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Golden Catholics

Liza Sparrow —

On 24 March, the College was delighted to host 90 Golden Catholics who celebrated Mass with Fr John O’Connor and heard updates from the Catholic Education Office, and Catholic Development Fund.

The theme of this event was ‘Supporting our Children and Grandchildren to Grow in Holiness’. Lunch with Archbishop Paul in the Performing Arts Centre followed - fitting, given this space was enabled via a loan with the Catholic Development Fund.

Golden Catholics were delighted to come together to hear how the CEO’s (Catholic Education Office) religious education program supports students to grow in holiness. CEO Manager, Mike Nolan stated “Through the NZ Catholic Bishop Conference’s Religious Education programme children and young people learn they are loved by God; through the liturgical life of the school students learn to respond individually and collectively to the call to listen to God’s Word, to worship and give thanks, and to go out into the world and live out the call of their Christian faith. Much of the work of the CEO focuses on empowering teachers and leaders in our Catholic schools through the delivery of quality professional development and NZQA-approved qualifications in religious education.”

The CDF went on to outline the benefits an Education Savings Account has when saving for school and tertiary education fees. Liza Sparrow, CDF Marketing and Business Development Manager stated that “as a values-based investment, the CDF allows one to save whilst knowing that they are helping support the pastoral activities of the diocese and providing loan-funding for schools and parishes. If preservation of capital is your goal, the CDF represents a secure choice as it is 100% guaranteed by the Bishop of Christchurch.”

Grateful to the College for use of our facilities the Golden Catholics were thrilled with the turnout and to our enthusiastic Year 9 boys who helped with car parking and escorting visitors to the chapel in the pouring rain!

Golden Catholics is a group set up by the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, with the sanction of Archbishop Paul Martin for senior members of our community. Coming together several times a year in Christchurch and Ashburton to share fellowship and food, whilst hearing from a range of speakers whose insight is of value to those in their golden years. Their next event in Ashburton on 5 May.

To join Golden Catholics please contact either Donna Malone rf-dmalone@xtra.co.nz, or
Angela Woolstencroft gawoolly@hotmail.com

Image by: Golden Catholics

To find out more about the Catholic Development Fund, visit www.cdf.org.nz