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Walking in Faith: A Century of Light — St Joseph’s School CHB Celebrates 100 Years  As St Joseph’s School Central Hawke’s Bay approaches a remarkable milestone, the community is warmly invited to join in celebrating a century of faith, learning, and service. Over the weekend of 27 February – 1 March 2026, past and present students, families, staff, and supporters will gather to honour 100 years since the school first opened its doors.  Founded in 1926 as St Joseph’s Convent School Waipukurau, the school was established by the Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth to meet the needs of Catholic families across Central Hawke’s Bay. Before then, local Catholic children travelled to St Columba’s in Waipawa or attended state schools. When the convent school opened on 1 February 1926, 58 students from 26 families were enrolled. By year’s end, the roll had grown to 73.  The original three-room brick building was ingeniously designed to function as both school and church. Every Friday, children stacked desks into corridors, concertina doors were drawn back, and the floors polished for Sunday Mass. On Monday mornings, the process was reversed and the building returned to its weekday purpose. A fourth classroom was added in the mid-1960s as the roll expanded. The school welcomed its first lay teacher in 1972, and following integration in 1975, its first lay principal.  The centennial theme, “Walking in Faith: A Century of Light. A Future of Hope,” reflects both gratitude for the past and optimism for the decades ahead.

Centennial Weekend Programme

Friday, 27 February 2026

5:30 PM: Registration opens

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Meet and Greet at the Municipal Theatre, Waipawa

Saturday, 28 February 2026

Morning: Free time to explore Central Hawke’s Bay

1:30 PM: Official welcome and pōhiri at St Joseph’s School

Speeches, entertainment, classroom tours, and decade photographs

5:30 PM – Late: Dinner and music at Municipal Theatre, Waipawa

Guest Speaker: Cardinal John Dew

Live Band: Sir Duke

Sunday, 1 March 2026

9:30 AM: Mass at St Joseph’s Church

Morning tea and farewell - Registrations are now open through the school website www.stjosephschb.shcool.nz  Those wishing to stay up to date with announcements, visit St. Joseph’s Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/763426206164539/

This centennial is more than a birthday — it is a celebration of generations shaped by the school’s special character, community spirit, and enduring Josephite values. As St Joseph’s School CHB steps into its next century, all are invited to return, reconnect, and rejoice in the legacy that continues to shine brightly

NZ bishops celebrate election of Pope Leo XIV - The Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand has received news of the election of Pope Leo XIV with great joy. Bishop Steve Lowe, president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, says there is trust in the Holy Spirit and the College of Cardinals that Pope Leo XIV is the right man to lead the global Church at this time. On Friday morning NZ time, Cardinal Robert Prevost OSA was elected the new Pope, and took the name Leo. He becomes the first North American Pope, but has spent much of his ministerial life overseas, predominantly in Peru. He is a member of a religious order – the Augustinians – and becomes the second consecutive Pope to have such a back ground, following the Jesuit Pope Francis. “While a new Pope is often unknown to most people around the world, we know from his experience in leadership in Latin America, as a leader within his religious order and as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops that Pope Leo understands the Church and its needs,” Bishop
Lowe said. Bishop Lowe said the choice of the name Leo could offer a glimpse into the type of pope he seeks to be. “In the coming days, we will learn more about Pope Leo XIV, but the last Pope to take this name helped develop some of the Church’s key social teachings,” he said. A transformative encyclical letter, Rerum Novarum, was published in 1891, and has been the inspiration of many teaching documents in the years since. In his blessing to the crowds in St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo spoke about the importance of Catholics being willing to proclaim the Gospel, work for justice and peace, to be missionaries in the world. New Zealand Catholics will immediately take up the practice of praying for the Pope in every Mass celebrateed throughout the country. “In parishes, in Catholic schools, in our outreach ministries and in Catholic homes, prayers will be offered for our new Holy Father, that God will provide him with all the strength needed for this immense task,” Bishop Lowe said. “There is a real sense among the faithful that the popes that have been elected in recent decades have had the right attributes to lead the Church at that moment. We trust that will be the same with Pope Leo XIV.”

Each year we invite people to receive the Sacraments. If you are interested in Baptisms please ring the office (8589383) or email to make an appointment. We run the Reconciliation and First Holy Communion programmes in Term 3 and Term 4 respectively each year. Children need to be 8 years or older. If you would like to register or make an enquire please email us on cat.chb@xtra.co.nz .

Nga Mihi