Message from the Director of Campus Ministry

As we journey through the joyful Easter season, we are reminded of the hope and new life that Christ’s resurrection brings to us all. This time of year also invites us to reflect on the life and mission of Blessed Edmund Rice, who was deeply rooted in the Easter message—living a life of service, compassion, and faith in action. His legacy inspires our community to continue building a world of justice and love, especially through the ministry and service of our students.

This past month has been filled with meaningful spiritual experiences and community-building opportunities:

• Grade 11 Retreat at Camp Charis: Our Grade 11 students participated in a overnight retreat focused on servant leadership and community. The retreat was a wonderful opportunity for students to grow in their faith, bond with one another, and begin preparing for their leadership roles as they enter their senior year. Special thank you to our chaplain Father Yoon for his involvement and leadership on this retreat and all he has done for our community.
• Grade 9 Retreat with the NET Team: Held at Burnaby Hall, this retreat was a joyful and energetic day filled with music, games, reflection, and deep conversations. The feedback from students and staff has been very positive, and we are grateful to the NET Team for leading such a faith-filled experience.
• Still Loved Reverence for Life Conference: Special thanks to members of our Blessed Edmund Rice team who helped to promote and organize the CISVA school-wide Conference. Special thank you to Mr. Darrell Hall for his presentations.
• Lenten Confessions – April 8 & 9: We extend our heartfelt thanks to the priests of our local deanery for their generous support of our two-day school-wide confession services. Their presence allowed students and staff the chance to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• Holy Thursday Prayer Service: Thank you to our chaplain, Fr. Nick Meisl, for leading a reverent Holy Thursday liturgy. During the service, selected staff and students participated in the symbolic washing of feet, while all students received a special hand blessing—commissioning them to live out our school’s mission of faith and service in the world.
• Annual Vocations Pilgrimage: We concluded the month with our inspiring annual visit to Westminster Abbey and the Poor Clares monastery. Students were given a glimpse into the beautiful lives of those who have responded to God’s call to religious life. It was a day filled with prayer, reflection, and inspiration.

Live Jesus in our Hearts… Forever!

David Mattiazzo
Director of Campus Ministry

Lenten Confessions: Preparing Our Hearts for Easter

As we journeyed through Lent and prepared for the joy of Easter, all students at St. Thomas More Catholic High School had the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at Our Lady of Mercy Parish on April 8th and 9th. It was a special time for reflection, renewal, and spiritual growth as we sought to deepen our relationship with Christ.

Each year, we were blessed to have 10 to 12 priests from the New Westminster Deanery available to hear confessions, allowing students to experience God’s infinite mercy in a meaningful way. Confession was not just about acknowledging our shortcomings—it was an opportunity to encounter God’s love, receive His grace, and restore our hearts in preparation for Easter.

We invited all members of our community to take part in this sacred time of reconciliation. Whether you were a regular penitent or had not been to confession in some time, we reminded you that God is always ready to welcome you with open arms.

Let us continue to embrace the Lenten season with hearts open to God’s forgiveness, so we may enter Easter renewed in faith and spirit.

Annual Vocations Field Trip

On Friday, April 25th, STM staff, students, and our alumnus and chaplain traveled to Mission for our annual Vocations Field Trip. It was a wonderful day filled with meaningful experiences and opportunities to grow in faith.

Our first stop was Westminster Abbey, where we were warmly welcomed and given a tour of the beautiful grounds and church. A highlight of the day was the breathtaking hike to a lookout point with an incredible view of the Fraser Valley. Students also had the unique opportunity to listen to and interact with the Vocations Director of the Abbey, Father Caesarius, who shared inspiring stories about his life and vocation at the Abbey. We were blessed to attend and participate in the monks’ morning prayers, joining them in singing the Psalms of the day.

Later, we visited the Poor Clares, a cloistered order of nuns co-founded by St. Claire and St. Francis of Assisi. Sister Terese shared her vocation story and how their life of prayer, simplicity, and devotion brings hope to so many. It was truly an inspiring day that left everyone with a deeper appreciation for different paths of religious life.

Be sure to sign up for next year’s Vocations Field Trip — you won’t want to miss it!

Mothers Day Mass and Reception

STMC Mothers and/or Guardians,

You are cordially invited to join us for our Annual Mother’s Day Mass and Reception on Friday, May 9th at 12:45pm in the school gymnasium. STMC Chaplain and Alumnus Father Nick Meisl will be the Celebrant.

Following Mass, we ask you to join us for a social in the cafeteria.

Please note that due to capacity limitations, this invitation is for current STMC mothers and/or guardians.

Grad Mass at Our Lady of Mercy Parish

Attention all grads and their families.  The Grad Mass at Our Lady of Mercy Parish will take place on Thursday May 15th at 6:00 PM. This special event will celebrate our graduating students and their achievements, offering them a moment of prayer and thanksgiving as they prepare for the next chapter in their lives.

