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28 December 2021

Dear Parents,

Early this year, we learned of the imminent transfer of our long-time principal and prior, Fr François Laisney, to an assignment in France as soon as his replacement, Fr Pierre Chrissement, would arrive. Due to borders, visas, and other exigencies, Fr Laisney remained and has managed the school and parish in very difficult circuмstances. A significant part of his priestly life has involved Whanganui, and we owe a deep debt of gratitude as he moves on to his new assignment in January.

To facilitate that, Fr Daniel Themann, our District Superior, has decided that the role of Pastor/Prior will be separated from that of Principal of the school. This is frequently done in our schools in the United States and elsewhere, such as Manila and Tynong, so it is not a unique system. As I am the only priest who is a registered teacher, I will be taking up this second role as Acting Principal, at first under Fr Laisney while we transition things, and then under Fr McNamara, who will take up the role of prior/pastor until Fr Chrissement arrives, possibly mid-year 2022. We are also hoping to have another Australian priest, Fr Todd Stephens, join us as soon as possible, and he would take up my present role as Dean of the Boys’ School, with an aim towards following the same teacher registration programme I did and being registered as a teacher in New Zealand.

Seeing how much effort and work Fr Laisney constantly offers, is humbling, so both Fr McNamara and I will depend on your assistance and support in trying to fill his shoes.

Given the uncertainty that this introduces, Fr Themann and I thought it appropriate that I write and detail for you what is planned for the next year, and explain a bit of why we plan this.


Planning for the 2022 Academic Year

This past year has ended with some tumult especially with vaccination mandates for educational staff. Divisions over choices made there have shown unfortunate fissures in the parish and school, including a great deal of assumptions. The priests have emphasised the fraternal Charity needed to stay unified in our supernatural goal. We recognise that faithful will take different prudential decisions on the vaccines or the education of their children, but I will echo that same point Fr Laisney has made many times: we must avoid making impassioned, rash statements and judgements about the prudential decisions others take. We must avoid saying or suggesting by words or actions that others are guilty of sin or “compromised” by the prudential decisions they make. Each must make the best moral decision possible given the situation in which he finds himself and his family, without judging others by his own opinion.

Concretely, though this affects the planning for the school year next year.

Government mandates require the Board of Trustees/Principal to maintain a register of all staff who interact personally with students and record their vaccination status vis-à-vis COVID-19. Those who the register shows as not vaccinated cannot work with students in person, or even in a place where they regularly come in contact with students during school hours.

I wish to make very clear that it is not our will to enforce unjust mandates. If we do this, it is only because we see no reasonable alternative. We would rather find some means to avoid this, and where exceptions or alternatives exist and can be legally and reasonably pursued, we will pursue them, as Catholics, even in the great persecutions, have always done. Nevertheless, when presented with outwardly enforcing unjust mandates, we must—as far as possible— [color=#7101d]avoid the greater evil of losing the apostolate that is our school[/color]. To abandon 27 years of work and sacrifice to build a traditional Catholic school over a matter that is not one of Faith, is not reasonable. To do this simply because of an unjust mandate means handing a great victory to the enemies of the Church in losing access to traditional Catholic education, perhaps somewhat permanently.

None of the staff, religious or priests in the school are advocates of the vaccine. Some staff have chosen, begrudgingly, to accept the vaccine to continue teaching and do so as a virtuous sacrifice. Some have decided this is a line they are unwilling to cross, and if they do so mindful of the Catholic doctrines and principles of morality, they also can draw this line virtuously. Others may find ways to obtain exemptions, thus appearing to comply, and could also act virtuously. Each of these groups, however, could act sinfully by lacking Charity towards others, making judgements, or speaking and acting in a condemnatory manner towards others. These are matters of conscience. Nevertheless, those choices do have external impacts, especially on those whom we are legally permitted to have on-premises at the school.

The Boys’ college and Primary school seem to have sufficient staff to continue operating as they have for the past number of years. A reduced staff, though, will impose significant burdens on us, and so we would ask your patience and generosity. In particular, while we already expect you will assist us, we would beg you to be especially diligent to ensure your children stay focused on their studies, respectful of their teachers and the priests, well-disciplined, that homework and proper study take priority over games, entertainment, sport, or other extracurricular activities. This would be a great assistance and relief if the children come well-prepared and well-disciplined to class.


