Rarotonga - Students Dancing

Blessing Brothers' Graves

First Day Pupils honour Brothers

Grave of Ignacy Rubisz

Grave of Tony Gherardi

Rarotonga, New Zealand

In 2009 the Brothers left Rarotonga after 34 years.

In late May I was privileged to return there to represent the Christian Brothers at the Blessing and unveiling of the college shrine in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The shrine contains the icon that was in the Brothers' chapel during our time there. It is encased in shatter-proof glass and is situated on the wall of the new school building and overlooks the college playing field. Under the shrine is a plaque which honours all the Brothers that have taught at Nukutere over the years.

The main person behind the project has been Ms Donna Nahu, the present principal. She has been ably assisted by the deputy principal, Mr George Rasmussen and by a very supportive staff.

After heavy rain during the night the day dawned fine for the outdoor Mass that was said by the school chaplain, Fr Freddy Kaina. During the ceremony Fr Damien, the Vicar General of the diocese blessed the shrine and I had the honour of doing the unveiling. The Mass was followed by dancing items presented by the Nukutere students and by speeches. It was obvious that a lot of planning and practice had gone into the Mass and the dancing and singing items that followed. The Nukutere and St Joseph's students sang with their customary enthusiasm.

Every effort is being made by the Principal and her staff to preserve the special character of the school and also the charism of the Brothers. This was most evident to me during my time there. The school library has been refurnished, restocked and computerized and will be opened din early July. It is to be called the Edmund Rice Library.

Anybody who has taught at Nukutere knows that the students have always been very pleasant, cheerful and friendly. This has certainly not changed. One aspect of the school that stood out for me was the operation of the Special Needs unit. There is only one such unit in Rarotonga and it is situated at Nukutere. About eight years ago the Cook Islands government chose Nukutere College to be the place for the special needs children to be educated. That in itself was a fine tribute to the school, the students and the staff. It is very much part of the school and the acceptance and support that the students of the unit receive from the rest of the students was quite palpable. At the school assembly, while I was there, the special needs students performed and they were given great applause by all present.

On the Saturday morning Mass was offered for the nine deceased Brothers who had taught in Rarotonga. After Mass quite a number of parishioners came to the mission cemetery next to the school hall for a special blessing of the graves of the two Brothers buried there – Tony Gherardi and Ignacy Rubisz.

The Brothers are remembered with gratitude and affection by the people of Rarotonga and they showed obvious delight that a Brother was able to be present for the special occasion.

It would be good for us to keep the Nukutere family in our prayers. It would have been so easy for the local staff to decide that the charism of Edmund was no longer their concern or responsibility. But my visit there showed me that, in spite of their isolation, there is a very strong desire to maintain what the college has stood for over nearly four decades. The shrine, the Edmund Rice library, the care of the handicapped students in the Special Needs unit, the enthusiasm of the staff and the work of Fr Freddy Kaina, the school chaplain, all show an admirable effort to deliver to the an education that encompasses all aspects of the students' lives.

John O'Neill