It was a pleasure for the college to attend the annual Catholic Caring Mass at Christ the King Owairaka, along with other schools and organisations. Four St Paul’s students received awards from the Catholic Caring Foundation. Students receiving the award were: Aisea Makasini, Devante Hurrell-Epati, Kyan Henry, Gizza Laile. These students were all recognised for working for social justice within the school community.

This week we gathered together in Holy Communion on a very important Feast Day for our college and for the whole of New Zealand. When Bishop Pompallier first stepped foot on this land accompanied by Marist Brothers, he dedicated this country under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary assumed into Heaven. This very important Feast Day is a reminder of our Catholic faith brought to these shores by the Marist Brothers and we are a living part of the story today.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also a reminder to us that there is a life after death. Through her assumption and the resurrection then ascension of her son, we live in the hope of our resurrection with the coming of Christ. The tears and pain of death will be wiped away and replaced with joy in the victory of the resurrection of our Lord and our own resurrections. It will be our final victory as God’s chosen people as we too pass into eternal life. Let us remember that all of this was made possible by the leap of faith of the young Mary to become the vessel and handmaid of our incarnated God and eternal saviour.