Tena koutou katoa. Nga mihi nui atawhai.

‘Am I in? Please, I just want to sign it now before someone else gets to take my place!’ This was the anxious pleading of a student at her Welcome Meeting who, with her younger sister, is wanting to start at Carmel in 2020. It was interesting to hear that their mother, an ex-Carmel student herself, considered there was ‘something missing’ at her daughters’ current schools. Although enrolling at Carmel will mean a considerable journey to and from home each day, the family had reached the conclusion that the values and attributes that she had gained from her time at Carmel far outweighed this obstacle. The mother was very proud to be a known as a Mercy woman and wanted the same for her daughters – to be part of our faith community.

Our faith community had gathered that morning to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption and to celebrate several students as they received the Sacraments of Initiation – First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Our celebrants, Bishop Denis Browne, Fr Marchellino and Fr Line, were there to support these students as they took the next steps in their faith journey.

“Each day is a step we make towards eternity and we shall continue thus to step from day to day until we take the last step, which will bring us into the presence of God”. Catherine McAuley