A Journey to the Heart of the Diocese: Bishop Viard College Makes Historic Pilgrimage
- M. Barlow
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
In a powerful display of faith, heritage, and "Viardian" spirit, the students and staff of Bishop Viard College marked a historic milestone this May. On the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the Porirua-based co-educational college conducted its inaugural annual visit to Sacred Heart Cathedral in Wellington—returning to the very site where their namesake began the story of the Wellington Diocese.
The journey began with a resonant witness of faith at the Wellington Railway Station. The immaculately dressed students filled the "station cathedral" with song, their voices echoing through the concourse before they made the symbolic climb up Hill Street. This pilgrimage mirrored the arrival of Bishop Philippe Viard, who landed in Wellington on May 1, 1850, to lead a fledgling diocese with little more than courage, conviction and a deep understanding of the concept of Service..
The highlight of the day was a beautifully sung Mass celebrated by Viard’s Chaplain and Vicar General Monsignor Gerry Burns and Cathedral Parish Priest Father Patrick Bridgman. They were joined by representatives from St. Catherine’s College (Kilbirnie) and Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt), emphasising the unity of the Catholic community. The mass was musically led by Mr. Sammy Seau and Mr. Matt Barriss with the Bishop Viard Niu Choir, the liturgy was a vibrant celebration of Wellington Catholic identity.
During his homily, Monsignor Gerry painted a vivid picture of the hardships Phillippe Viard faced. He arrived in a Wellington still reeling from a massive earthquake, with no Catholic infrastructure to speak of. Pa Gerry also linked the day to the feast of St. Joseph the Worker and the bravery of St. Peter Chanel, noting that it was Philippe Viard himself who undertook the somber mission to retrieve Chanel's remains from Futuna.
Standing at the grave of Bishop Viard, Principal Chris Theobald spoke passionately about the enduring link between the pioneer Bishop and the school that carries his name. He highlighted "service" as the common thread connecting Viard’s 19th-century mission to the modern aspirations of Porirua’s youth.
"Our dream is for this to become an annual tradition," Mr. Theobald shared, expressing his hope that more Catholic organisations across the diocese will join the pilgrimage in future years to celebrate our shared roots.
The day concluded with a communal lunch on the Parliament grounds, followed by a reflective train ride back to the Porirua basin. As the students looked out at the landscape Bishop Viard once traversed, they didn't just carry back memories—they carried a renewed sense of belonging to a story that began 176 years ago and continues to flourish today.
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