Bishop Paul Martin presided at the ceremony and preached.

Those attending included emeritus bishop Basil Meeking, David Kennerley, the New Zealand leader of the Society of Mary, former Rector of St Bede's, Des Darby, twenty-five priests, many of whom were old boys.

The Rector Justin Boyle, staff and students, members of the boards of Proprietors and Trustees, representatives of the building firm and friends of the College were also in attendance.

In his homily, Martin, who was formerly the deputy Rector of St Bede's said that it was a wonderful and unusual privilege for a bishop to be able to dedicate the new chapel of a school in which he himself has taught as a priest.

He thanked those whose generous gifts of vision, money, time and talent have made an inspired vision into a tangible and visible reality.

"At one level you have been generous to the college and to future generations of the St. Bede's community. But most of all you have gifted to God a place for Him to dwell among us," he said.

"Know today the gratitude of God to and for each one of you. May you and your families be abundantly blessed for your generosity."

Boyle said the chapel is the college's most important building.

"The return of the chapel is a clear statement of who we are and what we stand for, a Catholic, Marist College, and we welcome its return," said Rector Boyle.

The dedication of the chapel marked the conclusion of a seven-year, $20 million rebuild and refurbishment of St Bede's.

Devastated by the 2011 earthquakes, the chapel was demolished.

For seven years a temporary chapel was used, while funding was secured to enable a rebuild.

The campus master plan was re-designed to place the chapel at the forefront of the school.

Source

• odt.co.nz
• stbedes.school.nz
• Image: stbedes.school.nz

Nineteen-year-old Lachlan Bartlett will benefit from the financial assistance from Cochlear to help fund his double degree of law and criminal justice at the University of Canterbury.

"Whatever your challenges are, whether it is hearing or learning difficulties, don't ever use it as an excuse."

"Consider it an opportunity to prove people who doubt you wrong.

"Realise that your deafness is a gift that will present opportunities and challenges to you that would never have happened without it. "

"It is a part of who you are. Be proud of it. Own it."

Bartlett was Head Boy at St Bede's College in Christchurch in 2015.

He was captain of the First XI football team, won a University of Canterbury Leaders Scholarship, has represented the school at the National Athletics Road Race and won Academic Gold Pockets (2013, 2014), Honours Pocket for Athletics (2014).

He also won the Year 10, 11 and 12 New Zealand Federation for Deaf Children scholarship.

"As a leader in many communities, it is crucial that I give back to those around me," he says.

"I now have a part-time job in the Learning Assistance team at St Bede's helping boys who have learning difficulties."

"It is an incredibly humbling feeling being able to help others the way you were once helped."

"As Head Boy I came to the realisation that a true leader does not stand above others but serves those who need help the most."

Having recently joined the Marist Leaders Network, a nationwide organisation that helps the Head Students and Prefects of Catholics schools in New Zealand, Lachlan is developing the skills that will one day come in handy in his chosen vocation as a lawyer.

"Being deaf, I have seen many examples in society where people have been discriminated and it would be an honour to stand and give then the support and empathy they need," he says.

"Graeme Clark helped and continues to help those who were disadvantaged and I believe that with this scholarship, I too can continue to follow, to the best of my ability, the example he has set.

Lachlan credits much of his academic, social and sporting success to the Cochlear implant he received when he was eight years old.

Source

• Supplied
• scip.co.nz

An injunction costs approximately $15,000 to $20,000, according to Hasting Lawyer Jol Bates.

Bates represented the Battison family in the Bay last year when St John's College pupil, Lucan Battison, was suspended for refusing the school's request to cut his long hair.

He predicted that, depending on whether the case proceeded to a full hearing, damages similar to those awarded to Battison - $24,000 - could be awarded.

Justice Rachel Dunningham, who granted the interim injunction, directed the boys' fathers to file a formal statement of claim by 5pm on Wednesday or the interim injunction would be lifted.

Half an hour before the deadline, the parents' released a short statement through their lawyer Andrew Marsh saying they had applied to the high court for a "short extension" to allow discussions with the school to continue.

