Br Darren Burge, SoTS Provincial, Connects with Marist Schools, Communities and Educators During Visit to Aotearoa New Zealand
- maristbrothers
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Br Darren Burge, Provincial of the Star of the Sea Province, is currently undertaking a week-long visit to Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand to engage with Marist schools, Brothers’ communities, and educational leaders. The visit underscores the Province’s commitment to supporting and deepening the Marist mission of education, faith formation, and service among young people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Throughout the week, Br Darren is visiting several key Marist centres including St Paul’s College, Marcellin College, and Sacred Heart College, as well as meeting with the newly established Champagnat Marist Education Ltd (CMEL) Board. He is accompanied by Br Peter Horide, the Provincial Delegate for Aotearoa.
A significant moment of the visit was Br Darren’s time at the Marist Alternative Education Learning Centre (MAEL) on Auckland’s North Shore. The Centre provides vital support for young people who have found mainstream schooling challenging. There, Br Darren met with the Centre Leader, Francesco Marignoli, and staff to learn more about the programme’s mission and its impact on the lives of its students.
“I was delighted to see MAEL’s commitment to supporting young people who face difficult circumstances and may have fallen out of mainstream education,” said Br Darren. “MAEL offers a safe environment where they can rebuild their confidence, discover pathways for their future, and experience genuine care. Young people who have faced significant challenges are being supported in a way that gives them hope and purpose - and that is at the heart of our Marist mission.”
The visit to St Paul’s College offered another highlight. Welcomed by Principal Keith Simento and accompanied by Br Peter Horide, also an alumnus of the college, Br Darren toured the college’s facilities - long rooted in Marist heritage - including the chapel with benches built by former Brothers, and the creative learning spaces dedicated to woodwork, music, and art.
"It was my first time at St Paul’s, and I was struck by the school’s vibrant community spirit," Br Darren reflected. “There is a palpable sense of family and hospitality that speaks to the heart of Marist life. You can feel it in the classrooms, among the staff, and in the energy of the students themselves.”
Beyond his visits to schools and communities, Br Darren’s discussions with the Champagnat Marist Education Ltd (CMEL) Board focused on strengthening connections and collaboration across Aotearoa's Marist network. He praised the group's emerging strategy to develop shared formation programmes, enhance communication, and articulate a unified Marist identity within schools.
"What excites me most about the Marist mission in New Zealand is the growing collaboration through CMEL," Br Darren said. "There’s a clear strategic vision emerging, firmly rooted in our spirituality and charism. Their mission will be to bring a common focus to our schools and to define what it means to educate the young in the Marist way today."
The week will conclude with a visit to Sacred Heart College for the inauguration of a new Science Block - a milestone that celebrates both the school’s ongoing growth and the enduring commitment of Marist education to excellence and innovation.
This is a developing story.
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