, Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, Lady Carlisle, Members of the House of Representative and Senate, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, former Chairpersons, and Principals The Mass offered an opportunity for generations of students and teachers to rekindle acquaintances, and reinforce support for the survival of this great institution which has gifted our nation and world with thousands of responsible and productive citizens.
In his homily, Bishop Robert Llanos commended the theme selection and noted that “it is true, that if we are to build anything at all, if it is not built on a solid foundation, it will not stand, it will not succeed. And if it did, it would not generate the life that it was intended to generate if its foundations are not well secured…it will not last a lifetime.”
Recalling the many beautiful and sometimes tragic developments of the era that marked the establishment of the school, Bishop Llanos underscored that the planting of the seed which was Convent High School, is much like the way God works; His uncanny knack for planting seeds of hope which allows the growth of something life-giving in an otherwise desperate and chaotic world.
He went on to challenge the administrators, teachers, students, parents, and well-wishers to adopt a shepherd-like approach. He shared that such an approach requires that we adopt a caring and nurturing disposition so that we may all be drawn to serve others; to allow the love of God to animate us so that our actions may bring glory to God. He concluded by reminding all that we will all be held accountable for everything we have received as blessings and graces throughout the last ninety years. We will have to answer the question before King the King, “how well have you loved with all you have received?”
During his closing remarks, the Chairperson of the Christ the King High School Board, Very Rev. Fr. Pierre Tevi-Benissan echoed a resounding call for a sustained and collective effort at creating a culture shift that will better enable the school to reclaim its foundation and once again standout out as an even brighter beacon in our nation. He also extended his profound gratitude to attendees, administrators, staff, parents, and members of corporate society for the overwhelming support they continue to extend to the school. He invited all past and present students to fully participate in the planned activities throughout the year and noted that it will culminate with a gala in August 2024.