Fr Frank Bird visit

Father Frank Bird visits the school

Fr Frank Bird, a Marist priest who now lives in Auckland, came for a visit to our School this Wednesday 28th October. He visited two of our Year 11 RE classes, one of our Year 10 RE classes and our Wednesday Lunchtime Bible Study session, talking all about the topic of discernment, and how to hear God's Call for our lives, sifting out the other voices. He inspired us greatly with his own story of how he felt called into his vocation as a missionary priest, showing how generous God has been to him through being able to travel around the world to share God's Love. Students were challenged to notice the moments of 'consolation' and 'desolation' - to discover what things make them feel alive, inspired and joy-filled, striving to follow their passions and talents into what God's plan may be for their lives. Students were challenged to 'test the spirits', steering away from habits and activities that only bring us temporary happiness (the temptations of the world), to allow us to truly experience real freedom in the things which bring us eternal joy (the things of God). St Ignatius of Loyola truly teaches us that, "God writes His hopes and plans for you into your deepest desires" - so let us pay attention to those deep desires!