There are many stories and archives relating to the WWI, one in particular is nearly always mentioned...
On Christmas day 1914, the gun shots stopped and silence fell on the trenches, the singing of 'Silent Night' could be heard coming from the German side as they opened their Christmas parcels from home.
Was it the recognition of Christ's birth and possibly the longing for their families and familiar things that opened their hearts to sharing friendship & football?
From a killing field to a football field as they sang out...
'Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace...'
The act of one good gesture opened up the possibility to set aside their differences and see Christ's love for humanity, as they stood eye to eye and face to face as friends, not foes, sharing their gifts from home and showing photographs of their loved ones.
The Diocese of Paisley; remembering the Centenary of WWI and that we are all God's children in communion, praying for the 16 million souls who gave their lives to protect their families, faith & county and who died as a result of the war.
All thoses who died and are buried within St Conval's Cemetery will be remembered in a special way, at the cemetery Mass on Sunday 4th November at 2pm, all welcome.