Mother’s Day Mass
Thank you to all the special ladies in our lives that joined us for Mother’s Day Mass on Wednesday 6 May, it was a blessed way to honour and give thanks to our mothers.

Pink Breakfast
Part of our being Catholic is caring for the vulnerable, we held our annual Pink Breakfast fundraising for Breast Cancer New Zealand on 20 May.  People from the College, primary school and nearby community came together in support of a good cause.

Special Character Week
Thank you to the students who commenced our Special Character Week with a morning prayer in the Amphitheatre and Just Praise and Dance in the auditorium. 

We began Wednesday morning with a rosary to show our devotion to our Blessed Mother and reflect on the life of Jesus.  We also had our usual lunch time Mass – thank you to Fr Benedict.  Thursday during lunchtime, NET joined us for praise and workship in the auditorium for all students to join in and connect.  They also prayed for students who wished to be prayed over – a manifestation of our being one community.  We marked the end of Special Character Week with Feast Day Mass, presided by Bishop Peter Brown and concelebrated by Fr. Benedict Francis, held in St Luke’s Parish followed a sausage sizzle and Caritas Challenge.  Bishop Peter highlighted the virtue of Mary who was joyful in serving her cousin, Elizabeth.  He also explained the love that St. Carlo Acutis had for God despite his parents who did not practice the faith.  He said that we are all asked to love God the way Mary and St. Carlo did – to be the light to others for people to see and follow.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing parents who supported us last Friday after Feast Day Mass, cooking and serving a sausage sizzle for all our students. God bless you.

Commissioning of Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion and Ministers of the Word during Mass
The students who underwent training with Mr. Tamayo were commissioned by Bishop Peter Brown during the Feast Day Mass.  The commissioning confirmed their commitment to serving both in school and in their different parishes.  These students who were trained and commissioned were also recognized by their parish priests when they signed the application form.

Caritas Challenge started early as the students who signed up did their fasting as part of the Caritas Challenge activities.  The students learned about the lives of people living in poverty and understood the experiences of the refugees.  They had a special guest who talked about her personal experience and struggles.  The students also tried different activities to help them understand the hardships of people around.

Initial Meeting with the parents re: Small Group Big Faith groups
Ms. Ernstzen and Mr. Tamayo met with the parents of the Small Groups on 29 May to communicate their children involvement in ‘Small Groups Big Faith’ groups.  The group is part of the youth minister’s tasks – to develop the faith of the students.  They will be unpacking scriptures and will be talking about how to live out their faith in their daily activities.

Yours in Christ through Mary,

Mr. Omar Leo Tamayo
Leader of Special Character Mission and Liturgy (DRS)