Greetings from St Bede’s

The year is in full swing! Featuring this week was the first day of our College Athletics Championship, the 102nd in our history! Organised very well by Mr Gamblin, all staff were involved and all the boys were encouraged to compete in a number of track and field events. The second day of the Championship is finals day next Wednesday.

The parents of our Year 10 students attended an information evening last night, and all met with their Mana Tāne Kaiako. We then had an opportunity to explain our new Mana Tāne and Pastoral Programmes and support services.

Earlier in the week the 1st XI Cricket team defeated St Pat's Silverstream in the traditional, with Conor Fyall, Jaden Houghton and Ben Hanrahan contributing to a healthy score of 345. St Bede's then proceeded to bowl St Pat's out twice to win by an innings. Adam Poumaka's five wickets was a personal best, but the rest of the bowlers all made contributions.

The altered Covid-19 level meant we cancelled the Ashes liturgy to mark the beginning of Lent. The boys pulled together a video liturgy that we showed in class which I have shared with you, along with a prayer from Pope Francis who asked for Friday 19 February to be dedicated as A Day of Prayer and Penance for the victims of Abuse and Violence.

Prayer

We Must Not Look the Other Way

Let us pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded by all.
Lord hear us.

A simple prayer, based on material from the Pontifical Commission 2016

Heavenly Father, You love and care for all your children especially the smallest and
most vulnerable. We entrust to you the lives of the many children and vulnerable adults who have been abused, and whose trust and innocence have been destroyed.
Help us to hear their cries of pain and to take responsibility for so many broken lives.
We pray that within their communities and families they may find understanding and support so that with the help of your grace their wounds may be healed and they
may again know peace.
Grant this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who shared our weakness in all things but sin, and lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever.
Amen.

Until next week,

J. G. Boyle