kete korero may 2014

ketekorero May 2014 - July 2014 1

MAY 2014 - JULY 2014

Who Is My Neighbour? Proposed parish changes

Short Story WinnersThe Vision Years

Finding Faith

The official publication of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton

2 ketekorero May 2014 - July 2014

The beautiful season of Easter fills us with joy as we consider ourselves to be close friends of Jesus Christ Who is risen. The Church in its wisdom uses the season of Easter to prepare

ourselves for the equally important coming of the Holy Spirit into the life of the Church at Pentecost.

We live in a Pentecost Church which daily seeks the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to enliven us and to give us the wisdom and all the other gifts of the Spirit as we try to live the life of Jesus each day. Jesus continually prods us into a spirit of evangelisation through which His Good News can reach a high priority in the world.

We are conscious of those gifts of the Spirit that have been given to us when we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, the essence of which is enlivened every time we join with Jesus in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Those gifts of the Spirit are the gifts that we need at our present stage of development in the life of the Diocese. The pastoral planning contained in “Who is My Neighbour?” calls us to let go where necessary and to allow the Spirit to move all of us. The risks that we are asked to take are minimal when compared to the power of the Holy Spirit Who inspires us. I pray that we will be open to that power of the Spirit in our lives as we prepare for the beautiful feast of Pentecost.

I am writing this message as I prepare to leave with a small pilgrim group to journey to Rome for the Canonisation of Blessed Pope John XXIII and Blessed Pope John Paul II. It will be a privileged time. I have the privilege of being able to concelebrate the Canonisation Mass with Pope Francis and many other bishops who will be in Rome for this special occasion.

Our pilgrim group will also visit shrines like Assisi, Medjogorje and Lourdes. At each of these venerable sites I will be remembering you all in my prayer. Thank you for all that you are as members of the vibrant Diocese of Hamilton.

Happy Easter and happy Pentecost.

God bless you

Yours sincerely in Christ

V Denis BrowneBISHOP OF HAMILTON

In this issue...Read it online!

www.proudtobecatholic.org.nz

Kete Korero Magazine c-/ 51 Grey St, P.O. Box 4353, Hamilton East 3247

Editor: Michael R. Smith, P.O. Box 6215, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua 3010 Tel: 07 349 4107, [email protected].

Sponsorship and advertising:David Barrowclough, c-/ Chanel Centre 0800 843 233 Fax 07 8567035 or email: [email protected]

Design and layout:Sandy Thompson, Central Design & Print1216 Arawa Street, Rotorua 3010

Printing:APN Print, 60 Wilkinson Road, Ellerslie, Auckland

ISSN: (print) 2357-2221 & (online) 2357-223X

The Kete Korero is an official publication of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.

Deadline for contributions to the next issue is 4 July 2014

FeaturesFinding faith in small places in Stella Maris 3Who is my neighbour? – Proposed parish changes 8

Parish NewsSisters launch appeal for proposed retreat centre 5‘Rock star’ writers celebrated in student short story competition 5Papal award for missionary couple 6St Joseph’s Morrinsville new church fundraiser (Therese Watene) 10A very special celebration (Sarah Crashley) 10Parishioners extending welcome to newcomers 11Parish briefs 6 and 11

School NewsShrove Tuesday breakfast in Taupo 7Almsgiving Lentent commitment at St Joseph’s Fairfield 12School Briefs 12

YouthHighlights from Set Free 7

Short StoryOur Last Moments (Emma Hesqua) 13

ObituariesFriendly priest fondly remembered – Father J. Williams 14A witness to more than a century of growth – Zoe Francis Horton 14

Kete ArchivesThe vision years (Judith Collins) 15

Sponsors 16

BISHOP’S MESSAGE

Welcome to our Diocese

We celebrated the canonisation of the Popes John XXIII and John Paul II at a special Mass in Rotorua recently. I was pleasantly surprised to see Fr. Richard Laurenson, the acting Vicar General, as celebrant and our locals Parish Priest Fr. Mark Field and Fr. Jelo Maghirang as concelebrants, assisted by Deacon Peter Richardson, the Catholic Diocese Pastoral Team Leader, from Hamilton.

They had come over from Hamilton to help lead us in this special celebration on behalf of the diocese. It reminded me how important the role of the Popes is in the day-to-day life of the church and its people.

For many, the Pope is THAT guy or “the boss”, in Rome and a very long way,, away from everyday life. So attending this celebratory Mass, and the attendance of our Diocese leaders, reminded me of that direct connection we all have to our Popes.

Our new Pope, Pope Francis, has emphasised that connectedness in his statements on self-renewal and change in the Catholic Church. His challenge of us has been around a bolder and outward looking approach to transforming the Church’s role in the community.

“The parish is not an outdated institution; precisely because it possesses great flexibility, it can assume quite different contours depending on the openness and missionary creativity of the pastor and the community,” Pope Francis has said in one statement. He went on to say: “While certainly not the only institution which

evangelises, if it proves capable of self-renewal and constant adaptivity, it continues to be ‘the Church living in the midst of the homes of her sons and daughters’. This presumes that it really is in contact with the homes and the lives of its people, and does not become a useless structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed cluster made up of a chosen few.”

The need to help break out and renew our parishes is one of the key elements of the recently released plan for restructuring the Diocese of Hamilton. A number of attempts have been made at this renewal over the years, to little avail.

Monsignor Trevor Murray, Father Darren McFarlane and Carole Fleming have drawn direct inspiration from Pope Francis in developing a strategy for the restructuring of parishes across the diocese.

One of the things I much enjoy is visiting smaller parishes and churches in remote areas – Murupara, Kawhia and (in this edition) Matawai. Each has faced challenges as rural population dwindles and the accompanying reduction in parish numbers has seen Mass celebrations down to one a month. In their own way, as people do in isolated areas, they have developed strategies to keep their faith alive in their church.

Demographics have also changed in city parishes but to some extent this has been disguised by the size of population. So it would be easy to say, for example, the size of one numerically large parish means it could not

Neighbourly strategy a bold step

join with a neighbouring parish of a similar size. Rural people have a reputation for neighbourliness and a certain hardiness enabling them to adapt to change, whether it is the weather God delivers or changes in the social and economic reality.

To quote Pope Francis once again: “One of the more serious temptations which stifles boldness and zeal is a defeatism which turns us into querulous and disillusioned pessimists, “sourpusses”. Nobody can go off to battle unless he is fully convinced of victory beforehand. If we start without confidence, we have already lost half the battle and we bury our talents. No to warring among ourselves.” Michael Smith


with all the amenities so far away.”“In terms of faith, I believe that’s a parent’s

job to teach it, so I keep bringing him to Mass. That’s part of our life.”

She is realistic about the future of the church in Matawai, so is enjoying being able to attend Mass there.

David Parker, 57, who has lived in Matawai all his life and has a sheep and cattle farm, says his family were staunch Catholics. He says it is nice to catch up with other people at Mass once a month.

PaYvan

http://youtu.be/TO1xvXclEFs

Interested bystanders in the life of Fr Yvan Sergy might say he gets to some “interesting” places, but in a way they are all the same place.

As a “Fidei Donum” priest, he is contracted to do five-year stints while remaining attached to the Bishop of the diocese of Basel in Switzerland. (See more on Pa Yvan’s background in the accompanying article on page 10.)

Now he is leaving the “little gem” that is Gisborne, Fr Sergy is taking a further step out on a limb of the outstretched branches of the tree that is the Catholic Church.

