Hymns and Songs
Explore the hymns and songs that shape the IJ school experience, reflecting Catholic values of faith, love, and service.
The hymns and songs sung in school serve as powerful expressions of our IJ identity and faith. They remind us of our Catholic roots, nurture our relationship with God, and strengthen our sense of belonging to the IJ family. Through these shared songs of praise and gratitude, we celebrate our heritage, deepen our faith, and grow in love, hope, and service to others.
Songs
Hold on to Our Dream
Hold on to Our Dream
IJ Spirit burning bright
Fill this world with love and light
Light that shines for all to see
Love that sets our spirits free
IJ friendships through the years
Born of simple joys and tears
Something tells us deep inside
IJ friends are friends for life
Hold on to our dream of peace
Don’t stop believing
Our hearts and hands, ever seeking, ever serving
Hold on to the sound
Of our friends all joyously singing
Our voices raised to the Lord our God above
Hold on to our dream
IJ spirit burning bright
Fill our hearts with love and light
Light to see ourselves anew
Love begins with me and you
IJ voices ringing true
Reaching out and breaking through
Every heart will hear our call
Share our dream of peace for all
Hold on to our dream, hold fast to the IJ Dream
Hold on to our dream!
Hymn to Father Barré
French Version
De vos enfants, exaucez la priére
Veillez sur nous O Saint Pére Barré
Choisissez-vous un essaim d’ouvrières
Par le Seigneur à votre attirée
Dans L’institut, conservez d’âge en âge
Un zèle ardent, l’humilité, la foi
Le pur amour, la force et le courage
Pour observe à jamais votre loi (2x)
English Version
O hear our prayer, most holy Father Barré
We are your children, watch o’er us we pray
Touch many hearts to follow in your footsteps
To dedicate their lives to youth and poor
Drawn by the Lord to make Christ known and loved
Fill us with zeal, humility and faith
Pure love and strength and courage without fear
To keep your spirit alive in our hearts (2x)
Caritas, Share the Love
Eyes speaking of an endless grief
Lips open in a wordless cry
Let’s share the love we take for granted
Try to keep their last hopes alive
Hands reaching for their loved ones lost
Hearts holding to a flickering dream
Let’s share the love we waste away
Show them that the world truly cares
Caritas share the love that
they are missing inside
Caritas let’s take the step
to reach out to the other side
There’s so much to give if we dare
To the lost & forgotten out there
Caritas, share the love, share the love
Smiles breaking through
those hardened faces
A gift to us that makes us whole
Let’s share the peace
our maker gave us
Making all our souls feel alive
One Family
Does it really matter what we call ourselves
As long as he’s the one who first called us
Why spend all our time fighting amongst ourselves
When he called us to spread his love?
Remember his message to us
Chorus
We are one family in the Lord
That’s how it’s meant to be, in the Lord
Working hand in hand
To make him known throughout the world
So let’s just stop and face each other
It’s like looking in a mirror
Recognize our similarities
Yes it’s time to come together
We can make things even better
Try to be what he meant us to be
One family
Does it really matter how we pray or sing
As long as it’s his name on our lips
Just enjoy the way he made us
to be different but the same
Cos he made us to be like him
These Hands He Made
These hands he made, for love not hate
These hands he made, to act not wait
These hands can save us from a cruel fate
These hands he made, These hands he made
These hands he made, can dry your tears
These hands he made, can calm your fears
These hands can reach across two thousand years
These hands he made, These hands he made
Hands reaching out to me
Hands reaching to be free
Hands shouldn’t be alone
Hands together, love is sown
These hands he made, to join in prayer
These hands he made, to show we care
These hands can build our dreams if we dare
These hands he made, These hands he made
Hymn
Blessed be God
Blessed be God
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation,
Thanks to your goodness this bread we offer:
Fruit of the earth, work of our hands,
It will become the bread of life.
Blessed be God! Blessed be God!
Blessed be God forever! Amen!
Blessed be God! Blessed be God!
Blessed be God forever! Amen!
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation,
Thanks to your goodness this wine we offer:
Fruit of the earth, work of our hands,
It will become the cup of joy.
Gather the People
Refrain:
Gather the people! Enter the feast!
All are invited, the greatest and least.
The banquet is ready, now to be shared.
Join in the heavenly feast that God has prepared.
1. Around this table we dine as kin,
beloved family of God.
We share the body of Christ, the Lord.
Here we become what we eat. (Refrain)
2. Around this table we tell great tales,
the wondrous stories of grace.
We hold the memory of Christ, the Lord.
So we become what we eat. (Refrain)
Bring Forth the Kingdom
You are salt for the earth, O people:
Salt for the Kingdom of God!
Share the flavour of life, O people:
Life in the Kingdom of God!
Bring forth the Kingdom of mercy,
Bring forth the Kingdom of peace;
Bring forth the Kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
You are a light on the hill, O people:
Light for the City of God!
Shine so holy and bright, O people:
Shine for the Kingdom of God!
Bring forth the Kingdom of mercy,
Bring forth the Kingdom of peace;
Bring forth the Kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
In His Time
In his time, in his time
He makes all things beautiful In his time
Lord please show me everyday
As you're teaching me your way
That you do just what you say
In your time
In your time, in your time
You make all things beautiful In your time
Lord my life to you I bring
May each song I have to sing
Be to you a lovely thing
In your time
I Offer My Life
All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before you O Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaim
The joy and the pain, I’m making them yours
Chorus:
Lord I offer my life to you
Everything I’ve been through
Use it for you glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my hopes, all of my plans
My heart and my hands are lifted to you (Chorus)
Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee
Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You,
Op'ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav'n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!
Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
Oh Sacrament Most High
O Sacrament most holy,
O Sacrament divine!
All praise and all thanksgiving
Be every moment thine.
Now come, all you who labor
In sorrow and in pain,
Come, eat this bread from heaven;
Thy peace and strength regain.
Lord Jesus, we adore thee,
our Victim and our priest,
Whose precious blood and body
Become our sacred feast.
O sacrament most holy,
o Sacrament divine
All praise and all thanksgiving
Be every moment thin
Spirit and Grace
Spirit and grace, here in this meal.
You are the wind that breathes through the field.
Gather the wheat and form us in Christ.
Come, be our source and breath of life.
Refrain:
In this bread, blessed, broken and shared,
Christ is our life, whose presence we bear.
Come, O spirit, make your grace revealed in this holy meal.
Spirit and grace, here in this meal.
You are the life that flows through the vine.
Gather this drink and form us in Christ.
Come, be our source and blood of life.
Seek Ye First
Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you. Hallelu, Hallelujah
Ask, and it shall be given unto you; Seek, and you shall find.
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Man shall not live by bread alone, But
by every word
That proceeds out from the mouth of God. Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Table of Plenty
Come to the feast of heaven and earth
Come to the table of plenty
God will provide for all that we need
Here at the table of plenty
O come and sit at my table
Where saints and sinners are friends
I wait to welcome the lost and lonely
To share the cup of my love
Come to the feast of heaven and earth
Come to the table of plenty
God will provide for all that we need
Here at the table of plenty
O come and eat without money
Come to drink without price
My feast of gladness will feed your spirit
With faith and fullness of life
The Summons
Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown In you and you in me?
Will you leave yourself behind
If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer In you and you in me?
Will you let the blinded see
If I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
And never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
And do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean In you and you in me?
You Are My All in All
You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up, I’d be a fool
You are my all in all
Chorus:
Jesus, Lamb of God,
worthy is Your name (X2)
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising again, I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down, You pick me up
When I am dry you fill my cup
You are my all in all