Aquinas College to join other Catholic schools in nationwide solidarity fast

Aquinas College principal Matt Dalton said responding to such an unprecedented and violent act was difficult as "there is no road-map". Photo / File

Aquinas College students will join other Catholic secondary schools nationwide in a solidarity fast tomorrow in response to the horrific Christchurch mosque attacks.

As part of the fast during the school day, the students and staff are invited to bring a gold coin donation for the families of the victims.

The fast was not compulsory but aimed to help students heal through action.

Aquinas College principal Matt Dalton said responding to such an unprecedented and violent act was difficult as "there is no road-map".

"We have the view that we have a responsibility to support our students and community as best we can," he said.

"We know that this event will affect people in different ways, and we need to be prepared to be sensitive and responsive to the different questions and needs that arise from our students as a result."

Dalton said the school's focus was to create a safe place for its students where they have love and support.

"We put an emphasis on distributing information to our staff and community regarding the advice we have received," he said.

"We don't profess to be experts in this space, so we need to utilise the experts, resources and help that we have available to us."

The principal hoped by leaning on the experts would help give parents and caregivers some strategies to channel the negative energy and emotions towards simple positive actions.

The school also held a liturgy earlier this week to honour the families and victims of the Christchurch attack.

"This was an opportunity for us gather as a faith community to offer up our prayers and to show our heartfelt solidarity with the unfortunate victims, their families and the wider Muslim, Christchurch and New Zealand communities," Dalton said.