We are honored to have Father Medard Kamanzi from St. Francis de Sales as the celebrant for this meaningful Mass. His presence will undoubtedly enrich the ceremony as we lift up our grads in prayer and celebrate their accomplishments.

Following the Mass, please join us for a reception in the STMC courtyard and cafeteria, where we will continue the celebration with light refreshments, fellowship, and good cheer. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and show our support for the Class of [Year].

We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate this milestone with our grads!

April Retreats: Faith, Community, and Leadership

This past April, both our Grade 9 and Grade 11 students had the opportunity to step away from their usual routines and take part in spiritual retreats focused on building faith and community.

Our Grade 9 students spent April 15 and 16 at the Burnaby Hall with the NET Canada team. NET (National Evangelization Teams) is a Catholic missionary organization that sends teams of young adults across Canada to lead dynamic retreats for youth, helping them deepen their relationship with Christ. Over the two days, students participated in a variety of faith-building activities, games, prayer experiences, and both small and large group sessions. The energy, enthusiasm, and heartfelt witness of the NET team left a lasting impact, and the feedback from students was very positive.

Meanwhile, our Grade 11 students traveled to Camp Charis in Chilliwack for a two-day retreat centered on the themes of community and servant leadership. Through a combination of team-building activities, leadership discussions, prayer, and reflection, students were encouraged to grow both individually and as a united group. A special thank you goes out to the dedicated student leaders who helped organize and lead the retreat, offering their time, talents, and faith to help make the experience meaningful for everyone.

Gr.9 Retreat

Gr.11 Retreat

A Heartfelt Thank You to the Priests of the New Westminster Deanery

We would like to extend a special thank you to the priests from the New Westminster Deanery for dedicating two days to offering the sacrament of Reconciliation to our students. This opportunity allowed our students to experience the grace and peace that comes from this beautiful sacrament, deepening their relationship with God.

Following the sacrament, the students had the chance to relax and connect with the priests over their favorite local pizzeria—Me ‘n Ed’s. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the gift of forgiveness, while enjoying good food and fellowship.

We are incredibly grateful to the priests for their time, care, and support of our students on this spiritual journey. Their presence and dedication to our school community truly make a difference!

Still Loved Reverence for Life Conference

On March 12th, members of the STMC Bert team had the privilege of helping to organize the Still Loved Reverence for Life Conference, held at St. Nicholas School in Langley. This CISVA-wide event brought together a diverse group of individuals, all gathered to deepen their understanding and appreciation of life at all stages.

The conference, titled Still Loved, focused on the importance of providing support and care for individuals throughout their entire lives. The event featured an array of speakers and presentations that provided meaningful insights into the various challenges and joys people experience across different life stages.

One of the highlights of the day was the involvement of STMC’s very own Mr. Darrell Hall, who presented to groups on four separate occasions. His thoughtful and inspiring sessions engaged participants, sparking important conversations about how to approach reverence for life in both practical and spiritual ways.

The event was a resounding success, with attendees leaving inspired and equipped with a deeper understanding of how they can contribute to the ongoing reverence for life in their communities. A big thank you goes out to all who helped organize and contributed to making the conference a meaningful and memorable experience for everyone involved.

National Organ Donation Awareness Day

On April 15, STMC students gathered in recognition of Green Shirt Day, Canada’s national organ donation awareness day. We began with a heartfelt prayer, honouring those who have given or received the gift of life through organ donation.

As part of the program, we welcomed guest speaker Joanne Curtis, a liver transplant recipient, who bravely shared her personal journey. She spoke about the impact of organ donation, how one decision can save up to eight lives, and explained how to register as a donor, something many people don’t realize they can do at any age. Her message aligned powerfully with the reflections of Holy Week, particularly the Lenten theme of death and dying. In Canada, 250 people die while waiting for an organ each year. Joanne’s presentation challenged us to consider how even in death, we can choose to do good and leave behind a legacy of compassion and generosity.

To build on the day’s impact, Senior BERT hosted a green themed bake sale featuring cookies, brownies, and cupcakes, drawing students together in support of the cause. The goal was to raise awareness around organ donation and show that even one choice can have a profound ripple effect. Young people often want to make a difference but aren’t always sure how, this event reminded us that change can begin with taking just 2 minutes to sign up. Green Shirt Day wasn’t just about wearing green, it was about recognizing the power we each hold to give life and hope to others. Live life. Pass it on.

Register to become a organ donor today at: https://register.transplant.bc.ca/

Advocacy Initiative – Stop Fueling Wildfires

Wildfires have been destroying the forests and ecosystem of the very place we call home. 2023 brought the worst wildfire season recorded, with more than 2.84 million hectares burnt. That is more than 5 times the size of the Vancouver Metropolitan area. Not only do these wildfires threaten the environment, it threatens our homes, finances, agriculture and our well-being.

