Happenings 2011

8/6/2019 Happenings 2011

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/happenings-2011 1/5

The hearts of everyone at the University goes out tothe people of Christchurch, and particularly to thosewhoLost loved ones in the February earthquake. TheChapel was open during that time for people to comeand sit, reect and pray, and held a simple prayerservice to mark the national two minutes of silenceto remember the Dead.

The Chapel overowed and the very apt BruceSpringsteen song “My City of Ruins” was used to

give voice to people’s feelings and prayers that werehard to vocalise. The Chapel wish to acknowledge the amazing andtimely response of the AUSA starting a collection foraid on the day after the quake. In the midst of thedevasatation of Christchurch, it has been great tosee the way in which students have responded inChristchurch, amidst the disruption to their studies,shown leadership and compassion to the people of Christchurch.

CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE

Semester ONE 2011

HappeningsTHE MACLAURIN CHAPEL

Happenings - THE MACLAURIN CHAPEL

WelcomeTena koutou katoa, kia orana, Talofa lava, Fakalofahiatu, Malo e lelei, Ni hao, Namaste, ah yeah, gidday andgreetings.

I am writing the Introduction and welcome to happenings this semester, which is a bit of a change. Andchange is really the theme at the chapel at the moment. We’ve had the builders in over the inter semesterbreak making alterations to the chapel hall. Putting in a reception area, a larger servery, and adding adisabled toilet. The usually happy roar of students meeting here was replaced with buzz saws , hammers andram setting. The exotic smell of student lunches cooking in the microwave has been replaced with dust andthe smell of solvents. In the end however we are hoping that the alterations will make the chapel hall a morewelcoming place and versatile, usable space.

The other reason that it’s good that I am writing thisintroduction is that a lot of the changes have to do with ourChaplain, Rev. Uesili Unasa. We want to congratulate Uesilion his appointment as the Chairperson of the new AucklandSuper City Council’s Pacic Island Advisory Board. This isan acknowledgement of the leadership Uesili has shown inareas of community, church and the tertiary education sector.In recognition of this we also want to congratulate Uesili forbeing chosen as one of thirteen people round the globe toattend the International Visitor Exchange Program run by theUS State Department, that will see him spending time in the US

in August. The US consul general in Auckland, Randy Berry,said his participation in the programme “will also help theUS to understand issues facing the Pacic Island communitieshere.” The emphasis on leadership is also a positive for Uesili’schaplaincy as he is exploring how the chapel can contribute todeveloping leadership amongst students at the University.

Sadly, it’s also good that I am writing this introduction, because part of the changes round the chapel includesme. My contract and funding for the Studentsoul project will nish at the start of 2012, so I am in the processof moving on. Can I take this chance to say thank you to the Chapel Trust board for their support for thepast three years, to Uesili and our secretary Lynne for their collegiality and help and to all the students andstaff I have had opportunity to meet and journey with over my time here.

God’s blessingsRev Howard Carter

From L to Right: Dr J White, David Huebner,U.S. Ambassador, and Uesifli Unasa.


http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/happenings-2011 2/5Happenings - THE MACLAURIN CHAPEL

GRADUATION SERVICE

Graduation Thanksgiving services are always a joyful time atthe Chapel. Students, family and friends take the time at thebeginning of what is a busy and important day to give thanksto God for God’s faithfulness through the whole study process.The Chaplain, Rev. Uesili Unasa, lead all three services.

Prof. Elaine Wainwright addressed the Monday service as it was the

day that the School of Theology was graduating. Rev. HowardCarter spoke on Wednesday and Fr. Sam Pulanco, the CatholicChaplain, addressed the Friday gathering. All three reected on theBeatitudes at the beginning of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount.

Graduands were invited to the front to light a candle to signify theLight they have received through their study and the light of Christthey take, along with that knowledge, into the world. They then introduce themselves and tell what degreeis being bestowed on them and as a group, lead us in prayer.

After the service breakfast was served in the Chapel hall and graduands and supporters made their waydown for the march, summoned as the pipe band made its way past the Chapel, to lead the march.

