Greetings from St Bede’s College.

It’s Summer Sports’ Tournament Week, but if you looked out on the fields you will also see plenty of boys also preparing for the winter codes as well. Later in the newsletter we will upgrade you of progress from the rowers in Karapiro, and of our Water Polo and Athletics groups who are in the middle of various competitions this week.

Today we had a school presence at the national Remembrance Service in Hagley Park, and we joined the thousands of people in this moving ceremony.

I cannot help but think of how closely linked all the sentiments of the last two weeks are to the Gospel message. The readings at Mass this morning, “Love God and love our neighbour”, were reflected so often in the various speeches we listened to at the service in Hagley Park. In solidarity with the Muslim community, we joined people of many other beliefs and races.

What has staggered many is the gracious manner in which the Muslim community has responded to the nations outpouring of support, led by the Prime Minister reaching out to their grieving community. Farid Ahmed, a survivor of the Al Noor Mosque attack, and one who lost his wife in that same attack, flabbergasted those assembled, with his basic message of forgiveness. His faith demands that he even forgives the man responsible, and show good to him, because he was a fellow human being!!

He commended the country for its outpouring of love and compassion to his community, and along with the PM, also challenged those assembled, to continue to show that same compassion and tolerance to those of different cultures, religions and races. In summary, they both challenged all New Zealanders to eradicate racism in the country, by asking every individual to firstly look into our own hearts, and then take individual and collective responsibility. The last two weeks prove we have a foundation to do so and be leaders in the world in building on that foundation.

The Governor General spoke similarly of a “renewed moral challenge”, and that cultural differences be seen as something to celebrate.

Coincidentally, in his turn to lead the reflection at our own staff meeting this morning, Mr Litten as part of his reflection shared this…

“On a more positive note, I think we can all be pleased and to a degree proud of how the vast majority of New Zealanders, and especially our leaders, have responded to the recent event.

Indeed, it is a pleasant irony that registrations of interest concerning living and working in New Zealand have surged over the last ten days or so. Including those from predominantly Muslim countries. So in terms of scaring away potential immigrants, this dreadful man has failed in a spectacular fashion. In his attempt to drive us apart, he has drawn us together. It’s an almost perfect own goal.

Now how our boys process all this is, as yet, unclear to me.

But it is my reflection that now, more than ever, we as teachers, must promote and model an inclusive and all-embracing attitude towards diversity and difference of all kinds.”

I couldn’t have put it better myself!!!!

Until next week.

Justin Boyle