Chanel College, Masterton, scooped the prize pool in an audiovisual contest last month to launch bicentennial celebrations for the Brigidines.
Next year it will be 200 years since the Order of St Brigid was re-established in Ireland and celebrations will take place throughout the year.
The Order was founded by St Brigid as she sought to devote her life to God. She died about 526 and is one of the patron saints of Ireland. The order failed in the 16th century when Henry VIII suppressed all monasteries. However, it was re-established in 1807, about 100 years before Brigidine Sisters arrived in New Zealand.
Pupils of the 13 former Brigidine primary schools and the two co-founded secondary colleges took part in the audiovisual competition on 15 September.
The three criteria for the five-minute presentations were reference to Brigidine history, their own school story, and the spirit/legacy the Sisters had left them. Judges for the competition were Fr Bernie Hehir, Catherine Bell and John Saunders.
Gary Conway was the MC on the Friday evening when team members, teachers and parents joined Brigidine Sisters at Bishop Viard College, Porirua, for a gala evening.
The programme opened with a popular item by the Bishop Viard College Barbershop Quartet. Hugh Hill then presented the productions of the three finalists in each section. The audience appreciated the standard of the entries and the interest, creativity and effort each team showed in the work.
Before the winners were announced John Saunders commented on the primary entries, Catherine Bell on intermediate presentations and Fr Hehir on the Secondary work. The prizes were then presented. The successful teams were:
Secondary:
1. Chanel College, Masterton
2. Chanel College, Masterton
3. Bishop Viard College, Porirua
Highly Commended: Bishop Viard College, Porirua
Intermediate:
1. Bishop Viard College, Porirua
2. Chanel College, Masterton
3. St Mary’s, Foxton
Highly Commended:
St Brigid’s, Johnsonville
Primary:
1 St Patrick’s, Masterton
2 St Mary’s, Foxton
3 St Benedict’s, Khandallah
Highly Commended:
St Francis Xavier, Tawa
St Brigid’s, Johnsonville
St Mary’s, Carterton
St Teresa’s, Featherston
The evening concluded with supper.