Building stronger connections between Catholic schools, parishes

In 2025, the Catholic Diocese of Auckland is piloting a Local Youth Minister project, placing full-time youth ministers across parishes and Catholic secondary schools.

The first Local Youth Minister, Bridgette Carne, is serving at St Patrick’s Parish in Pukekohe and the newly opened St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College in Drury. Bridgette’s ministry has already seen initial success, with weekly small group discipleship sessions and growing connections between the school and parish.

The initiative builds on the ministry of the Auckland NET team – a group of six Catholic young adults who volunteer a year of their lives to do youth ministry in the diocese. The team’s primary focus is delivering high-quality retreats that offer secondary school students a new encounter with Christ.

Now in its third year, the NET team continues to make a strong impact.

“These were the best retreats we’ve had in a long while,” said Verna-Lee Oliver, a teacher at Sancta Maria College. A year 11 student shared: “It made me feel more connected to God.”

In 2024, the team delivered 55 retreat days, positively impacting more than 3500 students.

The diocese hopes the Local Youth Minister project will build on this foundation, offering an ongoing journey of discipleship for young people.

FULL STORY

Auckland Diocese Newsletter May 2025 NZ Catholic