Most of you will have seen the results of the sports interchange with NPBHS on the Greatest Sporting Moments facebook page, but for the record:

1st XI Football Won 3 to 2 
2nd XV Rugby Lost 5 to 8 
1st XI Hockey Lost 1 - 11
U15 Rugby Lost 7 - 27 
Senior A Basketball Lost 39 -101

What the figures don't show is the level of enthusiasm and commitment all of our teams brought to their games. This fixture remains an important check point for our winter sports as we look to improve on the national stage.

While College is gearing up Founders Day and the NPBHS sports exchange it has been a good reality check to read Br Bill's latest communique fro South Sudan.

The Folly of Fighting

Yesterday, I saw a group of South Sudanese, relaxed and laughing, and looking very much at ease, in a grassy park beside the road. They looked secure and confident.  There were four of them, and four cars parked next to them – not the latest cars but typical cars for young men owning their first vehicles. The problems of South Sudan were distant for them, I guess. No doubt they have relatives about whom they worry in South Sudan but I am currently on home leave in Australia where we are privileged to share great prosperity, opportunity and peace. It is easy to put the conflict in South Sudan out of mind.

The media alert the world to the folly of fighting and violence in Ukraine, Syria, Thailand, Egypt – and sometimes South Sudan, the not-so Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and so on. What are especially disturbing are the attempts to justify violence in the name of religious commitment. Does anyone really believe a suicide bomber attacking innocent people is some kind of martyr? The brazen kidnapping of 200 girls in Nigeria is a startling example of the absurd abuse of innocent people in the name of some kind of cause. I refuse to call it genuine religion. What a blessing is peace! How futile is war!

Brother Denis sent me yesterday, from South Sudan, the latest bulletin of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Here are some of the sad facts for South Sudan as currently assessed by OCHA:

More than 1.3 million South Sudanese have been displaced, of whom about 350,000 people have fled to Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda.

• There are up to 87,000 people sheltering in UN bases.
  
• According to recent data, four million people are facing acute food insecurity.
  
• The Ministry of Health declared a cholera outbreak in Juba, Central Equatoria, with 43 suspected cases and two deaths reported.
  
• Insecurity continues to hamper education in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states.
  
• Partners are advocating with key stakeholders for the vacation of schools occupied by armed forces or displaced people to allow the resumption of education. Most schools in Bentiu and Bor towns remained closed.
  
• Non-payment of teacher salaries has affected resumption of education in some sites. This is an ongoing issue.
  
• Many primary school students have not sat for their final leaving examination.
  

Other unfortunate developments reported in the South Sudan conflict are the recruitment and deployment of child soldiers as well as the forced conscription of men who have been required, in some cases, to fight the people who were previously their friendly neighbours. It is hard to forgive the man who used to share tea with you when he reappears to loot your house – even if he has faced a choice of ‘join us or be killed’. A war against another country is a terrible conflict but often comes to a defined outcome; a war within ones own country is even more horrific with the internal divisions festering and lingering for years. The ultimate folly of fighting is that the hurts inflicted cannot be undone. Many years of healing and reconciliation will be needed. We pray this process is beginning in South Sudan.      

Br Bill

Although the 1st XV's play on Saturday the bulk of the annual exchange with NPBHS takes place this Thursday. The timetable of events is available below and we would welcome any old boys who might want to come and support our teams on Thursday afternoon.

We received the following comment over the weekend.

Despite what many people think I am not responsible for the excellent FDMC Greatest Sporting Moments facebook page. I am happy to take credit but can't answer the question. Does any one have any ideas about a specific area of the stadium for folks to gather? 

It is just over a week until Founders Day (next Friday to be exact) and preparations are going on in earnest. Pictured above is Loreto House undergoing strict instructions on the performance of the College Haka. The best house haka is always a feature of Founders Day - along with the liturgy and the free pie of course.

Old Boy John Kleinsman is part of a public discussion that is taking place tonight at the Peace Hall on Vivian Street. We know it is very late notice but if the subject is one of interest to you why not get along and take part.

Thanks to those old boys who have so far registered interest in attending the get together before and/or after the game against NPBHS 1st XV on the 31st of May. Over 50 people have said they are coming so far so we will anticipate at least double that number on the day.

The West End Bowling Club's caterers will be in attendance from 12 to 2 so you will have the chance to buy a bit of lunch to go with your beer and chat.

The days time table is currently looking like this:

It is intended to be a relatively informal get togther but if you have some ideas for the day leave a comment or drop us an email.

It is a big weekend for culture at the College with our O'Shea Shield team travelling to St John's Hastings for the annual celebration of speech and drama.

The following students will represent us with their usual skill and enthusiasm.

Debating: Vanshay Bindra, James Heerdegen, Michael Wells
Religious Questions: Patrick Fisher-Evans, Kurt Biesiek, Jack Earp
Religious Drama: Du'Plessis Kirifi, Tanaka Utete, Thomas Hadley, Michael McKillop, Louis Coetzee
Impromptu Speaking: Polaiu'amea Kirifi
Oratory: Tyler Paterson
Scripture Reading: Max Hall
Junior Prepared: Chris Headey

If you are in the The Bay it would be great to have some support for our guys. Events are as follows.

Debate - Sat. 9 am
Impromptu Speech - Sat. 10.30 am
Oratory/Jnr. Speech - Sat. 1.15 pm
Drama - Sat. 7 pm
Scripture Reading/Rel. Questions - Sun. 8.30 am

The analysis of yesterday's win in Palmerston North continues - for a more detailed description of what actually happened visit the SkySport blog here.