If we are to protect the places and people we love, we need to act on climate change now. This means tackling climate change from its source, the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the use of fossil fuels.

Instead of working towards their climate goals, B.C. has done the opposite in the investment of LNG projects, expansion of the fossil fuel industry and removal of the carbon tax, which would only fuel the wildfires.

Important Information:
In 2022, B.C. greenhouse gas emissions were 64.3 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. 24% is from the oil and gas sector.
The 2023 wildfire season affected more than 12,500 properties while wildfire suppression efforts cost the province $621 million.
Since April 2024, 1.08 million hectares of forest have been burned in B.C.

What you can do:
Send a letter to local members of government. A template is provided by Sierra Club B.C., however feel free to personalize your letter to make your message even more meaningful.

It is not too late for B.C. to change courses and meet our climate targets. By sending a letter, you can make your voice heard and help make a positive change for a cleaner B.C.

For more info, check out: sierraclub.bc.ca/protect-the-people-and-places-we-love-by-phasing-out-fossil-fuels/

Genocide Studies

Just before Spring Break the Genocide Studies classes had the opportunity to visit the Vancouver Holocaust Education Center. Students participated in two sessions; moral decision making during the Holocaust that centered on why some people were willing to risk it all to help the Jewish victims, and propaganda used by the Nazis to glorify their cause while dehumanizing the Jewish people.

Students also had the opportunity to look at artifacts from the Holocaust donated by the local Jewish community. Great learning opportunity for the students that deepened their understanding of this historically important time.

Career Life Education

Mock Interviews
The past month was a busy one in Career Life Education classes. Grade 10 students were well prepared by teachers Mr. Jake Rogalski and Mr. Zoli Szlivka in how to write a cover letter and resume and how to prepare for a job interview.

On April 16, teachers and STMC alumni volunteered their time to engage in Mock Interviews with all grade ten students. Feedback from the interviewers was very positive as they were impressed with how prepared our students were.

Guest Speaker: Alicia Arding
In further preparation for the transition to Post-Secondary, English 12 students were fortunate to have Alicia Arding (Education Technology Librarian, Douglas College) present on April 28 and April 29 about academic writing, research and academic integrity at the college level. Ms. Arding offers valuable information and tips on how to survive the first year!

Canada-Wide Mock Federal Election

On April 25, students and staff were given the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to cast a vote in the Canada-wide mock federal election with Civix Canada. This gives students the experience of what it means to be a voter, to think about the issues and make informed choices.

Voting isn’t just a one-time thing. It’s a way to shape your community and your future. #studentvote #civix

Congratulations to our Junior and Grade 8 band and choir students on an excellent Junior Music Knight.

Our Senior Jazz Band (Jazz A) has been selected as one of only 9 schools from BC to perform at the “Sounds of Youth” stage at Vancouver International Jazz Festival. They will perform a free concert at Robson Square, downtown Vancouver on June 21. Congratulations Jazz A!

We are very proud of all of our music ensembles this year. Collectively, they earned 10 GOLD RATINGS at this year’s music festivals. Congratulations to Grade 8 Band, Grade 8 Choir, Junior Band, Junior Choir, Senior Band, Senior Choir, Chamber Choir, Equinox Chorale, Jazz A, and Jazz B!

May 29 is our annual Music Department Showcase! Featuring many of our outstanding music students, Showcase is a celebration of their talents and a chance to raise money for a music charity as well as our music department. Join us at 6:30pm on May 29 in the STMC Cafeteria!

Equinox at Phoenix Choral Exchange

Back in February, the chamber choir had their winter retreat, highlighted by a trip to the Chan Center to watch the UBC Choral Union Concert at the invitation of UBC Assistant Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Hye-Jung Jun.

The Jazz Singers were co-most outstanding senior vocal jazz ensemble at the Surrey Schools Jazz Festival and our very own Caileigh Wong (grad 2026) won best senior vocal solo. Congratulations!

Also back in February, the chamber choir had 3 workshops from 3 different clinicians as they prepared to perform at the Pacific Lutheran University Choral Invitational on March 3rd (include photo from the PLU festival). Thank you to Kitbielle Pasagui, Erick Lichte, and Dr. Hye-Jung Jun for the amazing workshops.

Upcoming events:

• May 6- Senior Music Knight at the Chan Centre (Buy Senior Music Knight Tickets)
• May 26- Jazz Knight (Buy Jazz Knight Tickets)
• May 29- Music Department Showcase
• June 5- Music Department Banquet
• June 21- Jazz A performance at Vancouver International Jazz Festival: free and open to the public.

