Catholic Discipleship College

By Cameron Surrey,
CDC Formation & Household Leader

Here at the Catholic Discipleship College we are delighted to have another group of wonderful students for 2016, all seeking to grow deeper in their relationship with Christ.

Each day our students receive a rich array of spiritual foods, starting with the praying of psalms in Morning Prayer, silent time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and a rosary walk through the streets of Takapuna. There are morning classes on Scripture, Theology and Philosophy, and lectio divina on the Gospel of John, culminating in the noon celebration of the Eucharist. In the afternoons, the students work on assignments and other projects, play sport, or have some time to themselves. There is Evening Prayer, and another time of adoration before dinner. The College is a busy place, where time flows quickly, and it is a place of conversion where minds and hearts are truly transformed.

Our students for 2016 are Anne Yong, Kim Campbell, Clare Scheib, Taya Regino, Ron Eslao, and Jose O’Sullivan, pictured here at Set Free, a Catholic youth and young adult event, which took place in Tokoroa just before Easter. Set Free is run by the Diocese of Hamilton and aims to foster personal conversion to Christ. This year the event attracted over 300 young people from around the country. Kim (second from left below) attributes her conversion to the Set Free event that she attended as a fifteen-year-old. Our students assisted as small group leaders.

Earlier in March, CDC hosted a Lenten retreat day with the theme, ‘We are a kingdom of priests.’ As well as providing Mass, spiritual talks, lunch, and silent prayer, there were parallel children’s sessions. Chaplain Fr. Dominique Faure, and CDC Leader Dr. Cameron Surrey gave talks throughout the day, while the students provided hospitality and helped the volunteers who were leading the children’s sessions.

In one of these sessions, the children were led in a short time of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel.

It is marvellous to see the gift of faith being developed in children through this simple encounter with Jesus, and it is a reminder that the kingdom of heaven is for the ‘little ones.’ We hope to be able to provide more and more opportunities like this throughout 2016, for people, young and old, families, youth groups, parishes, and schools to participate in the life and mission of CDC, and to be immersed in the richness of the Catholic faith.