WelCom December 2019
Tēnā koe,
Congratulations on graduating from secondary college. As you leave college and enter into the workforce and go onto tertiary education know of my prayerful support and best wishes for you.
Our Catholic colleges are wonderful communities of learning and faith. You have been part of a loving, extended whānau supported by dedicated staff and surrounded by pastoral care, manaakitanga. You take with you good friendships, strong Catholic values and moral compass, school spirit and a vision for a better world, both personally and environmentally. You bring hope, vision and courageous leadership to our world. I am very proud of your commitment to addressing climate change and to improving the quality of peoples’ lives and environment. Care for our common home and care for each other are growing challenges in today’s world.
Leaving school is full of opportunities but also challenges as you move out of a close-knit community to a much bigger, less personal world. As followers, disciples of Jesus Christ we are all called to pastorally care for each person we meet, ‘to love others as I have loved you’ and to create warm interpersonal communities. Our mission is to reach out and care for each other and care for the earth for a better world. Pope Francis speaks of this in his Encyclical ‘Laudato Si – Care for Our Common Home’. The call of our last Synod ‘Go you are sent’ fits well with these words to you from Pope Francis, ‘You too, dear young people can be joyful witness of Jesus’ love, courageous witness of His Gospel, carrying to this world a ray of His light’.
My prayer and hope for you is you hold steadfast to God’s unconditional love for you, keep true to your values, kia kaha, and care for each other. May you be blessed at all times with the fruits of the Holy Spirit ‘Joy, love, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’.
John A Cardinal Dew,
Archbishop of Wellington