"All I will say is I would like it to be settled out of court and the indication we have had from the school is that that's where they would like to see it as well," said one of the parents.

On Thursday a short extension of time was agreed by the Court to allow those discussions with the school to continue.

"In the meantime the parties have agreed that while those discussions are ongoing no further comment will be made by the parties," said Marsh, in a brief statement on Thursday afternoon.

Two St Bede's College students were excluded from the school's Maadi Cup rowing team after breaching Auckland Airport security last Friday.

There were riding on the Jetstar carousel at the domestic terminal.

St Bede's College lawyer Andrew McCormick had earlier said he had been expecting the statement of claim to be filed.

He said that the school would then compile a response and have that filed early next week.

If there was a hearing it would then likely be heard in the next 2-3 months said McCormick.

"The regatta finishes later this week, so the question posed is whether the decision was lawful or not, and that doesn't need to happen this week," McCormick said.

Both parties wanted a swift resolution, he added.

"Nobody wants it dragging on. The school wants things to die down so the whole rowing team can focus on the best they can this week."

"It's been really disruptive up there, as you could imagine. All of the St Bede's kids are getting much more attention than they would otherwise."

• Maadi Cup rowers egged on to carousel by teammates
• Nelson headmaster slams 'infantile' St Bede's parents
• Mai Chen: St Bede's decision raises questions
• Stuff Editorial: St Bede's decision straightforward
• New Zealand Herald Editorial: Schools need more leeway from the law
• Board backs St Bede's ban on Maadi Cup rowers
• 'If you don't like something, you lawyer up' - Teachers fear St Bede's rowing ban row sets 'dangerous precedent'
• Rowing decision a dangerous precedent - principal
• Close eye on school case

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Stuff.co.nz
• TVNZ.co.nz
• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: justicefordads.org

Bravo to St Bede's College Rector, Justin Boyle, for standing firm on the school's code of conduct. Breaching airport security, by illegally taking a ride on a luggage carousel into the secure area is no trifling matter.

The two roguish rowers who did so at Auckland Airport on Friday, should count themselves lucky that the police and Aviation Security let them off with a stern warning.

But as ambassadors of the school, competing in an elite sporting regatta, their feckless actions blatantly breached the school's code of conduct, which they and their parents willingly signed up to.

Sidelining these carousel clowns from the Maadi Cup was the only credible option for Justin Boyle. In his 13 years as rector of St Bede's his firm but fair leadership style has been his unwavering trademark.

Highly-respected for his zero-tolerance approach on bullying and drugs, Boyle has insisted that the school community plays by the rules, and those who fall foul of the rules face clear consequences.

His decision to axe the carousel riders from the school's Maadi Cup rowing team is entirely consistent with the school's values, and more-importantly, fully in accordance with the code of conduct.

After last year's shameful hijinks in Tekapo by a bunch of school rowers, it's all the more galling that rogue rowers have generated embarrassing newspaper headlines for St Bede's, again.

But if this was a script from the Dumb and Dumber playbook, it's the parents of the two banned rowers who I believe have really defied all bounds of common sense.

Tromping off to the High Court to seek an urgent injunction, in a bid to get their boys back in the row boats stinks to high heaven of elitist self-entitlement. Where's the dignity? The decency? The self-respect? Continue reading

• Mike Yardley is a former Newstalk ZB host, a regular Fairfax columnist and former St Bede's pupil.

A group of around eight St Bede's College, Christchurch pupils doused tennis balls in petrol before lighting them and throwing them in Twizel during the Maadi Cup rowing regatta.

They also poured out the letters "SBC" in petrol on the road and lit it.

St Bede's College Rector, Mr Justin Boyle said those involved were part of a team of about 70 and were permitted to say on and compete in the event.

The antics could have gone woefully wrong, he said.

The boys were staying in a rented house under the supervision of an adult, and the parent in charge of the boys is "mortified", Mr Doyle said.

