College pilgrimage recalls Bishop Viard’s arrival

On the memorial of St Joseph the Worker on May 1, 176 years to the day after Bishop Viard arrived, the college community witnessed to their faith at the Wellington Railway Station, filling it with song. They then made the symbolic climb up Hill Street to the cathedral.

A sung Mass was celebrated by college chaplain and Wellington Archdiocese vicar general Msgr Gerry Burns and cathedral administrator Fr Patrick Bridgman. They were joined by representatives from St Catherine’s College (Kilbirnie) and Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt), emphasising the unity of the Catholic community.

During his homily, Msgr Burns painted a vivid picture of the hardships Bishop Viard faced. He arrived in a Wellington still reeling from a massive earthquake, with no Catholic infrastructure to speak of. Msgr Burns also linked the day to the memorial of St Joseph the Worker and the bravery of St Peter Chanel, noting that it was Bishop Viard himself who undertook the sombre mission to retrieve the saint’s remains from Futuna.

Standing at the grave of Bishop Viard, college principal Chris Theobald spoke passionately about the enduring link between the pioneer bishop and the school that carries his name. He highlighted “service” as the common thread connecting Bishop Viard’s 19th-century mission to the modern aspirations of Porirua’s youth.

“Our dream is for this to become an annual tradition,” Mr Theobald said, expressing his hope that more Catholic organisations across the archdiocese will join the pilgrimage in future years to celebrate shared roots.

The day concluded with a communal lunch on Parliament’s grounds.

FULL STORY

A Journey to the Heart of the Diocese: Bishop Viard College Makes Historic Pilgrimage (Bishop Viard College)