Pa Yvan, as he is fondly called by Maori and Pakeha parishioners in the parish, around the East Coast and elsewhere, has taken up a position in French Polynesia, serving the church in the Marquesas Islands.

His background, born in Lucerne, growing up in the Swiss city of Bern and doing his initial ministry in the canton of Jura, the French part of his home diocese, made him highly suited to a ministry bridging two cultures.

He first came to New Zealand in 2001 and was an assistant priest in Gisborne apart from 22 months in Tauranga. At the

FEATURE

Matawai in the rainAt an elevation of 576 metres (1,893 feet), the

Catholic Church of St Bede in Matawai has the distinction of being the highest church in the Hamilton Diocese.

Matawai, 75 kilometre inland from Gisborne, has a different history to many other settlements on the East Coast. The township was not officially established until 1912 when the railway built inland from Gisborne to Motu to give access to the rich bounty of native timbers available. The railway was closed in 1959. Today, the village mainly services extensive sheep and cattle farms, and acts as a tourist stop through its location at the upper reaches of the Motu River and the Motu Road Cycle Trail.

The Matawai Catholic Church of St Bede is a testament to the durability of many of the older churches. Parishioner Jim Langer remarked how Matawai had always been the “tail end” of the parishes in the area. The church was built in about 1890 and originally located at Ormond, closer to Gisborne on the Poverty Bay flats. It was then moved in 1923 to the Waipaoa Flats, where a flood of near-biblical proportions swept through the

church in 1948.The church was

dismantled after the flood and brought up to Matawai. Jim Langer says if you look closely you can still see the lean on the building resulting from the flood. Built from locally-milled rimu, the building still securely shelters parishioners on a rainy Sunday morning.

Changes to parish

structures, which have seen the number of local churches fall away, have been reflected in numbers dropping as low as two in the 1980s. Jim, 64, has lived all his life in the area and says “nowadays you’ve got to be really committed to get to services, because of the frequency of masses.”

Organising activities around the church – such as a scripture study group – had helped. Discussions were also underway with the local Anglican parishioners for joining in activities and services as well.

The after-Mass lunch was hosted by Margaret Mullooly and her husband Kerry, who live on a nearby station of 522 hectares, where they mostly raise bulls. Two of the couple’s three sons spend weekdays in Gisborne where they attend Campion College, and the third is headed in that direction.

Margaret, who originally came from Wellington, says the Catholic parishioners at Matawai are a tight-knit little group of people, and she doesn’t see the location as being an obstacle.

“Although we don’t know what the numbers will be for Mass once a month, we always have a good, positive time together. We always have a little meal afterwards, so that is nice. Sometimes it’s good to go to town and be part of a bigger congregation, but then sometimes it is not quite so personal.”

Melanie Brown was a director of religious studies at St Joseph’s Catholic School in Te Kuiti before coming to Matawai several years ago. She married Bevan, a deer farmer 9 km out of (town) Matawai, and brought her 14-year-old son, Luke, with her, and now has a baby Baylee born in 2012.

Although living almost five hours’ drive away from family, and in an isolated area, Melanie grew up in the tiny King Country community of Piopio, so was comfortable in the rural setting.

The change has seen her going from “a hundred miles an hour” in all things Catholic, to Mass once a month and not having to organise everything.

“The fact that it is an hour’s drive to Gisborne from our home becomes a big feature in your life

Finding faith in small places in Stella Maris

Kete Korero editor Mike Smith visited the Gisborne parish of St Mary, Star of the Sea, and the tiny community of Matawai. During his visit, he met with the parish priest and parishioners, talked social justice with St Vincent de Paul members, and went to Mass on a cargo ship.

Parishioners of Matawai’s Catholic Church of St Bede.


end of the five-year spell, he was asked by the Hamilton Diocese Bishop Denis Browne to return as the parish priest in Gisborne.

The bishop tasked the new parish priest with the rescue and refurbishment of the Gisborne church, which had been found to be a leaky building in need of dealing with.

Pa Yvan worked with the building committee to fix the church, and at the same time took the opportunity to review the layout of the sanctuary and the nave to help the dynamic of the liturgy.

The wall behind the sanctuary was made bigger and stronger, stimulating a decision to have a crucifix especially made by Michael Pervan, the Auckland sculptor. The $26,000 cost was met by donations from Pa Yvan’s friends and family in Switzerland and around the world. Varying colours in the carpet mark out different aspects also: Darkish in the foyer symbolic of the world; a lighter coloured carpet symbolising the nave; and, a classical red for the sanctuary.

With his academic background in science, Pa Yvan next turned his attention to the stewardship of the church –together with David Barrowclough of the Hamilton diocese they fundraised for a solar panel system on the roof of the adjacent Parish Centre. This system produces 5 kilowatts of electricity that helps to reduce the energy bill of the parish. Further cost savings have come through the production of a parish hymn book to replace hymn sheets printed weekly, so that only a quarter of a pallet of paper is used annually rather than the two-thirds of a pallet previously.

Pa Yvan says Gisborne, like every community he has worked with, has had something to give him on his journey as a priest.

“Gisborne has given me something that is different from other communities, because it is a bit out on a limb. So the Gisborne people are very resilient and take ownership easily, because of their situation.”

The challenge was to work respectfully alongside these resilient and involved people. Ownership of a project could tend to make situations remain static, so it was a matter of finding ways to move forward and keeping the dynamic alive.

Gisborne’s total population of 44,000 is calculated to be 50 per cent Maori, and Pa Yvan says he very much appreciated the great exposure to Maori culture.

“I find that coming from a country where we live with three different cultures peacefully and harmoniously, I feel maybe I’ve been sent to New Zealand with that background which helps me greatly to contribute to the harmonisation between Pakeha and Maori.”

“I believe it is only through mutual learning, experiencing and respect that we can build a harmonious relationship between cultures and between people of different cultures.”

He believes he must have achieved this to a certain extent and enjoys the Maori Miha once a month regularly attended by parishioners. As outlined in Sandra Crashley’s article, the respect with which Pa Yvan is held has been reflected in gifts presented to him on key occasions.

“I believe I am privileged and blessed to be able to minister in Gisborne. Like my first parish in Switzerland, Gisborne will be another parish that has given me a lot in my ministry.”

Pa Yvan is preparing for what should be a physically challenging ministry in French Polynesia, expecting to travel by plane, boat, horse, and foot across the six islands in the group. Drier than most typical Polynesian islands, the Marquesas Islands are often steep with numerous valleys.

He will become something of a “backpacker” for four years, so it will be a quite different ministry than he has experienced in the past. But the experience he has gained in Gisborne will provide him with the understanding to assist parishioners in learning to harmonise between the French and Marquesan cultures.

In the meantime, there is the leaving of Gisborne and its good and resilient parishioners.

Parish businessOn the Friday night of

my visit, Pa Yvan and Fr Lawrie Bishop held Stations of the Cross, and the parish hosted a delicious hot soup and bread Lenten meal.

While Pa Yvan was out on parish ministry the next day, I met with some members of St Vincent de Paul Stella Maris (Star of Mary): Phillipa Huberts, president, Pauline Burrows, secretary, and Helen Race, manager of “The Den” (pictured above left to right), where goods are assembled for distribution.

The Gisborne branch does not have a shop in town but rather works closely with social groups or directly distributes much-needed household goods throughout the community.

Not only are the goods made available directly or indirectly in Gisborne, but they are also sent to isolated communities up the East Coast. Having no retail shop of its own, items deemed best for sale are sent to the St Vincent de Paul shops in Rotorua.

