Dear God,

You come to us in Jesus who teaches us that the way to happiness is through our love for one another.

Watch over the teachers, students and families of Sacred Heart Cathedral School as we try to be faithful to this teaching.

Help us to be a welcoming and joyful community, so that others may come to know your love and peace.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Tēnā koutou katoa.

The first day of Spring and what a stunning day it is.

Some of you will know but it is with great sadness I inform you, Simon Lai husband of Winy and Dad of Jayden and Chanelle passed away over the weekend after a long illness. Condolences to Winy, Jayden and Chanelle  during this very sad time. Simon was a great supporter of Sacred Heart Cathedral School. The staff always appreciated the positive energy and gratefulness Simon showed to us all. In fact, Simon was one of the first parents I met when I first arrived at Sacred Heart Cathedral School. He had a smile and laugh that brought joy to our playground. Rest in Peace Simon.

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga karangaranga maha o te wa         

Hear the call

Rau rangatira ma tenei te mihi atu ki a kotou.

Greetings to you all.

Kua hinga tetahi o tatou.

One of us has fallen.

E te matua a ka nui te aroha atu kia koe.

To you Simon, our immense love.

Kua oti atu to hikoitanga ki runga i te mata o te whenua.

Your time here walking amongst us has ended.

Haere atu kia ratou kua wheturangitia .                                    

Go join your loved ones, all those who have gone before you.

Haere takahia te ara whanui kia Hine-nui-te po      .        

And journey to Hine-nui-te po.

Haere ki te huihui o te Kahurangi                                            

Haere ki a Hawaikinui, ki Hawaikiroa, ki Hawaiki pamaomao.

Journey to the land of your dreams, your Hawaikinui, Hawaikiroa, Hawaiki pamaomao.

Haere ki te runga rawa, ko ia te timatanga te whakamutunga

Journey to the Lord, for he is the beginning and the end

And as you journey cast your eyes over us one more time.

Ma tona wa ka tutaki ano tatou kia tatou.

We’ll meet again.

Father James enjoyed last weeks scavenger hunt. This is so much fun! Send me through photos as you complete the scavenger hunt.

Special blessings this week to all our Dad's, Uncles, Grandfather's and significant male role models. Please see a liturgy prepared by John, Eli and Clare to be shared with Dads on Sunday.

Here a few things siblings can do together.

The following clip is just lovely - it takes about 8 min. Some students are familar with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZQPifs2kjo

A website you have to look at, I highly recommend sparklers. It has a wealth of wonderful resources that will support you and your child during this time of uncertainty. https://sparklers.org.nz/ 

Take care of yourselves and those in your bubble. Cathy, Christine, Eli, Leanne and myself are at school during Alert Level 3. Please contact me if you require any assistance. I am so looking forward to Alert Level 2 when we will be all together again.

Arohanui,

Bernadette Murfitt

Principal

Sacred Heart Cathedral School

Children’s Sacramental Programme 2022

The Sacramental Programme for this new year is about to commence and registration is now open. The programme covers 3 sacraments: Confirmation in Term 4 this year, Reconciliation and First Communion in Term 1 and 2 of 2022 respectively. To be eligible, your child/ren must already be baptised and currently in Year 3. The first parents’ meeting is on 23 September 2021, 7pm at St Thomas More Church in Wilton (subject to alert level restrictions). If you would like to enrol your child/ren, please contact your parish coordinator. For the Cathedral Parish, please get in touch with Angela Helbano at angela.nzet@gmail.com.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

In A Covid World

Our Father in heaven –

We are helpless and so vulnerable without you.

Hallowed by your name –

We call your name with bowed heads and outstretched arms.  The holiness of your creation is under threat as Covid plays greedily with life.

Your kingdom come –

The virus confronting us spawns disruption and disharmony, separation, isolation and death - so opposed to your kingdom of light and grace and peace.  Enclose us in your loving embrace that we might know the splendour of your reign.

Your will be done on earth as in heaven –

Your love for the world brought Jesus to us; you spoke your Word to us in him.  We have not always listened.  Our misuse of your gifts has surely contributed to our present distress.  Help us to honour your will in all things.

Give us today our daily bread –

The virus has isolated us from one another, starving us of company and the means to live in the joy of community.  Feed us now with awareness of how necessary our connection is to one another and to all creation.  May our care and love become the daily bread that feeds every life. 

Forgive us our sins –

We have wasted and spoiled much of your creation.  We have thought only of ourselves.  Perhaps this is why the virus attacks only humans.  Shake us awake to our indifference.  Forgive our selfishness, our neglect, our greed.

As we forgive those who sin against us –

It is easy to feel hard done by, to blame others for our own ills.  Yet forgiveness is so healing, calming, peaceful.  Rid us of all resentment which, like the virus, isolates and destroys.  Withholding forgiveness locks down pity and mercy.

Save us from the time of trial –

The pandemic of Covid-19 has shown us the negative side of exclusion.  It is the doorway to loneliness and the end of community.  Save us from any temptation to exclude others, to belittle or devalue companionship.  This is the trap that Covid sets.  Protect us.

Deliver us from evil –

Come to our rescue, gentle and merciful God.  Bring us through this terrible time with our faith and love stronger, with a clearer vision of your precious gift of life, and with a fuller understanding of our responsibility in the world that means so much to you.

For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours now and forever.

I went for a walk up mount Kaukau with my family. We spotted a number 10, something to sit on, a bus, some garden ornaments and a Piwakawaka. I also saw a police car but it was too quick for my mum to get a picture. - Sophia W (Rm 2)

Joaquin (Rm 1) gives us the the weather forecast for the day.

Zoe M (Rm 2), with photos of her prayer mat. She wrote her prayer intentions on four separate pieces of paper and put them in each corner. She set it up with a candle, bible and a made up cross (chopsticks!). Sometimes she puts flowers and her baby bunny joins in as well.  She is really excited with prayer mat time.

Check out the links below to keep your young learners engaged:

• Learning from home guidance and resources for parents | English medium
• Learning from home guidance and resources for parents | Māori Medium 
• Home Learning TV page | TVNZ OnDemand website 
• Mauri Reo Mauri Ora | Kura Tuatahi 
• Mauri Reo Mauri Ora | Wharekura

https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellbeing/mental-wellbeing/looking-after-your-mental-wellbeing/

Financial support

Financial pressure will be a reality for many. Help is available if you’re experiencing financial distress.

Find out about the support that is available: 

Financial support for individuals and whānau
 

https://www.kuwibooks.com/#new-page-1-section

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5XMF3Inoi8R9nSI8ChOsdQ

You might find the following resources useful. We use them in our classrooms:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvXV3MIY-_M&t=34s

Kia ora e te whānau.

As part of our focus on Social Justice, we are supporting the Home of Compassion Soup Kitchen's annual appeal on Friday, 17th September. The Soup Kitchen was founded by Suzanne Aubert in Wellington in 1901 and has been supporting homelessness in Pōneke since that time. Amazing!

We are looking for some volunteer parents to supervise senior students as they collect donations for the Soup Kitchen near the Wellington High Court on Molesworth Street, between 9am and 2pm.

We need about 5 parents and would run a roster and collect with the children for around one hour.  It would take just over an hour with a walk to and from school with the students. The more volunteers we have, the shorter our shifts might be.

Can you please let nicola@trustproperties.co.nz know if you are available to help support our senior students to support others in our community.