When receiving gifts, he was most appreciative, only to quietly pass these on to someone more in need later. On occasions when he had to move to another house, he chose the smallest and simplest room. He only travelled to other provinces or to his family’s place in Australia when there was a Lasallian meeting, or for necessary medical treatment. Ever faithful in his life of prayer and service, Ignatius gave us an example of a life well lived. He was loved by the students, former students, staff members and their families.
Renewal of Vows at his Golden Jubilee Mass Mt Hagen, Feast of the Assumption 1998 A true Lasallian, he touched hearts. Reflecting on the life of Ignatius Kennedy, I am reminded of a meditation of the Founder: ‘Those who instruct many unto justice will shine like stars for all eternity’. They will shine, indeed, in the midst of those they have taught, who will bear witness eternally to th great gratitude they have for the invaluable instructions of their teachers, whom they will regard as the cause, after God, of their salvation. St John Baptist de la Salle Mediation 208.2 (Rule 1:6)
My Kondiu Years By Philippa Wetherell, Volunteer teacher at Kondiu 1994 - 1997 It was in 1994 as an Australian Volunteer Abroad that I found myself at Rosary High School Kondiu in the extraordinarily beautiful Highlands of New Guinea. There is so much I could write about the four exciting and ever so challenging years that I spent at the school, but I will speak only of a few memorable experiences, that reflect something of the character of the school, under the administration of the De La Salle Brothers.
Together with its strong Catholic ethos, I appreciated the openness of the school to those of other traditions. For me as a committed Anglican, I could share in the worshipping life of the community, along with the Staff and the more than 500 boarding students. I recall particularly Holy Week and Easter, and how the students welcomed my sharing in the Stations of the Cross, as we wound our way up Blue Mountain in different parish groups. A boy from Kup claimed me for his group. I had watched fascinated the day before Palm Sunday, with boys high up in the Church roof weaving palm branches around rafters. Now in the procession, I was impressed by the reverence of their singing and the quality of their praying.
MAMBU MAGAZINE
ISSUE 1 2021
12
