The moment Paulinians gathered with candles lifted to the December sky, the familiar warmth of the Lighting Ceremony returned — a gentle glow rising from the SPUD façade like a tradition finding its way back home.

The light didn’t rush; it grew quietly through shared smiles, soft hymns, and the steady faith carried from one generation to the next.

Each candle felt like a small journey of hope, held by hands that knew this ritual by heart, illuminating faces that glowed with the comfort of being together.

And when the fireworks opened above us, they simply framed what was already true — that the brightest part of the night wasn’t the sky at all, but the steady light Paulinians brought with them, shining as one.

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