In Apia, St. Mary's College began to celebrate their celebrated their diamond jubilee on Friday with a parade on Beach Road that was led by the Police Band.

At the end of the parade, Prime Minister Tuilaepa congratulated the school for reaching their 60th anniversary.

"As we've come here today to celebrate together this great milestone of the school, your contributions have been borne of many of the brightest minds in this country."

Tuilaepa thanked the school for their great contributions to the government.

"Saint Mary's School together with the Sisters provides a good education for those who've been educated in this school," Tuilaepa said.

At the same time in Suva, hundreds of Saint Joseph's Secondary School students converged in Suva to celebrate that school's Diamond Jubilee.

The celebration began with a cocktail at the school hall in Suva on Saturday night.

The theme for the 60 years celebration is "Let Wisdom Be our Legacy".

Alumni executive Pauline Morris said the week-long celebrations would be filled with different activities.

Morris said it was also a chance for the old girls to come together, meet and reflect on their time at the school.

Source

• sobserver.ws
• fijitimes.com
• Image: sobserver.ws

The article, "Sixty years of service" is about "three kiwis who have also spent six fulfilling decades in their fields".

The article tells how Sister Yvonne, who came from Hokitika, met some Home of Compassion sisters and was so impressed with them that she decided to join up.

She entered the Home of Compassion in 1952 and over sixty years has worked in Fiji, Auckland, Wellington, Carterton and the Hutt Valley. Much of her career was spent nursing, but she also spent time supervising the Home of Compassion kitchen.

Yvonne now lives in retirement at Silverstream but still visits the elderly in the nearby hospital and rest home.

Source

• Australian Women's Weekly New Zealand edition (not available online)
• Image: The Sisters of Compassion

In the course of the all the celebrations, it won't however be the only reference to religion.

The 86-year-old queen recently delivered a speech to a group of religious leaders from various faiths gathered at Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury,

"Our religions provide critical guidance for the way we live our lives, and for the way in which we treat each other. Many of the values and ideas we take for granted in this and other countries originate in the ancient wisdom of our traditions. Even the concept of a Jubilee is rooted in the Bible" said Her Royal Highness.

Defending religious pluralism, Queen Elizabeth claimed the role of the established church in Britain is not to defend Anglicanism to the exclusion of other faiths, but instead to protect the free practice of all faiths in the country.

"This occasion," continued the Queen, "is thus an opportunity to reflect on the importance of faith in creating and sustaining communities all over the United Kingdom."

"Faith plays a key role in the identity of many millions of people, providing not only a system of belief but also a sense of belonging. It can act as a spur for social action. Indeed, religious groups have a proud track record of helping those in the greatest need, including the sick, the elderly, the lonely and the disadvantaged. They remind us of the responsibilities we have beyond ourselves."

Sources

• Deseret News
• Image: Examiner.com

Gillian Bouras writes of her memories of when Elizabeth II became queen, reflects on her reign, and says that "conscientiousness and devotion to duty now seem to be outmoded virtues. But many people my age, despite our political affiliations and persuasions, admire them still."

• Read Gillian Bouras' article
• Image: Mirror News