Cathedral Mass 2025
Founder’s Day Mass for the feast of St Marcellin Champagnat at the Cathedral 2025
A student’s reflection
Attending my final Cathedral Mass with Sacred Heart College was a very special moment, it really hit me that this chapter is soon coming to an end. As I sat there in the pews, surrounded by hundreds of boys in blue blazers, it felt more than just another school event. The singing from the year groups there, filled the cathedral, and it wasn’t just noise, it was something powerful, led by Bishop Steve. Overwhelmingly, you could feel that sense of prayer, unity and brotherhood that makes our College so unique.
What stood out most for me was how involved and engaged everyone was, full participation and together in faith. It wasn’t just the seniors leading things – juniors processing with the offertory gifts, the kaiwero protecting and leading in what was valued and of importance, boys from various nations around the globe led us in prayer – Chinese, Filipino, French, Japanese, Māori, Spanish, Pasifika students enthroned the Gospel which had previously been added to with the array of flags in procession – New Zealand, France (for St Marcellin Champagnat), the papal flag connecting us with the universal Catholic Church, the Auckland diocesan flag reminding us that Catholic is bigger than this school and the Marist and Sacred Heart College flag; the choir also playing its part in enhancing the liturgy.
Being part of this tradition over the years has shaped me significantly in who I am today. These moments of quiet prayer, individually and with others, partaking in the Eucharist, shared singing, and being present in something bigger than yourself have helped grow my faith and character. That’s what being a young Catholic and Marist man is about.
Leaving school soon, I feel prepared not just academically, but as a person with faith, values and a strong foundation to build on, which is what I think our Cathedral Mass truly represents. I’m grateful I have been a part of, and together with others, been involved in something so meaningful.
Thank you Bishop Steve and with him my parish priest Monsignor Bernard Kiely, and Fathers Stephen Berecz, Craig Dunford, Tony Dunn and Anthony Trenwith. Thank you, Mr Walsh, Br John, Mr OD, Matua Ben, Br Anthony, Mr Knight and Mr White, for your wider contributions.
Thank you to the Proprietors, Board, Brothers and staff members who supported us and worked with us to shape the event and bring it to birth. Congratulations also to Emmett Connolly and Mateo Gola on receiving your leadership badges.
Above all, I offer my genuine thanks to the young men of Sacred Heart College for fully immersing yourselves in the mission at the heart of St Marcellin whose feast day we gathered in ‘making Jesus known and loved’. I am sure he looks kindly on us from above, recognising that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is at the core of all we do here. This day clearly demonstrated it. Long may we all do so.
