Caring Foundation Mass and Awards (1 August 2023)

Monsignor Brendan Kiely, the Vicar General, presided over the mass together with the different Parish Priests around Auckland at Christ the King Parish in Owairaka to celebrate and recognise the students, the schools, and different groups who are actively helping out in the mission of the Church of helping those who are in need.  The Caring Foundation is an organisation that supports and aims to extend their hands to different members in our society who are struggling with basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing.

The Auckland Diocese has recognised students who also excelled in serving the poor and the needy through school-led activities, parish, or personal drives.  This year, we would like to congratulate the following students from Sancta Maria College who were given recognition:

• Alexandria Lazatin
• Johann Ang
• Teresa Croker
• Ella Dickens
• Abigail Martis
• Ethan Karl

Assumption Mass

The school enjoyed a blessed mass on Friday, 18 August 2023 with Fr. Terry leading us and commissioning Eucharistic Ministers who have been trained by Fr. Sherwin Lapaan and his team in St. Mark’s Parish (details of students involved is below).  The school is blessed to have the support of the three surrounding parishes – St. Luke’s, St. Mark’s and Our Lady Star of the Sea.  Click this link for further detail on our Assumption Mass.

Evening Concert for Caritas Foundation

A Concert was held to support the programmes of Caritas Foundation who tirelessly help out the needy in and outside New Zealand and was a joint project with Edgewater College.  Thank you to Mr. Gibbs, our Head of Department for Music, who works tirelessly to encourage and tutor our various musical groups in school to prepare for performances and to also allocate time in our lives to give.  The following groups showcased their talents:

• Festival Orchestra
• Concert Band
• Stage Band
• Big Band
• Chamber Ensemble
• Symphonia
• Edgewater Jazz Band

MUFTI for St. Columban Mission Society 

The MUFTI for this term was on Thursday 17 August 2023.  The goal was to come up with enough funds to support the projects of our St. Columban Mission Society on Ecology and Laudato Si.  They are hoping to undertake tree planting and a creek clean up at the end of the year to put into action Pope Francis’s call for us ‘to care for the Earth’.  Thank you to all those students and staff who generously contributed.

World Youth Day (6 August 2023)

The Auckland Diocese held its World Youth Day Celebration in our school auditorium on Sunday 6 August.  More than 900 young individuals from the different parishes in Auckland gathered to praise God through the mass, reconciliation and different reflections, singing and dancing.  Former students at Sancta Maria College led our prayers and activities.  Overall, the youth of Auckland (especially from our school) were filled with the Holy Spirit – they were inspired to live Jesus in their hearts.

Training of Eucharistic Ministers

Fr. Sherwin Lapaan and his team at St. Mark’s Parish have trained the Eucharistic Ministers who will serve both in school and in their parishes.  This was done in school and the parishes of the following students have given their full support. Congratulations to:

Workshop for Staff: Living out the Good News today.  What is the role of the Catholic School?

Selected Sancta Maria College staff (SLT, Tagged Teachers, HODs) attended a workshop on 21 August.  The aim of the workshop was to see what more can be done at present to continue the mission of Christ in Catholic Schools.  Times have changed and the church has adapted to the signs of the times in proclaiming the same message of love.

Messages from our community Parishes:
St Luke’s Parish

St. Mark’s Parish, Pakuranga

Please see below a schedule of Mass times within our community:

God bless,
Mr. Omar Tamayo.