The group was barred from social events at the end of the week-long rowing event, and they will be doing community service work in Twizel during the up-coming school holidays.

"They have not done themselves or the school proud at all," Mr Doyle said.

The police were aware of the incident but did not take the matter further.

Source: The Press

So too do Peter Dunne and Damien O'Connor. Even David Carter can put a similar claim to fame on his curriculum vitae.

All five sitting Members of Parliament attended St Bede's College in Christchurch's north-east - a record thought to be unequalled anywhere in New Zealand political history. Mark Blumsky, a recent former MP and Wellington Mayor, also walked its corridors as a young man. Continue reading

The number of Marlborough boys attending St Bede's College in Christchurch peaked in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when boys slept 60 to a room, but parents now demanded privacy says Rector Justin Boyle.

Boyle says Marlborough boys continue to be a small proportion of the Christchurch Catholic college's boarding roll, capped at 130. About six were enrolled in years 9 to 13.

He says family connections with the church had grown more tenuous but demand for boarding places at St Bede's exceeded supply due to the Catholic school's reputation for achievement and its values.

Garin College boarding manager Robert Booth said 20 Marlborough boys and girls lived at the college. They included three year 9 boarders.

Mr Booth, at Garin since the school opened 11 years ago, said Marlborough enrolments fluctuated, with a noticeable drop-off during the wine industry downturn.

Demand for places surpassed availability, he said. Many non-Catholic parents wanted to enrol children at Garin because of its small size and emphasis on moral values, but "non-preferential" places were limited to 10 per cent of the roll.

The ministry figures for Marlborough also included 12 pupils who transferred to day schools around the country and two who enrolled at Catholic college St Peter's in Palmerston North.

Boyle said cyber-bullying is even more insidious because the younger generation is on the whole far more adept in their use of technology than parents or St Bede's college staff.

Imploring parents to keep an eye on how their sons are using technology, Boyle said parents are welcome to contact the St Bede's guidance counsellor if they had a concern they cannot address.

Boyle promised to keep parents informed of a programme to address the issue proactively.

The programme is being designed by the College guidance counsellor and some senior students.

The incident involved a 14 year old student being held over a bin by three pupils, while a fourth took a photo and uploaded it to Facebook.

Boyle said the victim was not physically injured and is coping well.

The incident happened in the last week of last term and came to light only through an anonymous "survey" the school periodically ran to give students the opportunity to report inappropriate behaviour.

In St Bede's latest newsletter, Boyle said the school was working hard to tackle the problem, and he has told parents that if the school community chooses to ignore cyber-bullying it does so at its own peril, reports Stuff.

"I'd implore parents to keep an eye on how your son is using technology and if you have concerns you feel you cannot address, contact the college," he wrote.

NetSafe, an independent organisation promoting cybersafety, reported in 2007 that one in five New Zealand high school students have been cyber-bullied.

"Everyone has the power to do this in their hands yet most are choosing to exercise this power responsibly," Martin Cocker executive director of NetSafe said.

The St Bede's incident comes amid a push for a law change to address cyber-bullying. Under government proposals, aimed at protecting victims of online bullying, cyber-bullies could be jailed for up to three years.

Boyle said the cyber-bullies' behaviour "hasn't come to my attention before this, that's why they were given a second chance."

Sources

• Stuff
• St Bede's College Newsletter (PDF)
• Daily Mail

The Sunday Star-Times bases its list on the schools attended by leading politicians, business leaders, government mandarins and the judiciary. 70 leaders were asked to provide information on their schooling.

St Bede's topped the list, helped by new parliamentary Speaker David Carter, one of five St Bede's old boys in Parliament.

Auckland Grammar was second and Christ's College, once a prolific producer of parliamentarians, judges and business leaders, was tied for third with Matamata College, Napier's William Colenso College and Palmerston North's Queen Elizabeth College.

St Bede's College rector Justin Boyle said it was his college's goal to produce leaders for society so topping the Star-Times' poll came as a pleasant surprise.

