Te Wana

Dedicated to Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769-1852). Made from remnant marble of the old school chapel, the water feature explores the concept of journey. St. Philippine’s dream was to bring education to the first people of North America, and it took an entire lifetime before she achieved this.

The pools and slow movement acknowledge the patience and perseverance required to reach the cascade, where a dream is realised. The dry mosaic represents the suffering. The brass plates at the base of the pools recognise that it is in times of solitude and calm within endurance that our golden moments can be found. While our dreams may pull us through life, the rewards found in these simple moments along the way are to be treasured as much as the realisation of ambition.

Wana has many layers of meaning in Te reo;

To bud, the shoot of a plant - as the love of God took root in Philippine, or as the Society of the Sacred Heart in Aotearoa is an offshoot of her work.

To be inspiring, stimulating, exciting - as was Philippine’s call to travel to the indigenous people of the new world in America. Philippine longed to share the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to kindle in them the fire of God’s love.

The feelings that stir you to emulate them when you hear of some great action performed by someone - Philippine loved the Potawatomi people. However, unable to master their language, she was not able to teach, so she would spend long periods in prayer. The children named her Quahkahkanumad, which translates as Woman Who Prays Always. We can learn from her to have great desires, to dare difficult things and to pray constantly.