Comments from the Principal Kate Nicholson

It has been a tough week in New Zealand’s history. Even though we have had 24/7 media coverage entering our homes, cars and workplaces, it is timely for us to remember the sheltering and reflective place that faith can provide us during these times. Therefore, to help your young people, we chose to give them space to process this tragedy as they needed to within a faith context. On Monday we began our assembly with prayers and a gospel reading that reminds us that Community is one of the tenets of St Peter’s College. Community is about inclusiveness –not just within the school grounds but outside of it too. Community is about accepting people for who they are regardless of race, creed, or background. Community is about going out of our way to welcome and include the marginalised in our society. Community is about treating people the way we would want to be treated and it is about remembering to see Jesus in the faces of others. Our Chapel was set up by 9CW on Monday morning, to be a reflective space with Christchurch in mind. It has been good to see students making use of this special space and leaving messages of support that will be delivered to our local mosques. St Peter’s has developed a strong relationship with some of our Muslim brothers and sisters through the Year 12 retreat and the Year 9 migration unit. They have been very good to us and we wish to repay their hospitality.

On Wednesday, our Year 13s led the whole school in an emotional and touching liturgy. I would like to share with you the reflection written by Grace Turipa for this liturgy.
 
Mo tatou katoa te whenua nei,
My land is your land.
Mo tatou katoa te kainga nei,
My home is your home.
 
To the parents who lost their children,
I am sorry.
To the children who lost their parents,
I am sorry.
 
When you came to this land,
You were seeking refuge.
“Peace and safety”,
That’s what we promised you.
 
Aotearoa is secure,
Of this we were sure.
But we were sadly mistaken,
Then your loved ones were taken.
 
We told you
We’d protect you.
But when you were in your most vulnerable state,
We were too late.
Too late,
To save the 50.
 
To those who lay on the floors of the mosque,
Wondering if when you closed your eyes,
You might wake up in Paradise;
I am sorry.
 
To the families who bid farewell,
To their loved ones as they went to noon prayers.
Who didn’t realize the next time they would see them,
Wouldn’t be of this world;
I am sorry.
 
To mothers,
Who will never get to hold their sons in their arms;
I am sorry.
 
To the sons,
Who must now step up to the take their Fathers place;
I am sorry.
 

To the young children,
Waiting by the window for someone who will never return;
I am sorry.
 
To the people who have spent their lives being told to be ashamed of their identity,
Because their names are too hard for others to pronounce.
And were made to feel like outcasts
For simply living out their faith.
I am sorry.
 
But my apologies will not bring them back.
My sympathy did not stop the attack.
My words cannot stitch back together,
The pieces of your broken heart.
 
Honestly when it comes to helping you,
I don’t even know where to start.
Just a 17-year-old kid,
Wanting to make things right.
 
I don’t know how it feels,
To run from my home.
I don’t know how it feels,
To live in a foreign land
And feel isolated and alone.
 
But I do know this,
I will promise to stand,
Hand and hand,
Woman and man.
I do know,
that what was done to you,
is wrong.
I do know that we as a country,
Have pulled the wool from our eyes,
To see that no matter how much we try,
Hate exists.
 
But I know that we will not sit by
And allow that hate,
To destroy our home.
 
Because from the separation of families,
Has come unity.
From the destruction,
Has come connection.
From the death,
Has come the birth of love.
 
Friends,
This is your home,
When they hurt you,
They hurt us too.
 
Because you are us.
We are New Zealand
 
It is also with sadness that we heard of Tracy O’Brien’s sudden death this week. Tracy has been the Principal of Kavanagh College, Dunedin, since 2010. He has been a great supporter of me and St Peter’s during my time as Principal here. He will be very sadly missed by his colleagues throughout New Zealand. Please keep Kavanagh College, its staff and students in your prayers at this difficult time.
God Bless
 
Kate Nicholson
 

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