Vaccine Mandates for Students

Many families have expressed fear that vaccination mandates will be expanded to include students. In some cases, this has prompted some families to consider withdrawing their children.

Such mandates for children in education are an outside possibility, but remain only a possibility. The probability of this continues to decrease. Vaccines are now approved for ages 5–12, but in late November, the Ministry of Education revoked the mandate to keep a vaccine register for children, and top officials spoke in strong terms contrary to such a mandate, saying all children have a right to education no matter vaccination status. On 21 Dec, 2021, the COVID-19 minister said mandates for children were not in the works. We are prudently hopeful no mandate is forthcoming, but if it does happen, we will cross that bridge at that time, without any will of enforcing an unjust mandate and spending every effort to still provide a proper education for your children.


The Girls’ College

As you will note, the Girls’ college is not listed above. This is a question nagging many since while it is an SSPX school, it is also entirely staffed by the Dominican Sisters. Their assistance in teaching is the only way we can afford to offer education at a reasonable tuition for all schools. They provide at least six full-time teachers without salary. The stipend which the sisters receive amounts to only about one-third of the cost of hiring lay staff for those positions. The Sisters have provided years of unwavering and invaluable support of our school.

The Sisters are a group of consecrated religious. Their vocation involves a contemplative life, but also the work of education. Few of the laity can understand the exigencies of religious life, and the importance of unity in such a community. Unity is extremely important, else the whole foundation is risked, so on divisive issues, time is needed to figure out what to do. This is why such institutions, like the Church herself, naturally move extremely slowly.

On the matter of vaccinations, if in our parish we have rifts forming over the issue of vaccination, the superiors in the convent have to take even more prudent care to ensure that there is not division among the Sisters, and with the uncertainty of further legal requirements, and fear of parents pulling children out of school over the possibilities of future mandates, the Sisters have not had sufficient time to consider what they can do without great disturbance to their religious life. Thus, the Sisters have made no decision on what to do as of yet. In speaking with parents, many have the impression 3 that the Sisters have made a decision contrary to the priests and lay staff. Rather, they are withholding a decision for now while considering what to do. De facto, the result is that they cannot be listed as vaccinated or exempt on our register, and so could not engage in face-to-face teaching.

There are several solutions to this problem. Some have suggested that lay staff be hired to replace the Sisters, but this would not be an appropriate reaction to 20 years of excellent support which makes the other schools financially viable. Such a solution would cause immense disruption and division, the large number of good Catholic teachers are not available, and further, it is simply not affordable without the Sisters.

Another solution is to shut the girls’ school entirely and have the girls rely on home schooling curricula, but again, this is extremely disruptive, and should the school reopen, returning to our curriculum would be disastrously difficult.

The solution Mother General proposes is instead a temporary solution while the convent considers what to do. Mother assures me that their intention is to make a decision soon, and they would expect to reassess during the first half of the year. If exemptions or other solutions were found, they are not unwilling to begin the year as normal, and certainly we are going to work towards this if we can.

This temporary solution would be to keep the girls enrolled in our school and run a correspondence programme to begin the year, as was done during the 2020 lockdown. Added to this would be extracurricular meetings and activities to supplement the learning off-campus at a parochial level, but not part of school. Study groups might be possible, and the Sisters’ would assist in organising these and finding venues. Packets would be provided weekly.

Neither I, nor Fr Themann, nor Mother General see this as an ideal solution. Nevertheless, among the options considered, it seems the best to maintain stability and continuity, and minimise disruptions.

The Sisters assure me that this would not be online teaching, so screen time would not be an issue, nor conflicting use of computers, or the need to purchase equipment. Instead of multiple curricula which do not match the programme in our school, the Sister’s temporary solution keeps the girls on our rolls studying materials that, once in-person teaching resumes, match what they would study in class, and be by the same teachers who would teach them then.

While I will admit that initially, I was not in favour of such a proposition, and still hope to find a solution to begin the year normally, the Sisters’ planning so far does provide a workable stop-gap and even a possibility for the international boarding girls to continue in some fashion.

We will announce soon an open house for parents to discuss these plans with the Sisters and get details, likely after the Sisters’ retreat and women’s retreat.


Parents withdrawing children

In the breach, however, fear of further mandates and concerns over other matters have prompted the withdrawal of several children from the school in order to, instead, seek an exemption for home schooling or some similar family cooperative. We have previously endorsed home schooling when there is a serious reason to do so, but naturally, the Church’s practice has been to encourage proper Catholic schools. Our venerable founder, Msgr Lefebvre, put this task of schooling in our statues just after seminaries, which were the most important work of the SSPX.