ORIENTATION WEEK

AT THE CHAPEL

It was great again this year that the Chapel was on the Uniguides Orientation tour. While the Chapelcould be seen as a University backwater, on this day it becomes a real hub and hive of activity. Eachyear it becomes a bigger and bigger event for us. Christian groups and local churches come and helpus to welcome students to the university.

This year it spilled over from the hall out into the courtyard. With chocolates and lollipops, watergiveaways, a BBQ, traditional Chinese biscuits, and more. Hopefully, students felt very welcome.

We at the Chapel really appreciate the job the Uniguides do in making new students feel welcomed atthe University And provide peer pastoral support for students as they nd their feet.



Studentsoul

Studentsoul continues to meet for worship on

Wednesday and a group of about ten students

gather for worship, interactive bible study,

prayer, fellowship and to celebrate the Lord’s

supper. In March we had the opportunity to

hear from Dr Lyn Pearson (mission organisation

Interserve’s Regional Director for East Asia

and the South Pacic) speaking on ‘Using Your

Degree In Mission: A Call to Life Beyond the

Ordinary’.

STUDENT GROUPS AT THE CHAPEL

Gregorian chant choir

Over the last year, a Gregorian chant choir has beenpractising at the Chapel every Thursday night. Fiveof them are now heading overseas on a pilgrimagewith a group called ‘Young and ProLife’. They arechampioning NZ to be the ProLife capital of the worldand to spread the news that families are cool, kidsare cool and babies are cool!

The three month journey will include them spreadingthe word in the town centres as they go and performingonstage at a International ProLife festival. Pleasekeep them in your prayers!FOODBANK

The chapel has been actively involved with the Christmas appeal initiated by Campus Life directorBrendan Mosley for the City Mission over the past two years and in a recent communication from the cityMissioner , Diane Roberston , she talked of the pressure that the present economic climate was having ontheir resources.

In an open letter she said “this year the team at the mission have already supplied more support to morepeople than ever before-and now we brace ourselves for the coming winter”. We at the chapel want toencourage the University to help in any way they can. If you drop food off to us here at the chapel, wewill ensure that it gets down to the City Mission.



The Inaugural Mass was the Commencing

Eucharistic Mass for all students and staff of the

University of Auckland and Auckland University of

Technology. Bishop Patrick Dunn DD, the Roman

Catholic Bishop of Auckland, presided, assisted

by seven priests and three deacons. It was held

at Maclaurin Chapel (18 Princes St). The Mass

also included the installation of the new Catholic

Tertiary Chaplains, a team of four headed by Fr

Samuel Pulanco. The team consists of Fr Samuel

Pulanco, Maiko Sirilan, Denis Brown Tutaka and

Emily Stevenson (who is now replaced by Juwela

Fernandes).

The Mass celebration started with a Maori traditional

welcome. This was led by Loraine Eliotte and the

community of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish and

Geremy Hema from the University of Auckland.

The Invictus Choir together with the boys from the

Catholic Discipleship College and Youth for Christ

were in-charge of the Music ministry. We would also

like to express our sincere thanks to Rev. Uesili

Unasa, Rev. Howard Carter and Lynette McHale

for their support and the usage of the Maclaurin

Chapel during the Inaugural Mass.

INDUCTION OF FR SAMUEL PALANCO

COMMENCEMENT

SERVICE

The Commencement Service was held on Wednesday 2 March at the Chapel. The Guest Speaker was

Steve Tollestrup, Director of aid agency, Tear Fund.

A BBQ and concert followed in the Chapel grounds.



FAREWELLSAND

FUNERALS

George Frederick Hood

Emeritus Professor

Dr Kenneth B Cumberland

Jim Vivieaere

Alice Yue Gui

WEDDINGS

Dr Duncan Milne and Anna Kirschberg

Nicholas Falconer and Kimberly Good

Damien Laracy and Wada Junko

Rosalind Rive and John Brown

Glen Robert Sowry and Julie Claire O’Sullivan

Vincent Wen-Hsu and Xioxia Wang.

Documents

Happenings 2011