Boyle said St Bede's was part of a strong Marist network that involved students in leadership courses.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: SMNZ.org.nz

The report said that among the actions the boys' names were now "registered with the Human Rights Commission".

The Commission was approached by a person to express his concern at the racial abuse. The Commission has responded to that person and worked with the school to resolve the issue. However the boys' names are not "registered" with the Human Rights Commission. The Commission does not hold registers of people's names.

Seven of the students were involved with inappropriate and racist comments on Facebook after St Bede's lost to Wesley College at the national secondary schools rugby tournament.

Rector Justin Boyle said "incredible damage" was done and the students now had their names registered with the Human Rights Commission.

They also knew any future employer would be able to Google their names and see what they had been up to on Facebook.

The first grouping were all Marist priests and each played a significant role in the history of the College. Father Charles Graham was the founding rector, Father Cormac Hoben was an inspiring priest-teacher, sports coach and mentor - fondly remembered by St Bede's Old Boys of the 1940s. Sadly he died while still a young man. Father Bill Spillane was the third selection. Like Cormac Hoben he was an old boy and after ordination he returned to the staff for almost 40 years. His gentle and sympathetic nature made him a much loved and trusted priest-teacher and for some he was "Mr St Bede's".

The second series featured two living icons and the evening was brightened by members of the Corcoran and Lennon families who attended. Both men were well known for their great service to the College and to the wider Christchurch community. Robin Corcoran attended the College in the 1940's and from that point on served on numerous committees, including the Foundation and the Old Boys' Association. Gary Lennon, also an old boy, joined the teaching staff in the 1970s and remained until his retirement, a period of selfless and dedicated service for 36 years.

Father Bern (Barney) Ryan was present to see the unveiling of his panel.

Bedean Icons Series 2

Fr. Bern Ryan staff Priest, teacher, mentor and friend

Father Bernard Ryan is fondly remembered by old boys of the 1950s. To many of them he is always Barney - a much admired priest-teacher, coach and spiritual advisor. His Marist confreres refer to him as Bern and they invariably mention, in the same breath, that he may well be the model Marist.

When Bern Ryan finished his term as Superior General of the Society of Mary in 1985 he opted to take study leave in Australia and from this starting point embarked on another life as a missionary to the Aboriginal communities in northern New South Wales, a job described by someone as extremely difficult…'like nailing jelly to a wall.'

For Bedean old boys of the 1950s this commitment came as no surprise - rather to them it was further witness to this good man's commitment to humanity and reinforced their conviction that Barney Ryan was one of the most enlightened priest-teachers to have taught at the College.

He joined the staff in 1950 and for 11 years gave himself to the College as a teacher, sports coach, mentor and spiritual guide. In each sphere he had an extraordinary impact on the boys under his care but also on others, catholic and non- catholic. Speaking at the time of his departure Fr. Leo Evatt said, "I could have held up no better example of what can be done with and for the boys than the work of Father Ryan."

A former pupil, John Gordon, said of his teaching. "It was not an easy task getting 6H interested in novels, drama and poetry but our teacher had a generous disposition and accommodated ignorance and inadequacies…a great teacher takes his students with him and Fr. Ryan had the ability to do so."

As an athletics coach he was well qualified and his coaching work extended beyond St Bede's. One aspiring coach, who admitted to being highly suspicious of Catholics, said that an encounter with Barney Ryan "changed all of that within a few minutes… [he] was ultimately the biggest influence on my involvement and enjoyment of athletics … other [Bedean priest coaches] came later and completed the task of lifting the scales from my eyes."

Barney Ryan taught at St Patrick's College Silverstream until 1971 and then in 1977 became the first English speaker to become Superior General of the Society of Mary. In his typically humble way he responded to this honour saying "In New Zealand there will be laughter in many communities when they hear of my election. If you really knew me you would not have elected me."

