Category Archives: The Community

Wishing you a happy Easter 

Dear students, 

As we continue to celebrate the diversity of our university community, we recognise the significance of Easter for many of our students and staff. Alongside those who celebrate the holiday as a secular, family or rest time, Lent and Easter remain important religious holidays for many in our community. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ continues to inspire Christians of many varieties and traditions in special times of prayer, service and celebration. 

To all who are celebrating, we wish you a holy, joyous and meaningful Easter. May this time bring you peace, happiness and connection with family and loved ones. 

The UC Chaplaincy team are here to support you and we offer pastoral and practical support regardless of your background or beliefs. We can be found in Forestry 115, and offer spiritual and pastoral care, and practical support, including community lunches, a pop up vege stall, and wellbeing support for students and staff. 

Ngā mihi, 

John Fox, Senior Chaplain 

Join us to commemorate ANZAC Day 2025!

Join us to commemorate ANZAC Day 2025!

Please join us on Friday 25 April between 10am-11am to pay respects to those who are serving, or have served, and who are called upon to support the country in times of war, conflict and disaster.

All are welcome to attend – students, staff and the wider community.

Our service will be held on the Quad between Matariki and Puaka-James Hight Building, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. This will be followed by some refreshments on Okeover Lawn at the Field of Remembrance and the Gallipoli Lone Pine.

We hope to see you all there!

 

Observance of Passover

Members of our UC community will be observing the Jewish festival Passover (or Pesach in Hebrew) from sundown on Saturday 12 April, to nightfall on Sunday 20 April, (or in the Hebrew Calendar, Nissan 15-22). Pesach celebrates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. You can find out more here. There are varying levels of observance of Pesach among the Jewish community; students in halls of residence or flatting might participate in a celebration of Seder (ritual meal), but not the traditional thorough spring-cleaning of the kitchen. Some will abstain from any leavened bread or products containing yeast for Pesach week, and others (usually for medical reasons) do not.  

We wish all those participating a wonderful Pesach.