Phillipa says every St Vincent de Paul branch operates differently. The Gisborne branch receives goods from everybody. “The Den” is where goods come in and are sorted before going to a storage garage before distribution.

Food parcels contain goods donated by the community, and the branch also buys food when the need exists. Donations also come from trusts, schools – St Mary’s Primary and Campion College, families and individuals, and they are often targeted, for example, to go to children.

Much of the distribution to East Cape towns is done through Al Hutchinson, who takes a van load of special needs men up the coast for work.

The East Coast region has a higher percentage of Maori than the 50 per cent in the Gisborne population, with many living in

challenging conditions, says Phillipa.“There are pockets up there where people look

after each other and St Vincent de Paul provides them with clothing they can distribute.”

As a result of this service, 12 bags of clothing had gone up on the coast run the previous week.

Helen Race, a senior member of the committee, says contact is maintained with older parishioners as well.

Elderly people who are often not well, or live alone are brought into St Mary’s for a “special morning tea day” twice a year. These provide an opportunity to talk to each other and to keep their connections going that they have had either through school, the parish or their families.

Helen has been on many deliveries to people living in hard situations but she says she has never felt threatened in the community.

The main focus of the visit was to travel up to the small community of Matawai on the Opotiki-

Gisborne highway for Sunday Mass. Before that, however, I went to Mass with Pa Yvan on a cargo ship tied up at the wharf in Gisborne harbour.

The 6 kilometre distance between the port and the church on Campion Road makes it difficult for ship crews who are in Gisborne for one or two nights to make it to Mass easily. A

Filipino parishioner has arranged for Pa Yvan to be able to visit ships if sufficient crew members need Mass.

This was the first visit to New Zealand for the 22 Filipino crew members of the M.V. Muroran – a Korean-owned ship in port to pick up a cargo of plywood bound for Japan. Before coming to Gisborne for two nights, the ship had visited Wellington and was due to leave the next day for Marsden Port in Northland.

Mass was set down for 2030 hours (8.30pm), and we arrived on the wharf in light drizzle. Escorted on board, we were taken to the officers’ mess where we met the ship’s master Roy B. Namock. The son of a marine engineer, I had nevertheless forgotten how ships are alive even when in port. The brightness of the overhead lighting, the heat and, above all, the continual vibrations all brought back memories.

Pa Yvan spread an impromptu altar on a table at the front and began. The Master and Ann our contact person did the readings.

FEATURE


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PARISH NEWS

The Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny in Tauranga recently launched an appeal to help in opening up their property in Tauranga as a retreat for the Diocese of Hamilton. The order has been in the Parish since 1940, when it was invited by the Bishop, Archbishop Liston to run St Mary’s Primary School.

We were given a beautiful property on which to build our convent and have lived and worked here ever since. It is our foundation house in New Zealand, Sister Allison Macalister sjc, Provincial Leader writes in the latest Smile magazine published by Tauranga Parish.

Her message follows: For many years now, we have been aware that our magnificent property in 13th Avenue, Tauranga with its stately trees and a beautiful sea view would make an ideal retreat centre. We have felt more and more that we would like to share it with the wider community. Now that we are no longer a large community of

sisters, we are in a position to do so. As a first step we have extended the cottage

on the property to provide accommodation for a smaller community of sisters. This has left the former convent with its separate chapel available to be used for another purpose.

The vision is to create a centre for the Diocese of Hamilton that will provide an oasis for those who wish to spend a quiet time of prayer, reflection and nourishment of mind, body and spirit. It will be a place where people can come to deepen their relationship with God. It could also provide a centre where groups can gather for prayer, meetings and conferences.

At first we hoped to be able to open the centre in 2013. However, a Resource Consent is needed to change the purpose of the building. Major interior work is needed to meet the requirements of fire and other regulations. This is going to be a costly venture, estimated at $100,000.

We are unable to meet this cost alone so this is why I am writing this today. We are humbly asking you to support us financially if you are able, in order that we may achieve this dream. Your prayerful support and financial contribution will ensure this project becomes a reality and will be greatly appreciated by the whole Catholic community.

As the Congregation Leader for the Sisters, I publicly thank you for the support and care you have shown to us over the years. We feel deeply attached to this Faith Community and although our numbers are now small that gratitude and love remains in our hearts for you all. With your help and support, this venture is another way we can be of service to you. Be assured of our daily prayers and remembrance of you and your families.

May God bless you and your families today and always.

Sisters launch appeal for proposed retreat centre

Emma Hesqua with Kete Korero’s Mike Smith (left) and Aquinas College Acting Principal Terry Consedine.

The young writers of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton have been celebrated as the “rock stars of creativity”.

The diocese magazine Kete Korero recently ran a short story competition for senior students across the diocese which stretches from the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, across to the King Country and down to the Poverty Bay.

As well as being the editor of the magazine, Mike Smith helps people with their writing and publishing needs.

“One of the most exciting things about my work is discovering new and interesting writers,” he said. “As Catholics, we have a long history of creative writing of all kinds, but in schools this is often overshadowed by academic and sporting achievements.”

The short story competition was designed to provide an opportunity for the students in the diocese to be recognised for their creative stories.

“To me, writers are the rock stars of the creative arts. In the music industry, Lorde is celebrated for her writing as much as for her style and singing.

“Parents and teachers would probably advise against this as a career choice, but taking time to be more creative will enhance your life – whether it is on the sports field, in the science lab or around the business table.”

The winner, Emma Hesqua, a Year 9 student at Aquinas College in Tauranga, won $75 for her story about a girl’s trip to live with her previously estranged father and his new wife. As well as being the most creative, Emma’s story displayed an excellent use of dialogue to carry along the plot.

Two students at Rotorua’s John Paul College – Loren Skudder-Hill and Eamon Walsh – were difficult to separate, so they were awarded equal second prize, receiving $40 each. Third prize went to Nicholas Farrell from St John’s College in Hamilton, with a $30 prize.

More school news on page 12Emma’s story can be found on page 13.

‘Rock star’ writers celebrated in student short story competition

Second place-getters Eamon Walsh and Loren Skudder-Hill

New realityAlison Taylor has

updated Kete Korero on her daughter’s journey:

Since last November’s Health and Faith interview, LIFE, with all of its literal and figurative implications, has become a new reality primarily for my daughter Nicole. She has a beautiful healthy new gifted heart. No superlatives seem to express the gamut of initial and present ongoing emotional responses to so many aspects as a result of this. The wonderful generosity of an unknown family, brilliance, dedication and practical expertise of medical professionals to make this possible, and our gratitude are each beyond words.

Suffice to say that as I review the past months and contemplate the future, there is so much and so many to be thankful for. Deo Gratias!Alison Taylor


MelvilleParish Forum - as noted at last year’s AGM

Father Boyce has hosted a Parish Forum on the fourth Sunday of the month in the presbytery lounge immediately after Sunday Mass. Please feel welcome to bring your questions along to the forum. Father will do his best to answer them.

Volunteers for St Vincent de Paul projects - We are looking for volunteers to Drive (deliver school lunches) or work on lunch preparation on alternate Wednesdays; and there are gaps on other days. We deal a lot with Volunteering Waikato but I would like to get more Catholics involved. Expressions of interest can always be put on a ‘wait list’ too; and we sometimes get gaps on the evening Fullfill van. Contact: Richard Turnbull. 021 767 800

Safe Church Programme LeaderThe National Office for Professional Standards

is seeking a motivated and experienced professional to lead the ‘Safe Church Programme’, an abuse prevention initiative of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand. The role will be responsible for developing, implementing and delivering a training and awareness raising programme for priests, religious, staff and volunteers. This is a full time fixed term post for one year with provision for review in 2015. Our office is based in Auckland, however applicants wishing to work from elsewhere in New Zealand will be considered. For further details, please email [email protected]

Applications will close on 8 April at 5pm. National Office for Professional Standards, The Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand.