Drafting Class Field Trip

The Drafting class field trip to Rowan Avenue Child Care Construction Site Tour (with the city of Burnaby), where the kids learned about integrated project delivery. The tour was led by superintendent Marco Graw from Kinetic construction and Michael Yuan, Project Manager, Civic Building Projects for the city of Burnaby.

Special thanks to Avril Baraggan and her mom Marilian Rosas who initiated this collaboration. Please see photo attached to add.

Basketball

STMC Summer Basketball Camp

St Thomas More Collegiate is hosting our Annual Summer Basketball Camp designed to introduce players to the fundamentals of basketball in a fun and competitive atmosphere. It is open to boys and girls going into grades 3-8. Dates are August 11th to 15th, 2025 from 9am until noon.

Register here: https://trellis.org/stmc-summerbball-2025

STMC Sun Run

Congratulations to the 22 staff, students, and alumni who proudly represented STMC in the Vancouver Sun Run on April 27 as part of the STMC Knights Team! Our team showed incredible spirit and determination throughout the 10K course.

Whether running for fitness, fun, or personal bests, each participant embodied the Knights’ values of perseverance, community, and school pride. Thank you to everyone who ran, cheered, or supported behind the scenes—you made us proud!

Greater Knight Open

25th Annual GKO (Greater Knight Open) is open for registration. This event is open to Alumni, Friends and Family in our STMC Community. The event will take place at the Surrey Golf Club on Saturday, June 14th. Open to all levels of ability. Proceeds from this tournament go towards our STMC Bursary Program supporting families in financial need.

Register here: http://trellis.org/stmcgko25

Mikey’s Run

In honour of STMC Class of ’07 Grad Mike Lowe who we sadly lost last June, we encourage you to take part in Mikey’s Run. This event happens on June 29th, 2025 at the Burnaby Lake Rugby Fields.

Mike was a devoted father, son, brother, husband, friend, and a proud STMC Alum. This run is more than a tribute to Mike’s love of running – it’s a call to action. Let’s honour his legacy by creating space for openness, connection, and support. Volunteers and/or runners are encouraged to sign up through the website, Mikey’s Run.

Ripple Effect

Making a world of difference with STMC’s Ripple Effect Campaign, where generous donors creates a lasting impact that ripples beyond the boundaries of education. By sponsoring young Knights through their educational experience at STMC, donors are supporting individual growth and contribute to a ripple effect that opens doors, and extends through a lifetime.

Between 15% and 18% of our students receive tuition assistance—an essential part of our school’s identity. Our students strive for excellence in all areas of the Knights Cross: Academics, Athletics, Arts, Advocacy, and Faith. But beyond achievement, we shape young adults who are prepared for the world—ready to lead, serve, and make a difference.

When our students leave STMC, they don’t just step into the world—they shape it. Each Knight creates a ripple, and that ripple grows, reaching more and more people. The impact of one Knight is infinite. Now imagine the impact of a cavalry of Knights—the kind of leaders the world desperately needs.

At STMC, every student is knighted in a ceremony, marking them as part of something greater. They will always have someone in their corner. They will never walk alone. They will forever be part of this community.

Anna Iacob

Congratulations goes to Anna Iacob who heard just before spring break that she is a National Scholarship winner.  (as a parent of another National Scholarship winner, I appreciate the magnitude of this scholarship).  I asked Anna’s permission to highlight her achievement in the newsletter and STM media.  I have put together the following blurb.  Feel free to use or adapt.  Thank you for your support for our students!

National Scholarship Recipient announced

St. Thomas More Collegiate is thrilled to announce its second National Scholarship recipient!  This scholarship (four years of tuition, housing and all student fees) is the University of Toronto’s most prestigious award that recognizes original and creative thinkers, community leaders, and high academic achievers. Only fifteen students from across Canada are awarded this honor each year.

Anna Iacob is one such student!  When asked about her career goals and hopes for her time at the University of Toronto, here is what Anna is looking forward to:

“At the University of Toronto, my goal is to build a strong foundation in chemical engineering, to equip me with the knowledge and technical skills needed to innovate in the pharmaceutical industry.

After completing my degree, I plan to attend medical school to become a clinician-scientist, combining pharmaceutical research with direct patient care. I also hope to lead research and development in the pharmaceutical industry, one day possibly heading R&D and manufacturing at a major pharmaceutical company to drive advancements that will shape the future of medicine.

A major catalyst that inspired me to pursue STEM and research was STMC’s Students on the Beamlines program where we conducted a research project on metal concentrations in salmon eye lenses at the Canadian Light Source in Saskatoon (Canada’s national synchrotron). Another highlight was this year’s National Geographic Exchange Program where we partnered with a National Geographic researcher in Macau to study artificial light at night on moths. These, along with many other experiences inspired me to choose my future path, and I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been exposed to at STMC!”

Congratulations Anna! We look forward to following your journey!