Greetings from St Bede’s College.

The chill yesterday morning signaled the change of seasons. Boys training for summer sports rubbing shoulders with those training for winter sports also signaled that change. Add the preparation for events like the Variety Concert, Polyfest and the Bishop Lyons Shield, the place is certainly alive with activity. Classes on the whole are well settled, and many seniors are already thinking about their initial internal assessments of the year.

We had a busy assembly with presentations from the New Zealand Blood Service, a visual presentation about a well-being, encouraging boys to be engaged with a well-being programme that we are instituting this year. This period of Lent gives us an opportunity to share some messages as well and I include my brief thoughts I shared at the assembly.

Morning everyone – how’s your Lent going?
Last week’s reflection in the Ash Wednesday Liturgy, Mr Entwistle asked two questions:
“How do you prepare for something that really matters?”
and
“What matters to you?”.
He made reference to his son who was preparing for an event really important to him, making the parallel that Lent is a time to prepare for Easter, the time marked down to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Some others look at the time of Lent as taking stock of their lives, asking questions about how they relate to God and others. It can be a time of making new habits and removing the clutter from your lives. Think of the time when Mum or Dad badgered you into cleaning up your bedroom, and then when you finally do it – removing all the rubbish, or the clothes on the floor that you never wear. Think then of how you feel – it’s pretty good isn’t it, walking into a nice tidy bedroom?
Lent is a time also to remove some other clutter in your lives – it may be mending a relationship. It’s amazing also the feeling of saying sorry to someone you’ve hurt, or accepting an apology from someone else.
Lent can be a time where you rejuvenate your prayer life that energises or inspires you to make those decisions – like cleaning up your room, or mending a relationship. Many people think of Lent as about giving up sweets or puddings – and that’s good if we know why we do it. Making a promise and keeping it is a great discipline and gives you a sense of self-satisfaction.
No matter what we do – let’s keep in mind why – and I remind you of Tyson Fury’s first words after his boxing fight last week –
“First and foremost, I want to say thank you to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ”.
We observe Lent because of what Christ did for us.

We have also had very good feedback from many of the donors to the chapel who gathered for the first College Mass last Friday. Fr. Tim Duckworth's homily was also well received and has prompted some discussions in the community of who we are as Bedeans, and how we should act as Christian people. The homily follows:

"Mrs Zebedee was pretty much like most mothers I know. She wanted only the best for her boys. So she goes up to Jesus and asks for the best places for her sons.
I am willing to bet that your parents would want the same for you. They would want you to get ahead – as we say, but probably more than that – they would want you to be happy.
Being happy is easy. Well most people think that it is. Mostly we think that if we have everything that we could possibly need… then we’d be happy. A new iPhone, a new sound system, a new vehicle – preferably red and sporty, a new home – a new everything.
It’s really easy to start climbing the ladder – trying to get higher and higher. Achieving more and having more and being more and better than everyone else.
Unfortunately the world is full of stories of people who have a whole lot more than you have and I have that don’t end up being happy. I’m actually not saying that I don’t like fast red cars – because I do. But striving to get more and be more and better and all that we tend towards calling the rat race – actually doesn’t make us happy.
Something about us as human beings means that we like to do things for other people too. Jesus was saying this in today’s gospel.
Anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life.
No, none of us wants to be a slave. That’s not what Jesus is saying. He’s saying for each of us doing something for others is how we really get ahead. We need to begin a life of service.
So we have a simple choice – looking after me or being kind. Each of us is born wanting everything – a baby wants this and that. Babies can’t help that – they are born reasonably helpless. The choice later is: Do you want to be selfish or “otherish”. Yes, I know, that isn’t a word!
People who aren’t selfish are happier. Helping others – being charitable and kind just does work – it actually makes us happier.
You know at St Bede’s that is the point of the red and black. The red is there for blood – giving, love, kindness and generosity. The things of the heart. The black is there for not looking after myself – not being selfish.
Among all the things that we are here for today we also have come to say thanks to a group of generous people. The people who have given money to build the chapel. I imagine that they thought to themselves. At St Bede’s I learnt how to be a good man – I’d like the next generation to have that same opportunity. So they gave money for the new chapel. Thanks for your kindness. Thanks for your generosity. Thanks for thinking of others.
Adults sometimes lie to you and say things like – your school days are the best days in your life. In my experience things only got better once I left school. I enjoyed my time here as a boy but life has been a lot better since.
The thing that I did learn here and from my parents that was the most important though – was the point of the red and the black. Not being selfish and being kind and just, “otherish” in life. That has made me happy.
During this mass let us pray for each other. Let us pray that all of us might understand the gospel of Jesus. That we all learn that the effort that we make makes a difference to ourselves and to our world. Together we make it better. We are red and black men, generous and not selfish."

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

We are beginning to receive some inquiries regarding Coronavirus. I wish to stress, there is no risk to our community. Senior Management are keeping in regular contact with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and have plans in place should the need arise.

In the interim, the link below -
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-health-advice-general-public is the advice for parents from the Ministry of Education regarding the symptoms, prevention and what to do if you are concerned about COVID-19 which includes the following information:

Advice for unwell students
Anyone who is unwell should not be at an early learning centre/kōhanga reo, school/kura, or tertiary institute/whare wānanga.
If you have a particular concern about your child or yourself, Healthline has a dedicated line for COVID-19 enquiries with translators and interpreters available 24/7 in 150 languages:

• Free call 0800 358 5453.

If you intend to visit your GP or after-hours medical centre, phone ahead first to let them know.

More health advice is available on the Ministry of Health website.

Again, we wish to reiterate there is no risk to our community, should the situation change rest assured we will be in contact.

Until next week,

J.G. Boyle