On Wednesday 18 June, St Paul’s College, alongside our fellow Catholic Kāhui Ako schools, celebrated our Pasifika Mass for our community at St Joseph's Church led by Fr Tino.

It was a bright and vibrant celebration of our Pasifika students and community across all 15 of our schools. This year's theme, ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’ drew inspiration from Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.”

St Paul’s was exceptionally well-represented on the night. Josh Benoza (Year 13) commenced the proceedings with the traditional blowing of the conch, setting a reverent tone for the service. Troy Fuimaono (Year 12) proudly led as our school's candle bearer, while the Al-Nuaimi trio—Meggy (Year 10), Hezza, and Jezza (Year 12)—along with Caleb Williams Seumanu (Year 8), served as altar servers, representing their parish with dedication. Additionally, Mavicle Auvaa, Isaiah Faiva, Zephan Pita-Lafaele (Year 13) and Meleti Vakadranu (Year 12) were part of the Gospel Procession, further highlighting our school's involvement.

Celebrations such as this Pasifika Mass are always a profound privilege to be a part of. They provide a unique opportunity for our community to 'fill our cups' – to be spiritually nourished and to strengthen our collective bonds. Witnessing the vibrancy of our Pasifika students and their families, sharing in their cultural richness, and worshiping together fosters a deep sense of belonging and unity. It is our hope that this annual event will continue to flourish and grow, even as the Kāhui Ako partnership concludes, becoming a cornerstone tradition for our schools and wider community for years to come.

Finally, a huge thank you goes to Mr Glenn Stanbridge, who helped organise the incredible musical contributions of Josiah Tupaí and Revelation and Genesis Tagaloa (Year 13). Their musical ability truly captivated and moved the entire congregation.

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toirua – Let us stay close together, not far apart.