The TEAM

The Auckland Catholic Tertiary Chaplaincy team is based at Newman Hall, 16 Waterloo Quadrant, right in the heart of the University of Auckland and AUT City Campuses. The team is the Pastoral and Spiritual hands of the Bishop of Auckland to reach out to tertiary students in Auckland.

Chaplaincy Team

 Chaplain: Fr Samuel Pulanco

Assistant Chaplains: Joe, Denis and Olivia

Fr Samuel Pulanco (Fr Sam) is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Auckland, ordained in 2008 and a former assistant priest of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Howick. He is originally from the Philippines and enjoys working with the youth. He works in 5 tertiary institutes and is present on particular days at these institutes.

Joseph Moeono-Kolio (Joe) is a full-time chaplain who assists Fr Sam at the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Auckland University of  Technology (AUT). He loves working with the youth and particularly in the music ministry. He is of Samoan decent and has travelled Europe recently during the WYD’11 Madrid trip with loads of stories to share.

Denis Brown Tutaka (Denis) is a part-time chaplain who assists Fr Sam at the University of Auckland. He is a Cook Islander and in his final year of his conjoint degree, BA/BTheol at the University of Auckland, majoring in Philosophy and Biblical Studies. He enjoys being with young people and has loads of funny stories and life experience to share.

Olivia Watson (Olivia) is a full-time chaplain who assists Fr Sam at Massey University and UNITEC. She is a New Zealander of European decent and is always enthusiastic working with young people. She is an experienced artist and does various paintings in her free times.