Otahuhu Catholic Parish and School communities is sending help to those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in India, says Lyndsay Freer, Media and Communications Officer for the Catholic Diocese of Auckland.

"Calling the earth 'Our Common Home,' Pope Francis asks us to stand together globally, in solidarity, to care for each other as sisters and brothers," Freer says.

She says many members of migrant communities in New Zealand are watching helplessly as their loved ones back home are suffering or have died as a result of the pandemic.

While there are signs of a decrease in daily reported cases in India, there have been 28,175,044 infections and 331,895 Covid-19-related deaths reported there since the pandemic began, she notes.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand will send the Covid-relief fundraiser proceeds to Caritas India. The Indian charity is working on the ground to assist those afflicted with the often-deadly virus.

Auckland's Catholic Bishop Patrick Dunn who will attend the Concert, says prayer and the concert will make us more aware of what Indian families here and in India are suffering.

This our small way of supporting them, he says.

Children and young people from the Otahuhu Parish of St Joseph, and McAuley High School, De La Salle College and St Joseph's Primary School will be among those taking part in the concert.

Others contributing to the fundraiser include established artists of many different ethnicities, who are generously offering their services.

Source

• Indian News Link
• Image: Straits Times

Principal Myles Hogarty said the explosion took place at morning interval and "involved a portable gas cooker exploding while boys were running a sausage sizzle as part of their Young Enterprise Studies". Continue reading

Health Science Academies, supported by the Counties Manukau DHB, have been operating for several years at some other south Auckland secondary schools.

The goal is to develop a workforce that reflects the diverse south Auckland community.

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Leung-Wai, a 25-year-old from Auckland, said, "Having lunch with the Holy Father is something you tell your family and friends and future generations about". When asked why he hesitated to say it was something you tell your grandchildren about, he said he was one of many at World Youth Day considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life.

Leung-Wai also invited Pope Benedict to New Zealand.

"He was laughing," the young man said.

Martin, a former pupil of De la salle College describes himself on Twitter as a"Recent Architectural Graduate/ Zumba Instructor/Artist and a chilled out guy"

Source

• CNS News
• Image:Yfrog.com