As such, those parents who fear what may come to pass, I would urge them to reflect on whether this fear justifies withdrawing students immediately, or if the possibility they fear is likely. I would also urge them to obtain all the facts, for it does seem some are acting on misinformation about home education, deadlines for exemptions for this, what is permitted, whether vaccine mandates apply, or such matters.

There might be long-term consequences for a child’s education to be shifted out of a structured programme to home school, only later to be put back in the school environment having missed out on the curriculum that is followed in that school. That can disrupt a child’s educational progress significantly.

There is also the issue of re-enrolment, should a child be officially withdrawn. We cannot guarantee that children who do not begin the year will be permitted to enrol midway through the year, and any withdrawn student would legally need to go through the whole process of re-enrolment, this might require tests to determine their progress and if they could be placed into their previous class. As such, I ask you to carefully consider if withdrawal is prudent, and if it will serve the formation of your children before you act.

Should you have legitimate and significant concerns, please come and speak to me about these before seeking exemption for home school or withdrawing your child.


Discussing COVID and controversy

A great deal of the division in the school and parish comes from discussing complex and controversial subjects around children. If these subjects are difficult for the developed and wellformed reason we adults should have, they are incredibly difficult for the children.

Sadly, during this last school year, children heard a great deal about the controversies surrounding COVID-19. Discussion around even Primary children was commonplace. The source may have been home, staff or other students. Imprudently, some teachers discussed vaccination with students. Also, some parents seem to have suggested to their children to distrust the priests and teachers over the issue of vaccination. Thus, we had, at one point, children telling peers they should refuse to go to school, or to not follow the teachers or priests, or various hyperbole. All of this discussion puts children, who do not possess the tools and developed reason, in the centre of a controversy they cannot solve and can cause great damage to their formation, especially their spiritual lives.

I would, therefore, urge you to not discuss the controversy over these matters around your children. Give them the confidence that you will take care of them and have their best interest at heart. If there is difficulty with other adults, discuss with those adults and leave the children to deal with problems which more directly affect their salvation, such as their duty of state, discipline, respect for authority, homework, staying peaceable at home, etc.


Conclusion

No matter what we do, this next year will be challenging for the school and parish. If we all try to act with charity, and foster patience, we can minimise the disruptions and maintain our school as the only traditional Catholic school in New Zealand. Seeing the sacrifices made and work done also may foster many vocations, a fruit we sorely need from our schools.

Msgr Lefebvre said in 1987, “[t]he future of the Catholic Church and her mission lies in teaching, especially in schools run by priests and religious who preach by word and example,” adding that “[f]or society to be converted, we need Catholic schools.” In 1982 he wrote, “We need Catholic schools where young people will learn to love the Liturgy, Latin and chant, and where they will be formed in a manly and Christian fashion by sacrificing themselves for the love of Jesus Christ under the care and guidance of their heavenly Mother.” We hope to provide you and your children the best Catholic schools we can, especially with the chance to have the perennial Liturgy of the Church given them and learn the sacrificial spirit of Our Lord, even in these challenging and trying circuмstances.

In the face of all of these challenges, we beg your assistance, trust, and your support, especially supernaturally. Be assured we will do whatever we can to support you and your children.

Sincerely in Our Lord,
Fr. Ian Andrew Palko, FSSPX
Acting Principal

St Dominic’s College
PO Box 7123
Whanganui 4500 New Zealand
+64 6-281 3976
i.palko@sspx.org.nz

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Holy Rosary Crusade of Reparation
“Do What I tell you and you will have peace”

Inspired by recent developments in Austria, where a group of faithful are organising weekly, public recitations of the Rosary, a devotion which is rapidly spreading throughout the country (https://oesterreich-betet.at), we wanted to do something similar in the UK.

The Austrian faithful have an encouraging example in their predecessors of the 1950s. Post war Austria was divided amongst the four allied nations and suffered especially in the Soviet controlled area with brutal repressions.

A Fransciscan priest, Father Petrus Pavlicek, was deeply troubled by the situation and sought his refuge in prayer at the National Marian Shrine in Mariazell in 1946, where, in an inspiration, he heard the words: “Do what I tell you and you will have peace.” He saw this in line with the message of Fatima from 1917 where Our Lady encouraged the 3 shepherd children to repent, do penance and pray, especially the daily rosary, as it was only Our Lady who was able to solve all the problems the world was facing.