CathedralMeditation Group - Christian meditation

group meets on Tuesdays at 6.30-7.15pm in the Cathedral Tabernacle Chapel. We arrive in silence and depart in silence. Please join us.

Warning - Please ensure you do not leave valuables visible in your car as we problems with

theft. If you have cash donations for candles or SVDP please put it in a marked envelope in the collection basket or hand it to a staff member.

Te PunaRebuild pondered - St Therese, which was

burnt down of 6th February – Waitangi Day, was thankfully insured, but as yet no decisions have been made as to what will happen. Time is needed to discuss what people in the Bethlehem area think should happen, as well as the Parish as a whole, and the Diocese in its restructuring that will be taking place. Obviously there are a good number of factors to consider with various views from different quarters.

Project Fullstop needs volunteers to prepare sandwiches for the delivery team during the day. If you can spare a couple of hours once a month, or more if you want to, we would love to hear from you. We are also looking for volunteers to distribute the food and drinks to the kids, the delivery van goes out around 5pm six nights a week and is usually out for one and a half hours. Again, if you can help once a month, or more if you are willing, please contact Meari Vickers on 548 0398 and she will give you the run down. This is a very rewarding way to help the kids and we are sure you will enjoy it, the kids love it!

Te Puna Vinnies Corner - If anyone has any children’s socks that they no longer need we would be pleased to receive them with colder months looming. We are now receiving more requests for older children’s clothing. Please leave them at the back of the church or give them to Mary Avis. Many thanks to our parishoner who gave us some clothing recently as well as some great boys’ shoes. Anyone requiring help, please ring MERRY: 552 5579, TIM: 552 5579

continued on page 11

PARISH NEWS

Phone: 0800 843 233Email: [email protected]

Breathe…new…lifeInto your writingBMS helps equip writers with the confidence to complete stories and books – family histories a speciality.

Contact: MS at BMS [email protected] or (07) 349 4107

by Rob & Lynn Hill

“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” When Nathanial asked this question (John 1:46), Philip replied “Come and See”. Such a response might be made concerning St Mary’s, Paeroa, because it was here 25 years ago, that the Passionist Family Group Movement was first established in New Zealand by the Passionists. The following day a Mass was held in Hamilton cathedral to mark the official closure of the only Passionist community in New Zealand. Four days later East Coast Bays parish in Auckland introduced Passionist Family Groups and so began an exciting missionary journey that was acknowledged in Waihi parish on December 8th last year.

Although the 25 years of PFGM life was celebrated in July, the December gathering, presided over by Bishop Denis Browne, was to acknowledge the wonderful contribution made by Lynn and Rob Hill to the church in New Zealand, through the Movement. They have exercised the role of National Directors since 1990, two years after the Movement began in New Zealand. They now share the Directing role with various diocesan Directors, but continue to oversee and co-ordinate the Movement.

Lynn and Rob were each awarded a Benemereni medal and certificate signed by Pope Francis and Bishop Denis presented this award to them, at the regular Sunday Mass attended by parishioners and representatives of the PFGM. Parish priest, Fr Trevor Murray was present as was Fr Brian Traynor CP, representing the many Passionists who have worked alongside Lynn and Rob and the leaders of the Movement over the past quarter of a century.

“We have maintained a commitment to provide formation for those exercising leadership roles and for many years now, we have extended that opportunity to everyone in the Passionist Family Groups. These sessions conducted by the Passionists, have involved a combination of leadership skills training and spirituality, and summaries have been posted on the PFGM website”.

When asked how they felt about receiving this awarded, Rob said, “I felt overwhelmed. We were just doing our job, and the people we have been working with all these years in PFGs are our life. We did not expect this recognition. We see ourselves as Passionists and this is our vocation”.

When asked for their reaction to the decline in

parish life and the fewer young people involved in regular worship, Lynn admitted that it was tough for some parishes to find willing leaders, and many groups were ageing but she added ”we are seeing very encouraging signs of regrowth with PFGs forming comprised of young families. You heard Bishop Denis say today, that he was confident of a new flowering of the Passionist Family Group Movement”.

Papal award for missionary couple


Students Shane Gregory, Joe Sutherland and Logan Hume enjoy their pancakes.

Students Isabella and Alexandra McGeough enjoy their pancakes.

Student leaders Jacob Collett and Jessica McLeod helped coordinate the maple syrup and whipped cream.

St Patrick’s Taupo students, parents and teachers mingling at the Pancake Breakfast.

St Patrick’s School Taupo held its annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast with a record turnout of participants. Over the past four years the numbers have steadily increased and it is now one of the real highlights of the school’s Lenten Preparation. St Patrick’s Parish supports this event by supplying pancake toppings, and the school staff caters for teas and coffees for grown-ups. Families bring their own pre-cooked pancakes to share as a community.

Danny Nicholls - Principal, St Patrick’s Catholic School, Taupo

SCHOOL NEWSShrove Tuesday breakfast in Taupo

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We thought the biggest had been and gone. But 2014 brought not only Chris Padgett from the United States, but over 300 young people gathering at Totara Springs Christian Camp for the best SetFree yet.

Chris Padgett opened the weekend with a variety of inspiring stories as the SetFree band led the participants into a time of worship. The reflective, yet joyful anticipation of the Blessed Sacrament in Friday night’s adoration set the atmosphere for the entirety of the weekend. Saturday began with Holy Mass, celebrated by Fr. Matt. McCauslin, followed by a variety of workshops.

Among many, were “Christ in the Mass” presented by Matthew Gibson, a Hamilton seminarian from Holy Cross Seminary, and Brother Johannes-Pio speaking on the challenging culture we face in the age of improving technology and social media. We were also blessed to have Fr. Dominique Faure, from the community of St. John who spoke to our brand new stream of 18-plus young adults.

This year SetFree expanded to provide an opportunity for those who exceeded the age limit to return, or to join for the first time. It proved a success and over 80 young adults joined in on the action, fit with their own 18-plus “lounge”.

A highlight from the weekend was the

incredible evening on the Saturday night, where many were able to personally encounter Jesus Christ in a special way through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. We were honoured to have Bishop Denis Browne join us in celebrating Holy Mass on Palm Sunday.

Notable comments made were, “I absolutely loved it! The band was fantastic and Chris was so amazing and really inspiring! He needs to come every year!”

“I think everything was amazing and I’m so thankful that I came!”

Thank you so much for all you do!In Christ, Briege

Highlights from SetFree


Key IssuesThe issues underpinning the plan are real, and

will become increasingly pressing and require action.

Almost since its establishment in 1980, the Diocese of Hamilton has attempted to address the issues around the declining number of priests, the ageing clergy, and the fall in the number of seminarians and priestly ordinations.

During the period the number of parishes remained constant, and the number of regular Sunday Masses has, for the most part, either remained unchanged, or in the case of some parishes, increased.

A number of solutions have been adopted over the years to address these issues. One option was the development of “transparish ministry, in

which one priest gives sacramental, pastoral and administrative care to two or three independent parishes.

The Diocese of Hamilton introduced the Order of Permanent Deacon with a view to the newly ordained deacons being able to assist parish priests in their pastoral duties and responsibilities.

