Welcome video for Pope made by school kids

By Christine Lavelle

AN East Lothian primary school has been selected to make a ‘welcome video’ for the Pope, which will be viewed by thousands at the open-air Mass in Bellahouston Park.

St Gabriel’s Primary in Prestonpans put themselves forward to the Scottish Catholic Education Service, who selected 20 schools across Scotland to make videos for Pope Benedict XVI’s four-day-visit.

The pupils worked with videographer Chris Bain, and contributed their own ideas to the creation of the film.

Anne Torley, headteacher of St Gabriel’s, said: “We had to work very quickly, as in the end we only really had about a week and a half to do this.

“My principal teacher Sue Adams and I thought about what shape the video should take and then got a group of pupils involved to get the project going.

“We made sure that every child in school was involved, but we also had a group of primary six and seven pupils who guide the viewer through Prestonpans landmarks, the school and the wider community.

“We had great fun with the choreography and the singing.

“All in all, we were amazed at how much we managed to get into a very short video.

“We think that it gives a really positive insight into our life in Prestonpans, and our history and culture.”

Brid O’Brien, director of religious education, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, said: “The visit of His Holiness is eagerly anticipated by all of our Catholic School communities across the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh.

“It has been a source of great delight that a number of these schools have had an opportunity to produce a short DVD in commemoration of this historic event.

“The school communities have worked extremely hard in preparing the presentations and are justifiably proud of their efforts.

“The project has afforded them an opportunity of celebrating the life of their local community and of reflecting on the meaning of the Papal visit.”

The videos from Scottish schools are being made into a special commemorative DVD, which will be given to Pope Benedict to remind him of his visit.

It can be viewed on the St Gabriel’s School blog.

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