Special Character Message

Happy Leap Year!

Fun fact, did you know babies born on a leap year are called leaplings? And there are 5 million people worldwide who are born on February 29th. This bonus day only comes around every four years and accommodates the fact that our solar year is a pesky 365.2422 days long.

This week our saint of the week is Saint Oswald of Worcester. In a leap year, his memorial day is the 29th of February, but in a normal year, he is celebrated on the 28th of February instead. Oswald was born in England. He founded abbeys and monasteries, and Ramsey and Worcester. Oswald is also known for the fact that he would wash the feet of the poor daily during Lent.

Last Thursday and Friday we had our year 13 retreat. During our retreat, we learned some key components of being a servant leader, how that leadership comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes and everyone is a leader. A servant leader is someone who serves those and gives everyone who follows them and walks alongside them the opportunities and chances to become the best possible versions of themselves. We learned what it means to also take care of ourselves. How important self-care is and that even we need to also take care of ourselves; “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”.

As well as learning and the mass we also did lots of bonding, bringing us as a year group closer. Fun games, and making films, there was never a dull moment. To end the day we had a small liturgy, where we reflected upon what we are grateful for.

This past weekend, we attended the Edmund Rice Student Leadership Weekend alongside our head students and deputies, Alice, Isaac, Tia, and Jake. Trinity hosted the student leaders from St Kevins, St Thomas of Canterbury, St Peter College, and Liston. They arrived on Friday 23rd around 5 pm from all over New Zealand, we then spent Friday getting to know each other and finishing with a liturgy. On Saturday we were lucky enough to have visitors from the Edmund Rice Trust come and speak to us about Edmund Rice, and what makes a good leader. We spent the rest of the day out and about learning about the history of Otago, and had a mass led by Father Hookey in a small church in Portobello. Later on Saturday we attended the rugby and finished the night with our final liturgy. Sunday morning we had a small reflection and said our final goodbyes. It was an amazing experience for everyone and helped us become better leaders, as well as better versions of ourselves. We all made connections and memories that will last forever.

Prayer

Loving God,
During this sacred season of lent, bring me closer to you.
Prepare a place in my home and heart for silence and solitude, so that I may re-discover the grace of a prayer-full life.
Help me to fast from those things that threaten the well-being of my body and soul. And remind me of the grace of simplicity.
Enlarge my heart so that I give to those in need, and in doing so, re-discover the grace of gratitude and generosity.
May this season be a grace-filled time to rekindle my love for and faith in you.
Amen

Have a fantastic week!!