Office of the Vocations’ Director has been given more prominence, structure and resources to this role and its work. Currently the Diocese has five students at Holy Cross Seminary.

Under Bishop Gaines and Bishop Browne a number of discussion papers have been prepared; proposals made; and consultation processes entered into. However, little or nothing has changed in respect of the organisation of the parishes, and the number of Sunday Masses offered. During the same period priests have died, retired or continued to minister past the age of 75.

The introduction of overseas priests under Bishop Denis has seen priests from the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, a Diocese in the Philippines and Switzerland invited to the diocese.

A series of three meetings by the strategy planning committee since January 2014, has led to a fresh approach based around the concept of collegiality. The view is that focussing on collegiality can re-energise the diocese, especially the priests, as it looks to planning for immediate and longer term needs.

About the Personnel within the Diocese

A quick look at information about the age range of the Bishop and priests indicates a substantial weighting in the older age groups. This point is highlighted by four of the priests being 75 years of age or older and still in active ministry. Of these four, two are known to wish to retire immediately or by the end of 2014. A further three priests are 70 years of age or older and still in active ministry

“Prudent planning requires that we find out as soon as possible when these priests would like to retire,” the strategic plan says.

The six priests in the 60-69 age range are expected to indicate sooner rather than later at what age they would prefer to retire

“We are very fortunate to have seven priests in active retired ministry who are prepared to help out (within certain limits).”

The 10 priests in the 40-49 age range is seen by the committee as being significant.

It’s suggested that deployment of the deacons needed to be done more effectively. Indications are that two ordinations can be expected in the next few years

“Prudent planning requires that we find out from the religious orders which currently have priests in the diocese, as to their ongoing commitment to the diocese,” the plan says.

FEATURE

People across the Hamilton Diocese will be getting to know new parishioners as part of a strategic plan invoking the spirit of neighbourliness.

Who Is My Neighbour? (Luke 10;29)The Hamilton Diocesan Strategic Plan 2014-15

A draft of the Hamilton Diocesan Strategic Plan 2014-15 has been released for discussion. The plan was brought together by a Hamilton Diocesan Strategic Planning Committee. Monsignor Trevor P. Murray, Father Darren McFarlane and Carole Fleming were appointed by Bishop Denis Browne as the committee’s coordinators. The latest document recognises that a number of reviews have been undertaken over the years; meetings held with priests and lay people; and discussion papers have been prepared. However, little has changed regarding either the organisation of parishes or the number of Sunday Masses offered.

The current approach has taken into account this previous work but has also taken as its inspiration the teaching and emphasis of Pope Francis, with his emphasis since his election on the need to return to the work and spirit of Vatican II.

“Francis has focused on collegiality, with a desire to collaborate honestly and transparently with the worldwide Conferences of Bishops,” say Msgr Murray and Fr Darren. They also note this does not preclude the Pope’s right to act alone.

“We believe this focus on collegiality can re-energise the diocese, especially the priests, as it looks to planning not only for the future but also, more pressingly, for today.”

As a result, the plan is based on the need to work collegially in the diocese – bishop with priests; priests with priests; and priests with parishioners.

Note in this context, “collegiality” has come from the Vatican II reference to “college” in terms of the relationship between pope and bishops. Today, this term refers to the shared responsibility for the whole Church by the whole people of God.

Current Pastoral AreasAn examination of the current pastoral areas,

parishes and communities shows an apparent poor deployment of priestly resources.

The position of the diocese’s current pastoral areas, parishes and communities is as follows:Total number of pastoral areas 13Total number of parishes 36Total number of communities (NOT parishes) where Sunday Mass is celebrated regularly 13Total number of priests in active ministry in parishes and communities 32Total number of priests in active ministry in the diocese 32

The numbers above show how there are currently 13 pastoral areas where two or more parishes are cared for by one or more priests. Additionally, there are nine “independent” parishes (those parishes not in a pastoral area) with one or more priests. Hamilton City stands out for the number of priests and the number of regular Sunday Masses.

Carole Fleming

Fr. Trevor Murray

Msgr. Darren McFarlane


Consultation ProcessA consultation process will run for a finite time and will include meetings with:1. The priests2. With priests and parish leadership people3. With parishes

New Collegial AreasThe new collegial areas are mostly based

on geography and most consist of two or three parishes/communities.

Each new collegial area constitutes an independent unit that, where possible, will use the priests within that unit to supply one another’s holidays, absences for sickness or emergencies.

Priests and people of each area will need to enter into discussion around the number of Masses, Mass times, etc so that a parish within the collegial area can be cared for by one priest.

The new collegial areas will be the primary group for the priests within that area, who will be required to meet ‘regularly’ for discussion prayer, social gatherings.

The Whaia te Whaea ministry, currently the Maori Missionary Team, will become a collegial area in its own right

New ParishesThe merging of existing parishes into new parishes is seen as having the advantage of one administrative structure. The plan stresses that no church is expected to close, unless there are mitigating circumstances.

Where there are two or more priests in a new parish they may wish to live in the community or prefer to live in an existing presbytery.

Consultation and discussion are expected to happen between existing parishes that will form a newly merged parish.

Schools and Boards of TrusteesThe plan proposes that the priests in the

new parishes will continue to offer pastoral care and liturgical leadership to the schools. It adds that thought should be given as to whether it is realistic to expect priests to serve on Boards of Trustees.

The mechanisms established for consultations will parishioners, priests and other interested parties an opportunity to have an input on the plan.

FEATURE

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What Will the New Order Look Like? New Collegial Areas – New Parishes

Cambridge/Tokoroa includes: l Cambridge, Matamata l Putaruru, Tokoroa l Tyburn Montastery

Gisborne/Opotiki/Whakatane includes: l Opotiki, Kawerau, Te Kaha l Whakatane, Matata,Edgecumbe l Gisborne, Matawai, Tokomaru Bay, Tologa Bay

Hamilton Central includes: l Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fairfield, Hillcrest, Melville l Atawhai Mercy Assisi l Waikato Hospital l Waikato University Chaplaincy

Hamilton North includes: l Frankton, Te Rapa, Raglan and Te Mata l Huntly, Ngaruawahia, Te Kauwhata, Springhill Prison

Morrinsville/Waihi includes: l Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Paeroa l Waihi, Waihi and Waihi Beach, Whangamata, Katikati

Rotorua/Taupo includes: l Taupo, Turangi, Rangipo Prison l Saint Mary’s, Saint Michael’s

Taumarunui/Te Awamutu includes: l Taumarunui, Te Kuiti, Piopio l Te Awamutu, Otorohanga, Kawhia, Waikeria Prison

Tauranga/Mount Maunganui includes: l Tauranga, Te Puna l Mount Maunganui, Te Puke

Whaia te Whaea includes: l Hui Te Rangiora l Poroporo, Maketu, Matakana l Ngaputahi, Murupara l Little Waihi

The table below provides an outline of parishes before and after the changes.

The plan notes that this data makes clear that the diocese has reached a crisis point in respect of personnel and parishes. Action is required now, and a new way forward needs to embrace a comprehensive approach to the issues.

