Today, the 27^th January, marks Holocaust Memorial Day, whereby around the world remembrance events are held to remember the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, as well as other victims of Nazi persecution during their rule of Germany from 1933-1945, including Romani Gypsies, Jehovah’s Witnesses, LGBTQ+ and others. We also remember the victims of genocides which have occurred around the world since then, such as in the Balkans in the 1990s and in Rwanda in 1994. The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day this year is bridging generations – connecting the stories of survivors with young people and wider society.

All week-long student leaders from the Oscar Romero School Council will be delivering assemblies to remember the Holocaust, which they themselves wrote and delivered. These assemblies end with the lighting of a candle, to shine a light in the darkness, and the laying of a stone, in the Jewish tradition, to remember the victims of the Holocaust. Students from each class in each year have then laid a stone and lit a candle in the Peace Garden at the school. As a school, we remember and together we say never forget, and pray for a better world where all may be one, living in peace.

Eternal God, you hold all of our days in your hands.

On this day, we come before you to remember the victims of the Holocaust.

We lament the loss of the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust, the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution, and victims of other genocides.

May our minds be clear and attentive to their memory and our hearts be moved to bear witness to their lives.

Today, help us to remember and recognise the sanctity of each human life, that all people are made in Your image.

One day, we pray that genocide and hatred will be no more, and that love will triumph over evil.

In our prayers and in our actions, help us to show this love in the world today.

Amen.