Nothing could have been further from the truth and for eight years he guided over 2000 Marist religious focusing on developing the Marist mission in South America and the Philippines where he hoped to ‘make a difference'. In this endeavour he was successful and then moved on to spearhead a programme that helped religious and lay teachers reflect and go forward together.

In 1989 his conscience was pricked by an Australia- based New Zealander who he over-heard denigrating aboriginals. He determined that the next phase of his life would be spent helping, as he said, in a small way'. Commenting on this mission he said

"I was invited to Bowraville in 1989 after the murders of three young Aboriginal children. The deaths put the community under terrible pressure and I worked within the community to support the families."

Years later Fr. Ryan united with the Sisters of Mercy in Grafton. Here he makes school, community and home visits on behalf of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry. He said: "I help families in time of grief with counselling, support young children through their schooling years and help build spirituality in the Aboriginal community."

In recent years he has made several visits to the College. His men of the 1950s invariably turn out in numbers to renew their friendship and in his own modest and understated manner he responds, ever-humble and ever considerate of others. Writing in the centennial history David McCarthy said,

"In 100 years of college history he remains one of the most inspirational of the Marist priests, although he has never lost a sense of sympathy for those most in need. Those qualities are matched not just with words but with the hard yards of application. Fide et Opere is a phrase that lives wherever Fr. Bernard Ryan walks. Of such stuff are great men made."

Source

St Bede's College Christchurch New Zealand

The author is David McCarthy.In his review of the book Mike Crean says, "School histories often gloss over negative aspects. True to his calling as racing editor of The Press for many years, McCarthy would not stand for this. As a boarder at St Bede's in the 1950s (five years ahead of me), he describes some unflattering features of our teachers."

The February 22 and June 13 earthquakes had caused widespread liquefaction at Marian College's Shirley site and the 430 pupils and 55 staff have been sharing the St Bede's College site since May. But according to the chairman of the Board of Trustess, Gerard Duignan, the move was unavoidable because the Education Ministry had said schools could not have split-shift days next year.

Duignan said most of the school's buildings could be repaired, but geotechnical engineers had advised that repairs be deferred for at least a year because of the risk of further quakes. He hoped the school would eventually return to the site it had occupied since 1982.

Moving to the Catholic Cathedral site:

• Allows the Marian College students to return to a "normal" (8.30am - 3.00pm) school day.
• Provides the possibility for senior classes at Marian College and Catholic Cathedral College to be timetabled together …as was previously the case with Marian College and Shirley Boys' High School.
• Affords the Marian College students the possibility to access Catholic Cathedral College's specialist science, art and technology facilities.

Source

• The Press
• Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
• Image: Rebuild Christchurch

Marian College, a Catholic girls College with approximately 450 students, has been severely affected by the earthquake and will likely not be able to operate on it's present site for the best part of a year.

St Bede's Rector, Mr Justin Boyle said, "It took just one look at the damage to the grounds and buildings to realise their situation, so I made the offer".

The Minister of Education, Anne Tolley gave her consent to the Marian girls attending St Bede's College, provided both schools agreed.

The provincial, Brian Cummings consented to the proposal and this week the Boards of Proprietors and the Senior Administrations of both Colleges have been working through the practicalities.

The colleges are currently in discussion with the Ministry of Education and Catholic Education Board to erect a separate administration Hub for the Marian senior administration and staff.

It is likely that St Bede's will operate from something like 8.00am - 1.00pm and then Marian from 1.30pm - 6.00pm daily.

St Bede's students will lose one 50 minute class a day, however the college intends to make up for the time lost by using the boarders dining room to provide study facilities for all day students but particularly those whose homes have been damaged.

Mr Boyle is optimistic about the new arrangement. "It could be the academic standards improve".

Interim arrangements have also been made for several other quake-hit Christchurch Schools. Linwood College's 1100 students will share the 1700 pupil Cashmere High School campus, Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti and Catholic Cathedral College are scheduled to resume classes on Tuesday.

Of 163 schools in the city, 84 have reopened and by the end of the week another 59 are expected to reopen.

Sources
Society of Mary
The Press