Current Pastoral Areas, Parishes and 13 Total number of new Collegial Areas 9 Communities

Total number of parishes 36 Total number of parishes by 31 December 2015 17

Total number of communities (NOT parishes) Total number of communities where Sunday Mass is celebrated regularly 13 where Sunday Mass is celebrated regularly 9

Total number of priests in active ministry in Total number of priests in active ministry parishes and communities 32 in the diocese 32

Total number of priests in active ministry Total number of priests in active ministry in the diocese 32 in the Collegial Areas 26

Total of priests in active ministry available for re-assignment or supply work 6

Current Pastoral Areas, Parishes and Communities @ 2014

Proposed New Collegial Areas – New Parishes @ 31 December 2015

Date Activity 11 February 2014 Priests’ Council meeting March-April 2014 Initial information meetings Post Easter 2014 consultations 31 December 2014 Completion of process for the majority of parishes 31 December 2015 Completion of process for the last of the parishes

As a result, the planning team members are proposing the following approach:

New Collegial Areas – New ParishesThe current deaneries will be disestablished

and new collegial areas and new parishes established. The new collegial areas will be given an ecclesiastical name. In principle, no church, where regular Sunday Mass is presently celebrated, will close, unless there are mitigating circumstances.

Where a newly merged parish is established, it’s suggested a new name be given.

How will the decisions around this be made?

The plan proposes that the establishment of the new collegial areas and newly merged parishes be a decision made at the diocesan level. The make-up of the new collegial areas will be decided at the diocesan level.

TimelineThe timeline currently being followed for the

next 21 months:

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FREE INTRODUCTION MEETING AND CONSULTATION


By Theresa Watene

Living the Dream was the theme of our fabulous fundraiser for our new church.

On Thursday 3 April at 7.15 p.m. the doors of the Wallace Gallery Morrinsville opened. We were prepared; we had plenty of food parishioners had given to us. We had volunteers from our parish everywhere: at the door with the tickets, at the bar, serving food, in the kitchen, selling raffle tickets, and even one person attending a basketful of Adriatic figs.

Many beautifully attired women and a few brave men poured into the gallery. We ended up with 146 people who included the people in attendance, all of our guest speakers [including Annah Stretton’s group of nine people], our 14 helpers, our master of ceremonies, the gallery director, and the organiser.

MC Anton Heynes, Deputy Principal of St Joseph’s school, was most entertaining and kept our evening running smoothly and on time.

Annah Stretton is a brilliant public speaker. She

spoke to us her about her new mentor programme called RAW (Reclaiming Another Woman). She had been approached by Women’s Refuge Hamilton for corporate alignment. Annah had wanted to know more, so she asked to meet some women in refuge.

At her second meeting there were about five young women (all looking at their phones) and she asked “What would you do if you could be anything you wanted?” One, Krystal, answered “fashion designer”. Annah knew she could help with this, so she offered to take Krystal to the WINTEC End of Year Fashion Show. Annah was fully expecting Krystal not to show up, but an ‘out of sorts’ Krystal did show up and they enjoyed their evening. Annah set up a fortnightly meeting with Krystal where they could simply talk together. Annah’s intention was to guide and mentor Krystal and

perhaps show her that, with assistance, she could be anything she wanted. Annah and Krystal meet once a fortnight for at least an hour.

Annah invited Krystal to speak to us about her journey and

Krystal began by saying she is now on the straight and narrow, which made everyone applaud. She told us how in her family if you say you have a dream, you get laughed at. Yet, her younger brother told her the other day that he had a dream too, to become a policeman. Then she said ‘this is a bit embarrassing, but dad has had to go back to jail for six years.’ ‘Mum has decided to change her life too’. I could see the love between

Annah and Krystal, and they were comfortable with each other, and they joked about how Annah could be grumpy with her sometimes.

Annah also introduced us to her sister Rebecca who is now the operations manager for RAW. Annah asked Jennifer, a Te Aroha police officer, to talk to us about how rewarding being a mentor can be. Annah also introduced us to Marama who is now working for RAW and Casino who is being mentored through RAW.

Annah encouraged us all to come and talk to them about RAW, to ask questions, to see what being a mentor is about. Annah also said she felt like this was her life’s calling. Visit www.raw.org.nz/become-a-mentor and register your interest, or get in touch today, email [email protected]

Nina McGuire and Tammy Lee were our most entertaining speakers. We raised $3,250 for our new church.

We raised money, we built parish community, and we inspired and rejuvenated the people who

came along, we supported Wallace Gallery Morrinsville, we supported local business, and we had fun! We MAY do it all again in one or two years’ time.

This whole event from start to finish has been inspired by the Holy Spirit and blessed by the grace of God. Praise be to God!

PARISH NEWS

by Sandra Crashley The Feast of Christ the King has become a day

of wonderful celebration in our parish of St Mary’s Star of the Sea, Gisborne but this year it was extra special. Four years ago the idea came from Matthew’s Gospel chapter 25 verses 31-2, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him …” for our children to make the entrance before Pa Yvan carrying flags of our parishioners’ nationalities.

Initially astonished at the vast variety, each year more are added and this year 43 flags represented nations of St Mary’s parishioners in this small city of Gisborne! It is a vision of peace and splendour to the Glory of God.

Initially I imagined small flags but I had forgotten that our priest Pa Yvan Sergy was from Switzerland, a nation that exhibits flag throwing during great celebrations. Pa Yvan is a great flag thrower himself and is able to toss a large flag three metres into the air and deftly catch and twirl it as it returns. But we did not have that treat last Sunday because so much more was happening

as the parish also celebrated Pa Yvan’s 25th Anniversary of his Priesthood.

With so many nations in the parish we are fortunate that Pa Yvan is a natural linguist and we are often treated to his inclusive articulations of many languages. Fr Yvan was ordained on 19 June 1988 in Saignelegier by the late Bishop of Basle – Ordinarius Bishop Otto Wuest, a beautiful ceremony with a 1000 congregation and 81 concelebrants, one of them was Fr Lawrie Sakey of Northcote Parish, New Zealand. As Seminarian Yvan, he had spent 10 months as a pastoral placement in Northcote and after ordination returned in July 1988 to celebrate a First Mass for the kind and supportive people of that parish of St Mary’s.

In 2001 Fr Yvan became a “Fidei Donum” priest, still attached to the Bishop of his Swiss Diocese he was sent on loan to the Diocese of Hamilton, arriving in November. He stayed with Mgr Trevor Murray for six months, who helped him acquire the Kiwi culture. After being sent to Gisborne, he met Kuia Peggy Kaua and Kaumatua Jack Taitua, who introduced him to the Maori culture. Fr Yvan

so embraced Maoridom that Koro Jack honoured our Swiss priest by calling him “Pa” and that title has stuck not only with the people ‘up the coast’ but also with many of the Pakeha parish members.

His first New Year’s day in the Parish 2003, Pa Yvan introduced us to our First Dawn Mass on Midway Beach and it has been how we have greeted the rising sun of the New Year since. Stunning.

On 16 September 2006 Pa Yvan became a “proud Swiss-Kiwi” when he was made a New Zealand citizen, to celebrate that event our parish and our Maori Group presented him with a special chasuble and pounamu patu.

A very special celebration

St Joseph’s Parish Morrinsville new church fundraiser

(From left) Josiena Mourits, Elizabeth Richardson and Thea van Wyjk

(From left) Kees Meindarts, Mary Overend, Diane te Wharau and Doreen Farrelly


The NZ Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Ecumenism has welcomed two new members; Kathy Simmons from Christchurch and Richard Kerr-Bell from Dunedin, Both are also members of Te Runanga o Te Hahi Hatorika Ki Aotearoa.

A summary report on the national survey of parish

ecumenical activity has been tabled and studied.Reports were also received from the two National

Dialogues, Anglican/Catholic and Methodist/Catholic.

