Therefore, On Monday during our Karakia as a school we acknowledged this day and reflected on Jesus’ instruction to his followers, ‘Take up your cross and follow me.’

In our reflection we thought about how Jesus’ cross was not his own burden; his cross was the burden of the imperfections of all humanity. Therefore, when he asks us to take up our cross and follow him, he is asking us to actively seek out the burdens of others, their struggles and difficulties, and help others to carry those burdens.

Only in carrying the burdens of another can we truly be taking up our own cross and following Jesus.

The cross is exalted by Catholics and Christians everywhere, worn as a reminder by many, of what it truly symbolises; God’s infinite love and willingness to suffer for us to lighten our burden and help us to be with him always but also our responsibility to do as he did and lighten the burdens of others.

Competitions

The Catholic Diocese of Christchurch Commission for Justice and Peace have put out a competition for students of Catholic Colleges in the Christchurch Diocese and we continue to encourage students to enter. The information is below:

Year 9 and 10

Create a poster which uses words and images to illustrate the message of Social Justice Week 2023 - ‘Peace begins with you.’

Entries should be a poster, either A4 or A3, coloured or black and white and be in digital format .jpg.
The winning entry will be the one judged to have best incorporated the theme ‘Peace begins with You’ and entries should reflect Catholic Social Teaching and Principles.
Entries are to be submitted by 3pm Friday 13 October 2023 via the DRS: joanie.roberson@johnpaul.ac.nz
The prize for the winner is $300 plus there is a winner’s class award of $100.

Year 11-13

Senior students who wish to enter the competition need to write an essay or create a multimedia presentation that answers the question: How does the real, personal peace we need help us to become the peacemakers the world needs?

The entry can be an essay (word limit 1500 in pdf format) or any multimedia presentation in powerpoint, movie, or song (of no more than five minutes).
The winning entry is the one judged to have best incorporated Catholic Social Teaching and Principles in the presentation or essay.
Entries are to be submitted by 3pm Friday 13 October 2023 via the DRS: joanie.roberson@johnpaul.ac.nz
The prize for the winner is $500 and the Justice and Peace Cup plus there is a winner’s class award of $100.

Resources that can be used by students to assist them could be: Caritas 2023 Social Justice Week resources, Fratelli Tutti Encyclical, Laudato Si’ Encyclical, Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church or the CCJP Diocesan webpage cdoc.nz/what-we-do/ccjp

Posters are up around the school with the information needed by students on them and students are more than welcome to approach the DRS with any questions they may have regarding the competitions.

Catholic Youth Mass

The Youth Mass for this term was held at Saint Patrick’s Parish on 17 September at 9:30am. At this mass young people in the parish, including students from JPII and St Patrick’s Primary School participated in the various ministries in the mass. Despite the fact that the school ball was the evening before, it was great to see quite a few of the JPII students participating in the mass and there were many positive comments about their involvement and the reverent, competent manner in which they fulfilled their roles in the mass.

After the mass, refreshments were served by the youth and the bake sale which was a fundraiser for the Antioch Camp in Christchurch on 22-24 September was a huge success. We are grateful to everyone who supported the young people by baking goods to be sold, purchasing items after the mass and just being present to share in what was happening for the young people in our parish.

Antioch

Antioch is a great experience for young people and it is lovely to see that we will be taking seven of our students across to Christchurch at the beginning of the holidays for the camp. We pray that God will keep them safe and that they will encounter the person of Jesus Christ at the camp. The DRS and the youth worker for the parish will travel with the group to show solidarity with our young people and the value that is placed on this opportunity for encounter, to provide transport and to assist in leading the camp.

Champagnat Marists in Action

Here is information about the Champagnat Marists and their various forms of community building and outreach activities:

Champagnat Marist Newsletter

Upcoming Break

We pray that all of our students, families and staff will have a refreshing break and return safely for the beginning of Term Four.

May God bless you all.