On Friday 7 August, St Patrick’s School in Waimate in Aotearoa New Zealand (ANZ) was delighted to welcome around 220 students from four South Canterbury Catholic schools to celebrate the feast of St Mary MacKillop.
Students and staff from St Joseph’s Fairlie, St Joseph’s (Temuka), St Joseph’s (Pleasant Point) and St Patrick’s (Waimate), came together for a day of faith, friendship and celebration, honouring the life and legacy of St Mary MacKillop.
The day began with a special liturgy at the Basilica in Waimate. With more than 220 children gathered together, the singing and energy of the students created a wonderful atmosphere as we celebrated our shared Catholic faith and reflected on Mary MacKillop’s example of service, courage and care for others.
Following the liturgy, everyone gathered at St Patrick’s for food, fellowship and a chance to connect with students from the other schools. The day provided plenty of opportunities for the children to play, talk, make new friends and strengthen the relationships between our Catholic school communities.
The celebration was also a wonderful opportunity to recognise the many people who make events such as this possible. Alongside the students and teachers were numerous staff members, school helpers, parishioners and whānau who gave their time and energy throughout the day. Our school families generously provided morning tea, while many people worked behind the scenes to ensure that everything ran smoothly.
St Mary MacKillop’s legacy is built around faith, service and a commitment to providing Catholic education to children, particularly those who might otherwise have missed out. Bringing our four schools together was a fitting way to celebrate that legacy and the important role our Catholic schools continue to play in our communities. For the students, however, the day was simply about being together. There was plenty of laughter, singing, food and fun, as friendships were formed and old connections strengthened.
It was a wonderful celebration of Catholic education and a reminder that, although our schools are spread across South Canterbury, we are part of one Catholic family. St Patrick’s Waimate was proud to host our sister schools and grateful to everyone who helped make the day such a memorable celebration of St Mary MacKillop.
Paul Cartlidge
Principal – St Patrick’s School