From 1947-1955 Fr Petrus organised public rosary processions, encouraged his faithful to say thedaily rosary and attend yearly candle lit processions in Vienna. The Chancellors of Austria, Leopold Figl, and later on, Julius Raab, joined in those public processions and urged the faithful to storm heaven with their prayers to free Austria from the allied nations, especially the Soviets. In 1955 their mission was successful and Austria was able to sign the Austrian State Treaty. Austria was the only post World War II country where the Soviets retreated without bloodshed and at such an early stage. Nobody could quite understand how and why this happened.

Theresa Neuman, a German stigmatist, when asked why the Soviets left Austria, replied “Verily,verily, it was the rosaries of the Austrian people.”

Inspired by this event, we want to seek Our Lady’s help and protection also in our current crisis. Our heavenly mother won’t abandon us if we honour her publicly. Let us ask her for our protection with all the confidence we have.

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Testimony Against Pachamama

In July 2007, I made my first trip to the high country in Huancayo, Peru. I was part of a small team of short-term missionaries sent to give encouragement to full time missionaries, local church leaders and the body of Christ. The trip was full of wonderful experiences and some that were a bit frightening.

We traveled to a hill outside Huancayo. On the hill sits Cruz de la Paz, which means the Cross of Peace. This is a large cross that overlooks the city of Huancayo. It is a place of pilgrimage for faithful, but also a gathering place for pagan worship. An altar of cement sits beneath the cross. Inscriptions and graffiti had been placed on the cross which identified it as an altar to Pachamama and other pagan deities. Locals know this is a Catholic place, but it is also a place where sacrifices are made to pagan deities, especially Pachamama and her child/husband, Inti. Surrounding the altar and cross were many stone altars erected by hand. Fires had burned around and near these smaller altars. You could see multiple Satanic and masonic symbols in the area. Directly behind the large cross to the right, situated below the hill, is a small town called Cullpa Alta. Fires were burning in the town, and smoke could be seen rising from the town.

We asked the locals among us what was happening. They said the city was celebrating El Dia de Santiago. They said it is a festival that appears to be Catholic but is anything but. They described a scene in which Catholic celebrations were mixed with pagan Incan rituals. They described a week of city-wide orgies and celebrations in and outside the church. The festival is an amalgamation of Catholic and pagan rituals. The rituals celebrate the fertility goddess Pachamama. One local literally said, “Nine months from now, another group of bastard children will be born because everyone is encouraged to have as much *** as possible with as many people as possible. Children will be born without fathers.” We pressed for more details and the locals said the Church (Catholic Church) does nothing. They say nothing. It is allowed, and it even happens within the walls of the church. We were shocked to hear this, but all indications and observations gave reason to believe this was true.

Quote:"Three days before this thing came out, the journalist - he previously publishes on 'woke' issues on the topic of higher education. He's clearly hired. And they explicitly say the article was funded by the Robert Boyd Johnson foundation and the Zuckerberg-Chan initiative.

...

He was totally obsessed. 'Robert, why are you saying these things? You must have some financial incentive. There must be some reason you're doing this' - and I told him repeatedly, 'because it's the right thing to do.'

I think I'm the only one who has been involved deeply in the development of this tech, that doesn't have a financial stake in it. For me, the reason is, because what's happening is not right. It's destroying my profession. It's destroying the practice of medicine worldwide ... I'm a vaccinologist. I spent 30 years developing vaccines. A stupid amount of education learning how to do it, and what the rules are. And for me, I'm personally offended watching my discipline get destroyed for no good reason at all except, apparently, financial incentives, and - I dunno - political ass-covering?"
-Robert Malone

Quote:"Our government is out of control on this," Malone continues. "And they are lawless. They completely disregard bioethics. They completely disregard the federal common-rule. They have broken all the rules that I know of, that I've been trained for years and years and years. These mandates of an experimental vaccines are explicitly illegal. They are explicitly inconsistent with the Nuremberg code. They are explicitly inconsistent with the Belmont report. They are flat out illegal, and they don't care."

Quote:"This young woman who was listed as having a stomach ache, when in fact what she had was a seizure. And she's now wheelchair-bound with a nasal-gastric tube. One of 1,000 subjects."