By Christina Leslie | Correspondent

The navy blue and plaid uniformed youngsters filling the pews of St. Ann Church Nov. 15 could be forgiven for buzzing with excitement as they awaited the beginning of a very special birthday party. It was their own.

The faith community of the Lawrenceville parish and school, including its students, faculty, alumni and parish members, had gathered in force to fill the worship space that Friday morning both to joyously mark the 50th anniversary of St. Ann School and herald the beginning of its continuing mission to offer a viable Catholic education in the Diocese of Trenton.

Click here to see the photo gallery on this story.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was principal celebrant of the Mass which was concelebrated by St. Ann Parish pastor, Msgr. Vincent Gartland.

Schoolchildren filled the sanctuary and served as acolytes, readers, choir members and musicians during the liturgy as their parents and friends sat proudly nearby. In his homily, Bishop O’Connell rejoiced that the Lawrenceville school had been showing people the path to Christ in a uniquely Catholic way for a half-century. “We learn many things in Catholic schools… but we learn something else,” Bishop O’Connell observed. “In a Catholic school we learn about God and the Church, we learn what it means to have faith and to share faith, we learn faith values and those things that make us good people, loving people, grateful people, compassionate, generous people throughout our lives. Yes, we learn what every other kid learns, but we learn it in a different way and for a different reason.”

The bishop thanked Msgr. Vincent Gartland and the priests of the parish which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, as well as the faculty, staff and parents of the students who sacrificed to give their children a Catholic education.

“We celebrate our Catholic school on this 50th anniversary because St. Ann’s School and Parish are God’s gift, the Church’s gift to us and we, in turn, are God’s gift and hope and blessing to our world,” Bishop O’Connell concluded.

John McKenna, principal since 1996, recalled world events occurring on July 5, 1964, the day Bishop George W. Ahr blessed the new school under pastor Father Joseph S. Keenan and then-principal Sister of St. Joseph Mary Agnes; Father Michael McCorristin had preached at the ceremony.

“This is a truly blessed place to grow; the school is a treasure in the diocese,” McKenna said. “I am awed and amazed by the talent given and shared,” he continued, noting the 330-student School had been named a Blue Ribbon school of excellence in 2010 by the U.S. Department of Education. “We hope to continue this Christ-centered, academically challenging education for years to come.” Students presented Bishop O’Connell with an array of gift baskets and tote bags, all in navy blue and emblazoned with the St. Ann School logo, then proudly sang the school song stating “We learn and we grow and are grounded in faith.”

For multimedia coverage on this story, visit TrentonMonitor.com