Inter-Faith Memorial Service

The years 2020 and 2021 have been heart aching and overwhelming for most of us. Many Martinians have lost their loved and dear ones. In the hope of empathising with their family, and wishing to provide a sense of comfort and closure, La Martiniere College held a Memorial Service on 1st November, 2021. The service was conducted in the evening at The East Terrace courtyard.

The Memorial was held to remember and honour late members of La Martiniere’s extended family. In a gesture of humble reverence, the College Captain lit a memorial flame on behalf of the Martinians present. Leaders from different faiths were invited to help the bereaved with their grief in accordance with the faith tradition they practice.

A part of the memorial was the commemoration of the deceased for which students were chosen. Each student intoned names of the deceased in chronological order, which was followed by the striking of the gong. With each strike, the silence in the courtyard deepened. The respected leaders, students and teachers of different faiths gave heartwarming messages to the ones who were grieving and more importantly prayed for the departed souls. The different faith leaders also blessed the memory plaque which was later unveiled in the college chapel.

Moving towards the end of the ceremony the buglers played the ‘The Last Post’ and ‘The Rouse’ thereby symbolizing the end of the day’s activities. With these iconic bugle calls in the background, lanterns were released in the dark sky from the chapel terrace leaving everyone heavy hearted and in awe at the same time.