Prayers for Victims and Understanding at School Holocaust Memorial Service

Guests from the Diocese of Llandaff, police service and local dignitaries mark Holocaust Memorial Day with St John the Baptist Church in Wales High School.

In 2010, Ms Bell led the Sixth Form on a trip to Auschwitz where they met survivor, Josef Rosotowski, who tasked the group to never allow the atrocities committed during the Holocaust to be forgotten. Every year since, Ms Bell has led a dedicated assembly to serve as both a reminder of the horrors of the past, and a prayer of hope for the future.

On 26th Januray 2024, staff and pupils took part in the service, which featured a presentation of photographs taken at Auschwitz I and Auschwitz-Birkenau. Headteacher Dr Mitchell, Head of History Ms Bell and the senior prefect team were glad to be joined by invited guests from the Diocese of Llandaff, the Police service, local dignitaries, the board of Governors and the Friends of St Johns

History Teacher, Mr Barlow led the prayers for victims of the Holocaust, and genocides that have taken place since including Rwanda, Cambodia, Bosnia and Darfur, concluding by asking God to, “Help us to understand yesterday, live today, and look forward to tomorrow.”

The service ended with the hymn 'Shine, Jesus, Shine', in a reminder that God’s love shines through the darkness.