Kia ora

It's fitting that we welcome our friends from Apifou’ou College this past week as part of Tongan Language Week in New Zealand. Our relationship with Apifou’ou spans over 50 years, and it has been a privilege to host Fr. Ekuasi Manu and his students. Our boys have truly enjoyed their vibrant presence around the College and in the homes of the families who generously hosted them.

Last week we held our first Catholic North Hub Kāhui Ako Cultural Festival at Marian College, where our Kapa Haka and senior Pasifika boys performed exceptionally well. It's great to see Kapa Haka participation growing across all year levels – the talent and dedication of these young men is truly inspiring.

Winter Tournament Week is fast approaching, with around 140 students representing us in football, rugby, basketball, rugby league, equestrian, wrestling, golf, hockey, and badminton. Many thanks to our teachers, coaches, managers, and volunteers who make this possible – many of whom our Old Boys of the College. I have no doubt our boys will give their best effort. You can follow their progress on our social media channels.

Our PTA do an amazing job of supporting our school. One of their annual events, the St Bede’s Night at the Races is coming up on Friday September 20. This is a great night, and I encourage you all to come along to support the PTA and in turn the college. You can email racenightsbc@gmail.com for ticketing information.

The annual dinner was once again a highlight. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Old Boys ranging from the 1940’s to the 2000’s. For those who couldn’t join us – a copy of my annual address is below.

Po Marie, good evening, it is a pleasure to be here.

A gift for life –just think about that for a moment…..

What a statement ---- A gift for life is.

This is the statement I give to every young man and his family who walk through our gates as I describe what it means to be Bedean. To promise and then deliver on something that spans a lifetime is not easy, but for the most part, we have been doing it for over 100 years now and in some ways, we are just getting started.

I am immensely proud to lead a community that embodies the values of faith, learning, and service. Our college continues to thrive with a higher-than-ever demand for enrolment, a full boarding school, and programmes across faith, wellbeing, and learning that continue to respond to the needs of young men in the 21st century.

Since 1911, we have been developing Men of Character, and today's school is more focused than ever on what works for young men in a world where in the eyes of some, or possibly many, being a boy isn’t always seen in a positive light.

Faith remains the cornerstone of St Bede’s; it isn’t just a belief; it’s a way of life. With character education at the heart of our curriculum, we continue to teach and reinforce the values and virtues that have shaped your lives and the lives of the many other Bedeans who have gone on to become leaders and change-makers across our local, national, and international communities.

There's no doubt that school today is quite different from the one you remember—and it should be. In many ways, these changes were not only necessary but inevitable. There is no sugarcoating our current context. We are up against it as we grapple with socio-economic disparities, cultural and language barriers, surging mental health and well-being needs, the increasing digital divide, trauma, social harm, and the rise of AI, not to mention the never-ending educational reform.

Some of the political decisions around education make you question whether those in charge truly understand what's best for our boys considering no political party has built a new boys' school since the mid '70s, despite clear evidence that boys do better in boys’ schools. Their futures are being tossed around like a political football at present by those interested in short term gains, when we know all too well, that it is the gift for life that matters most. These are complex times, but they demand that we adapt and grow, and we will, we are, just as St Bede's has always done.

Today, we intentionally teach our boys to be men of knowledge, to be men of faith, men of leadership, men of humility, sportsmanship, integrity, and, as evidenced here tonight, men of fellowship.

In a way, what we stand for is countercultural in an increasingly secular NZ society, and when you consider the geopolitical conflict and unrest across the world at present, it is more important than ever that we continue to deliver on the vision of the Marists - sending young men into the world who are of outstanding character with strong minds and gentle hearts.

There is no doubt that in time, the Society of Mary will refocus its attention as a missionary order on other places of the world in need of the gift it has provided us. As we look to the horizon, collectively, we have work to do to ensure the legacy lives on and Bedeans of the future can continue to access a world-class education within a campus that's fit for purpose for our catholic leaders of tomorrow.

As Old Boys, you are an important part of this, and I encourage you to support the College wherever you can, whether through a gift of time, talent or treasure. In the short term, we're focusing on what truly matters:

·         Providing our young men with a rich and relevant faith life through the establishment of our new Centre of Faith and Leadership,

·         Ensuring the current generation leaves our place with a sense of value, identity and connection, and

·         Most importantly, ensuring that this gift for life truly is impervious to race, wealth, status, ability or interests.

The test of time is our litmus test – and after 113 years, I am proud to say St Bede’s continues to be built on people, faith and community. Today's boys certainly have their challenges in a complex and somewhat volatile world, yet they know what it means to be a Bedean, with a growing appreciation for those who shaped the very paths and halls they walk.

Rest assured, St Bede’s means as much to the boys and families of today as it does to you and yours. 

Fide et Opere – together, we walk in faith and in work.

It truly is a gift for life, - God bless and thank you.

Jon McDowall

Rector