Our 2019 prefect team had the great privilege to come together with the other Catholic school leadership teams in Auckland last Sunday. This event was the February Diocesan Youth Mass, hosted by both Logos Project and the Salt and Light leaders.
Logos are well-known for being present at many of our school retreats, where they have entertained and advised us on a number of topics. The Salt and Light leaders are comprised of a group of students who attended a retreat designed to connect them with other student leaders and grow as leaders themselves. This retreat has been running for over 10 years and gave four students from our school (Aislinn Manuyag, David Patlong, Maurice de Jesus and Johnny El-Boutty) fresh purpose and perspective on their role as 2019 student leaders.
The theme of this mass was ‘aroha mai, aroha atu’, meaning ‘love given is love received’. Father Kevin Murphy, our very own Sancta Maria College chaplain, delivered this message beautifully during the Mass, encouraging us as leaders to have a focus on serving our community with love. Our Sancta Maria Salt and Light leaders were integral to the Mass, with the procession of the Word, being eucharistic ministers and Aislinn delivering one of the readings. Our College prefects were left with a greater sense of purpose and community at the end of the Mass, having connected with their own goals and the other student leaders present. It was a wonderful celebration and occasion.
Danica Loulie-Wijtenburg
