Faith News

On Friday 24th September, we celebrated Mercy Day. Then as a school, we gathered this Wednesday to reflect on and celebrate the Mercy values, on the very fitting day of Catholic Schools Day 2021. 

Archbishop Paul Martin shared the following with all Catholic Schools:

‘Our schools are part of something much bigger than themselves, namely the Catholic Church. This community of faith finds its local expression in the parish and the school. It is in this context that we reflect on our schools as Tūrangawaewae, a place to stand. 

This place to stand comes from belonging to the school community but also beyond that to the Church community of faith. We know that we extend this welcome also to those who may not be from our faith community. This gift of hospitality and desire to share what we have with others is at the heart of the gospel call. This is the place where we have a right and desire to belong to, it is Tūrangawaewae for all. 

Our Catholic schools as places of belonging allow us to celebrate and grow in what we have in common, what binds us together. As Christian people, it is our baptism in Christ. It is also the call of the Gospel and the Church to live in the way that Jesus taught us.’

Reflection

The theme for Catholic Schools Day 2021 is ‘Tūrangawaewae: Catholic Schools - A Place to Stand’. Tūrangawaewae is the understanding that we have places where we feel connected and inspired. This is our place of security and foundation. We do not thrive in isolation: we need community that supports and helps us to learn to be a gift of self to others and to seek the best for them.

Let us reflect on these two important questions:

What is it that binds us together and how can we celebrate this?
What is makes us different and how can we celebrate this?