WhakataneA Big Thank You to the Choir and the

congregation who stayed after Mass on a recent Saturday night to provide a beautiful meal and wish me well on my retirement from the music rosters. Thank you also for the flowers and gifts. We had a very pleasant evening. I felt very honoured.” Marjorie Skiffington.

Tuesday Meals For The Hungry - We urgently need more helpers for this ministry. If this interests you, why not call in to see what is involved – between 11.30am and 1pm on Tuesdays. For more information, call Kath 853-7613 or Trish 856 6486.

EFTPOS now at the office for all payments and donations.

HillcrestSpecial Project - The special project for this

year is for a small basic house to be built in Sri Lanka (our twinned conference) at a cost of $2,500. The people of Sri Lanka have suffered 20 years of war and are still feeling the effects of the 2004 tsunami. Our first fundraising event was a

cake stall after Mass Sunday 30th March. Please help us with your support

Our Lady of Fatima Statue - Our Lady of Fatima Statue is circulating around Hillcrest. She is available by phoning Tame 8493928 or phone the church office Wednesday or Thursday mornings. Mary, Mother of God pray for us.

RotoruaEternal Rest - Our beloved young parishioner,

Tara Chapman, has gone home to be with Jesus, whom she loved so much, and knew so well. Tara’s Requiem was celebrated recently, truly a faith-filled celebration. Thank you to all who prayed for Tara and supported her family in so many ways over the past year – and a particular thanks to those who helped with the lunch after the funeral.

Requiescat In Pace - We extend our sympathy and prayers to the whanau of the late Aterea Paurini Daulton Moke who was buried at the Hurunga Te Rangi Marae Ūrupa. E te Ariki hoatu ki ā ia te okiokinga tonutanga. Ā kia whiti ki a ia te māramatanga mutunga kore.

An advocacy research project Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is undertaking this year will review environmental issues in the Pacific (including Aotearoa New Zealand) and responses to them as well as proposed solutions. For further information, contact Martin de Jong;[email protected]

PARISH NEWS

Caritas reviewing environmental issues

Every Sunday morning at 8.30am “Your Catholic Corner” is broadcast on 89FM Real Community Radio. The half hour programme consists of a variety of Catholic/Christian items: prayers; bible readings; stories; news, music (sacred and pop); and interviews with Catholics of all ages.

Originally called “Visionaries of the Millennium”, the programme was initiated in 2000 by Monsignor William Duggan, then parish priest of St Matthews Hillcrest. That parish has sponsored the programme for the last 14 years as they regard it as a worthwhile evangelisation tool. Currently, five presenters compile and air the programme, in most cases live. Since its inception, more than 100 people have featured on the programme or contributed

material for its success. Since the radio station had moved to the stronger 89FM frequency, the range of the broadcast had extended over much of the diocese. Do have a listen to your programme and contributions or participation are most welcome. For more information, contact the organiser Ken Moffat, 07-856-2900

Catholic radio alive and well in diocese

James Cuming (front); Ken Moffat (behind); Julie South; Barry Pryor; John Wort; at “work” in the 89FM studio.

New members for Ecumenism Committee

Parishioners extending welcome to newcomers

Tauranga parishioners, Malcolm and Carolyn Buchanan, have recently been celebrating gaining permanent residency in New Zealand. Writing in Smile magazine, they relate the lengthy process they went through to be granted permanent residency under the parent sponsorship category. “Since our permanent residency was granted, we have made a conscious effort to become as involved as possible in parish life similar to our involvement in our old parish in Scotland, St Bride in East Kilbride. You cannot sit back and expect people to come knocking on your door.

“Since becoming involved with the St Vincent de Paul Conference, and joining the reading ministry, we have found a welcome smile and a friendly h a n d s h a k e . This we would encourage any new parishioners, is a great way to make new friends and acquaintances.”

The parish is blessed with Monsignor Frank, Fr Alex and Deacons Sid and Don. “Together with the parish office, this far exceeds our parish in East Kilbride.”

Malcolm and Carolyn would be happy to share their experience with anyone else in a similar position. The e-mail address is [email protected]

Malcolm and Carolyn Buchanan with Monsignor Frank


Te Aroha School NewsYoung Vinnies - The senior students have

had their first Young Vinnies meeting. Plans are in place to begin a few activities that will be of benefit for others. We thank Miss Rogers for her enthusiasm and commitment to this group.

Homes of Interest Day - Thank you to the P.T.A and helpers, including several past pupils and parents who helped make the Te Aroha Homes of Interest Day a success.

Paeroa School NewsThe family bike and sausage sizzle evening was

a great success with everyone having a good time. The bike trail is a fabulous asset for the Paeroa community.

A big thank you to the van Hellemond family for allowing us to use their property.

AquinasMusical Production 2015 - We were thrilled to

receive the news last week that we have been given the rights for the Musical ‘Oliver’ for next year’s production. At this stage it is anticipated to be

in early May. The great part of this show is that it will involve a large number of people. We will no doubt be looking to the community for support in various ways as the Production draws closer.

Campion CollegeInternational Languages -

Campion College has entered into a partnership with the other local secondary schools to provide international languages for students. This is a trial year to see whether the mechanics of moving students to other schools is realistic. If the trial works it is the intention of the schools to develop this initiative further in 2015.

Sacred Heart Girls’ CollegeFiona Murphy, the Director Future Focused

Learning, attended the Religious Studies Congress in Anaheim, California, in March. The theme was Hope: A World Afire, and the event was attended by 30,000 Catholics. Of the 200 workshops available, Fiona was able to attend valuable workshops around Social Justice, Papal Messages

and Catholic Education in Secondary Schools. Her truip was part of the Board of Trustees staff scholarship.

St John’s CollegeAthletics Sports Day 2014 video – A video on

the college website highlights was turned around to a day to be remembered for records broken at the annual athletics sports day. Amazingly five records were broken on the day, three on the track and two in the field. We also broke a Javelin and a high jump bar. We even broke two boys, with an ambulance having to come and tend to two hip injuries, one at the long jump and one at the triple. http://www.stjohns-hamilton.school.nz/News/Athletics-Day-2014

John Paul CollegeHuge fundraising success for the Solomons

- Parents, students and supporters of John Paul College, have been thanked for an amazing response to the Relay for Water, held on 8 April. Students raised over $8000 for the Solomon Islands. This money will be sent to Caritas Aotearoa, to be used in the Solomon Islands.

SCHOOL NEWS

LEAVING A LEGACY FOR THE FUTURE

Helps fund the Chaplains in the prisons, hospitals and

universities; youth initiatives;teacher religious education

training; Proud to be Catholic

programmes;and Sacramental Programmes.

A gift in your Willis a simple and enduring way

to benefi t future generations of the

Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.No gift is too small to make a

signifi cant difference.

Booklet Guideavailable from your Parish or from

the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, Chanel Centre, HamiltonPhone: 0800 843 233 Email: [email protected]

On Friday 21 March we had a morning of making and baking. We made three types of truffles and baked shortbread, and made bookmarks and coloured tissue paper flowers. We made approximately 350 truffles, 130 shortbread, 40 bookmarks and 40 paper flowers. As a class we decided to give these handmade treats to the 98 residents at St Joan’s Rest Home and Hospital and also to someone else in our life that helps us out and is important to us. It was a wonderful gesture and really part of bringing the spirit of Lent alive for them.

Here are some of the children’s reflections after giving the baking to someone special they chose.

