Feast Day Mass (20th Anniversary) on 31 May 2024

The whole school went and celebrated mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral.  Prior to this, staff and the students were informed of the importance of the event and were given details, so they were well aware of what to expect and what was expected of them.  Several song practices were also done to help the staff and students – the wonderful singing on the day was reflective of the practices as the Cathedral came to life with our music.

The Mass was presided over by Bishop Steve, and Fr. Larry concelebrated with him.  The board was represented by Adrian Heffernan.  Overall, the staff and the students were filled with much joy as they sang and praised God through the mass.  At the end of the mass, Cathedral staff praised the school for being so organised and for being well-behaved from the time that they entered the Cathedral to the time that they left.

Commissioning of Lectors and Ministers of the Eucharist during the mass – the following students were blessed and commissioned by Bishop Steve and Fr. Larry during the Feast Day Mass.

Their parish priests are aware of the training done by Fr. Larry and they are also to serve in their own parishes as Lectors and Ministers of the Eucharist.  Their badges were given to them in the school assembly after the Feast Day Mass.  Thank you for your continuous support to the special character of the school.  May God bless you and your family always.

House quiz and games after the Feast Day Mass – as part of the day’s celebration, the students enjoyed a quiz in the afternoon which focused on the historical and spiritual history of the school, since its start in 2004.  Each house added flavour to the celebration.  Hokianga prepared games for students in their house (Years 7 – 13) in the Auditorium.

Special Character Week

Special Character Week was held from 27 – 31 May 2024 with many activities planned by the Special Character prefects and team.
Cross – Art: Students showed their love for Jesus by writing down messages of love, hope and thanksgiving for dying on the cross.

Shave for Cure: Staff and students congregated in the auditorium to shave their heads or cut their hair as fundraising to find a cure for cancer.  Thank you for the support of Zoheb Ahmed, from Executive Cuts (Onehunga), who kindly donated his time to help support our staff and students who bravely shaved their hair off this afternoon in support of Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.

Laudato Si Activity: Students wrote their messages of love for mother nature and their love for the school through chalk-art.

Year 10 Sacrament of Reconciliation

Fr. Larry, in co-ordination with Mrs Maddison, has organised a Rite 2 Sacrament of Reconciliation for all the Year 10 students.  This was scheduled on 25 June from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm.  There were six priests from the Eastern Deanery who came and administered the sacrament to our students in the Auditorium.

Friday Reconciliation
Every Friday during interval, Fr. Larry makes himself available to staff and students who want to go for reconciliation.  He welcomes them in the prayer room.  Since the start of Term 2, there is already an increase in the number of students going for confession.

Youth Mass
Current and former Sancta Maria Students led the praise and worship at the Youth Mass in St Luke’s Parish on 16 June 2024.  Fr. Larry presided over the mass.  Overall, there was a positive response from all those that attended the mass.  They felt that they have done something to give thanks and praise to God.  Their presence encouraged their parents to be in the mass too.

Catholic Conference 2024 – Wellington
The Special Character staff together with Fr. Larry attended the Catholic Conference held in Wellington (19 – 21 June).  They listened and took part of the activities to help them grow in faith.  This is something that they will be bringing in school for staff and students to witness and experience.

Sancta Maria College Vinnies out and about
Our Vinnies have visited the Retirement Home (Summerset) with the intention for the students to share the love that they have received by sharing a mass with the elderly, cheering them up with songs and having a chat with them.

Vinnies have also visited Ōtara Hospice.  They sang for them and handed out presents that they have made for the people in the hospice.  They also went around to have a chat with the people who are in pain and spent time with them to make God’s loving presence felt by these people.  They also gave presents to the people taking care of the people in the hospice as a sign of thanks for all their hard work.  They also planted Kowhai trees as a sign of their love.

Vinnies Cooking and Packing – they have spent time and their talents sharing with the people who do not have anything to eat.  At the end of the cooking, the Vinnies Auckland processed the cooking activity with them.  They also prayed for God’s love to be felt by more and more people of today.

Finally, nine of our students attended Tōtara Hospice’s annual long service evening.  A special thank you to Kristen Calantog who hand made all of the crocheted heart brooch’s, Mr Piggin and Dr Laux for assistance and service to this celebration.  Click the following link to read the complete story Young Vinnies Hospice group helps celebrate volunteers at Tōtara Hospice | Sancta Maria College.

SMC By the Gate
A group of Year 12 students have started ‘SMC By the Gate’.  This is a group that listens and prays for the intentions of those that need prayer, in school.  They gather every Wednesday at the Ampitheatre at 8am to connect with each other and to see if everyone is alright and if there is anything that each person present is wanting to pray for.  They do not ask for any further explanation, but they simply pray for the individuals who asks for prayers.  They also read the scriptures of the day and do their personal reflection on the readings.

Caritas – CSJ Week video
A number of our students took part of the video presentation of Caritas.  They answered the following questions:

• What is reconciliation?
• What impact has the Sacrament of Reconciliation had on your life?
• What does it feel like to forgive others?
• If you could imagine peace for all, what would the world look like?
• What are the building blocks of lasting peace?
• How easy is it to choose to forgive?

Notices from St. Luke’s Parish Flat Bush

• Life teen camp 2025: see poster in the Parish.
• Altar Servers Training: to assist Fr. Craig during mass, there will be altar servers training on Saturday 6 July from 11am – 12.3opm.  Collect a form from the foyer, complete it and bring it with you, along with your certificate of first Holy Communion on the day of training.
• RCIA and RCIC: the Catholic Church welcomes everyone who are seeking to deepen their lives with God in a community of like-minded believers.  If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about the Catholic faith with the prospect of getting baptised in Easter 2025, it’s not too late to contact the parish office on pastoral@flatbushcatholic.org.nz
• World Youth Day Auckland 

Notices from St. Mark’s Parish Pakuranga

• Chinese RCIA and RCIC: Monday from 9.30 – 10.30am in the Lyon’s Den.  For more information contact John Ko on 022 031 7755 as well as Tuesday from 9.00 – 11.00am in the Lyon’s Den.  For more information contact Thomas Wong at thomas_tkwong2@hotmail.com
• Joshua’s Men’s Fellowship invites you to an evening of purpose and prayer.  Come along and bring a friend and join us for a sumptuous supper on Monday 8 July at 7.30pm.  For more information contact Mike Lobo on 09 390 0048.

 Notices from Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish Howick

• Jammies in June: St Vincent De Paul are once again taking pyjamas for this appeal to go to Middlemore Hospital.  There is a labelled box in the back of the church (next to the St Vincent De Paul baskets).  If you would like more information, please click the following link Jammies in June | Middlemore Foundation
• Visiting Statue of Mother May: The roster for requesting a visit of the Statue of Mother Mary to your home is now available in the foyer for the months of June to December 2024.  Please pop your details down if you would like a time.  Any queries, please contact Sandie D’Mello on dmellowswans@gmail.com or on 021 076 7772.

In Christ through Sancta Maria,
Mr. Omar Leo Tamayo
Leader of Special Character Mission and Liturgy (DRS)