By Sr. Jean Marie Fernandez, Supervisor, Marymount Convent School, Singapore

 “I do not wish it said any longer that I am French. I am Italian, English, German, Spanish, American, Indian, African; I am of all countries where there are souls [persons] to be saved”.   Sainte Marie Euphrasie

Every year on July 21, people across Singapore observe Racial Harmony Day. The day recalls the tragic race riots of 1964, when lives were lost, and deep wounds were left at a formative moment in Singapore’s history. Introduced by the Ministry of Education in 1997, it reminds each new generation that social harmony is precious and must never be taken for granted.

Harmony did not happen by chance. As Singapore developed as a nation, it chose the courageous path of building a society in which people of different ethnicities, religions, cultures and languages could live together as one people. Our diversity is not something to be overcome; it is something to be respected, cherished and woven into our shared identity.

This spirit came alive at l’école Marymount Convent as we celebrated the 2026 theme, “Our People, Our Tapestry.” The school was filled with vibrant colors and joyful expressions of cultural identity. Students and staff proudly wore traditional Chinese, Malay, Indian, and other cultural dress, including cheongsams, baju kebaya, and saris.

In the days leading up to the celebration, our girls also enjoyed traditional games such as Pick-Up Sticks, capteh—a game in which players keep a feathered shuttlecock in the air using their feet—and spinning tops. Through play and shared experiences, they discovered the joy of learning about one another’s traditions.

We are grateful to the staff, parent volunteers, and student leaders who made the celebration possible. Their efforts helped our students experience an important lesson: our differences do not divide us; they enrich the tapestry we create together.

As a Good Shepherd mission school, this celebration speaks deeply to who we are. We believe that every person is created with dignity and is worthy of respect, welcome, and compassion. Our mission calls us to build communities where differences are not feared but embraced, where no one is excluded, and where relationships are nurtured through understanding, dialogue, and reconciliation.

A tapestry is beautiful because it is made up of many different threads. Each thread has its own color and character, yet each contributes to the beauty of the whole. In the same way, Singapore’s many cultures, faiths and traditions come together to create one shared home.

Racial Harmony Day reminds us that harmony is not simply something we celebrate on one day of the year. It is a daily choice and a shared responsibility, rooted in the inclusive love of our Shepherd God. Together, in all our diversity, we are one people held in God’s love.