Celebrating our faith on Roncalli Day
Roncalli College in Timaru is named after Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, whom Pope Francis canonised as Pope St John XXIII in 2014. His Feast day is 11 October. This year, we celebrated our patronal day on 17 October, once our students had returned to begin Term Four.
The College is proud of our patron saint. Pope St John XXIII is patron of Papal delegates, was born in 1881, and died in 1963 during the deliberations of the Second Vatican Council, which he called together at the beginning of his pontificate.
We welcomed Bishop Michael Gielen, who celebrated Mass in our beautiful Sacred Heart Basilica. It was a wonderful celebration of the Eucharist, with the Bishop delivering a thoughtful homily on the life and legacy of Pope St John XXIII — Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli. A number of students were received into full communion in the Church, through the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Assistant Parish Priest Fr Vincent Barboza prepared our students to receive the sacraments of initiation. It is wonderful for our students to have the support of our priests and the Holy Family Parish on their spiritual journey.
Following Mass, students gathered for the inter-house Tug-of-War. This is a tightly contested competition between the four school houses. After a barbecue lunch for all, the school gathered on the top field for the colour run. Roncalli Feast Day proved yet again to be a day of faith, fun, and friendship for students, staff, and the wider community.
