On Sunday 27 April, Young Vinnies Leaders Madeline Susanto, Lucy Jones, Matilda Grice, Kaylyn D’Costa, and Rhianna Balingit had the honour of attending the annual Young Vinnies Commissioning Mass held at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

16 different schools gathered together along with their families, friends and staff. We were officially commissioned as Young Vinnies Leaders for 2025 by Bishop Steve Lowe.

During the mass, we sang a waiata, ‘He Kakano Ahau’ and received a candle, symbolizing the light and love of God. As we were given our badges, we were reminded of our responsibility to serve our community and help those in need.

To conclude the commissioning, we performed the haka, ‘Tika Tonu’ in honour of Pope Francis. The Commissioning Mass was a meaningful time of remembrance and appreciation for all of us, marking the beginning of our journey as Young Vinnies Leaders for 2025.

We can’t wait to work with other Young Vinnies Leaders across the Auckland diocese.

By Madeline Susanto, Year 12