“When I knocked on the door of Collin and Carol’s house to give my goodies to them it cheered them up

as they had just come home from a funeral. It made me feel like I was the one who was getting given the treats.” Ashley Baird

“When I gave the bag of truffles, shortbread and the bookmark to my old neighbour Patricia her voice softened and she got a bit emotional. This made me feel good inside.” Connor Stuart

“When I gave the bag of treats and a bookmark to our neighbours Jenny and Gary they were really thankful. They invited me inside onto the couch to talk with them. I felt really good inside.” Reuben Lovell

Rhonda McFarlane, Acting DRS, St Joseph’s School, Fairfield

Almsgiving Lenten Commitment at St Joseph’s


by Emma Hesqua

June 18th 2014Too many words could describe how I felt that

day. Anger, frustration and shock are some of the emotions I was feeling. It’s not every day you get a phone call from your mother while you’re at work telling you that you’re moving to Dallas, Texas, to live with your father and his wife. The father you haven’t seen in 10 years since your parents’ divorce.

My name is Alison Destiny Trueblood. I’m a 16-year-old girl who lives in Los Angeles with her alcoholic mother and this is my story.

April 30th 2013“Have you got everything? Hairbrush,

toothbrush, spare clothes?” my mother asked while fussing about. I rolled my eyes, “Mum I have everything stop fussing.” This woman is driving me insane. “Okay honey, now remember to call me once you get there alright, and tell your father I say hi,” she said while hugging me.

“Yes mum, but I don’t want to live with him. He abandoned me when I needed him most and I haven’t seen him since I was six. What make you think he even remembers me or even cares?”

“Alison, we’ve been over this. You’re going to Dallas to live with your father, end of story.” She kissed me, gave me one last hug. I grumbled a ‘bye’ and stalked off, dragging my bags behind me. Uh! She-devil of a mother, I thought as I stalked away.

The flight to Dallas took about three hours; by the time I arrived it was about 5:00am in the morning, I was tired, I felt like a zombie when I walked off the plane.

May 1stAs I was waiting for my luggage, someone said

my name. “Alison?” I turned to see a tall slim figure with long blonde hair and pale skin, she smiled at me. “Hi, I’m Katrina, I’m here to pick you up and take you home,” she said smiling.

“How do you know me?” I asked, getting my bags while staring at her. She looked like she was in her late twenties or early thirties.

“I’m your dad’s wife,” she said.Say WHAT!? How the hell is she my dad’s

wife? My dad’s either in his late thirties or forties. I must have been staring at her very long, because she just sighed then smiled again.

What’s with all this smiling? I asked myself.“Come on. You must be tired from your long

flight,” she said, taking my bags from me before walking out of the airport. I quickly went after her then saw her standing by a black SUV. Nice car. As we drove, Katrina kept talking about how I was going to like it here, how beautiful the scenery was, how big dad’s house was and so on. I could tell she just wanted to make conversation but I was too tired. My mind was shutting down and, before I knew it, darkness had taken over.

I don’t know how long we drove but by the time I stirred, I managed to see a big iron gate in front of a very large house No not a large house, a

mansion. A freaking mansion! Once out of the car I saw a man waiting for us, my dad. He looked so different to when I last saw him but, then again, the last I saw him was 10 years ago. Walking up the steps leading towards the house, I stopped in front of him not knowing what to say. “Alison,” he said, giving me an awkward hug.

Okay I admit the house was neat, big and had an empty feeling but was still cozy. “Do you like it?” asked dad. I just nodded, too tired to speak. How the hell was I supposed to climb all those stairs and find my room? My body slumped, just thinking about it. “Come, I’ll show you your room,” said Katrina.

It had seemed like ages before we reached the top, but actually Katrina had to drag me up most of the stairs. My room was huge, with dark purple and black painted walls, a balcony, a large desk and cupboards. I even had my very own bathroom but the thing that caught my eye was the bed, it was big with satin sheets, awesome.

May 2nd Beep, beep. Ugh! I rolled over waving my

hand madly trying to stop the beeping. The sun streaked through the curtains lighting up the room. I blinked several times before turning looking at the clock. 7:30 am the clock read, May 2. My eyes widened, I slept the whole day through. Walking downstairs I was hit with an intoxicating smell… coffee. Following the smell I was led to the kitchen. “Morning sweetheart” said dad. I just grunted pouring me coffee; Katrina walked in smiling at me then walked over to my dad kissing him on the lips. Ew! I shuddered then walked out of the kitchen.

Once my coffee was done, I decided to explore the place I was about to open the door when my dad stopped me. “Alison wait, I just want to talk.” I turned, looking at him, not really wanting to talk to him. “What is there to talk about,” I snapped.

“Now Alison I’m still your father…” but I cut him off.

“No, you lost the right to be my father when you abandoned your family and married someone else.” I was shouting now, tears were stinging my eyes but I would not let them fall.

“Ally, look I know that you’re feeling hurt, but I never meant to abandon you. It’s just…”

“You don’t know how I feel! You don’t know anything. Did you know I got picked on at school because of the divorce that the only way to deal with the pain was to cut myself? My grades dropped, I became antisocial and cried myself to sleep. Mum didn’t even care. All she did was send me to a shrink. I needed you but you weren’t there! The only people who cared were my friends and now…”

I couldn’t finish, tears were already falling from my eyes. I ran and didn’t stop.

I ran across the yard not stopping until I reached a large oak tree. Taking a breath I let the tears fall until I felt the presence of another person. I quickly wiped my tears away and

turned. Katrina stood there staring at me. “What do you want?” I asked her, sniffling.

“Look Alison I know we just met and I don’t really know what you’re feeling but please just give him a chance… you never know what might happen,” she said, but seemed to whisper the last part.

Four weeks later I lost my dad to cancer on my seventeenth birthday, just as we were getting to know each other again. I miss him every single day. I wasted so much time being angry with him and now I only wish I could tell him one more time just how much I’ve always loved him.

SHORT STORYOur Last Moments

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Emma Hesqua won first prize in the Kete Korero Short Story Competition for senior students. Emma’s story was judged the most creative of the entries. The story contained good characters, and the pace and strength of the dialogue was another outstanding factor. Stories from the other placegetters will be published in subsequent editions.


Zoë Frances Hortonborn Hamilton 30 June 1912, died Auckland 30 September 2013

Zoë was the fourth daughter born to Thomas Frances Dowd and Isabella Sybil Dowd (nee Kelly), sister to Madeline, Freda, Mavis and Frank. From 1917 she attended the Convent School in Hamilton East, run by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, and subsequently Sacred Heart Girls College, where she studied both classical and commercial subjects, completing her Senior Free Place examination at age 15.

In 1927 Zoë commenced work in Edmund Cox solicitor’s office, and continued her studies in night classes at Hamilton Technical College, gaining top marks for the Waikato in the year she took the NZ-wide Public Service Examination. She then joined the Pig Marketing Association, becoming PA to the Chairman. As a single woman living in the emerging city of Hamilton, Zoë had an active social life, enjoying dancing, tennis, swimming and netball.

In February 1938 Zoë married William John Horton (1907–1995) in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Hamilton. The onset of war saw Bill join the Air Force, and over the next decade moving around RNZAF bases in or near Auckland, Wellington and Nelson, training air and ground crew. It was during this “mobile” period of their lives, from 1941 to 1950, that Zoë and Bill had their four children: Annabelle, Dennis, Anthony and Christopher.

In 1952 came the last of these moves, back to Zoë’s “home base” in Hamilton. Once more on home ground, and with a house of her own in Hamilton East, Zoë blossomed. She was the inaugural president of the Sacred Heart Old

Girls’ Association and served many years on the executive of that body. She presided at the first Old Girls’ Reunion on 15 October 1955.

She had been a foundation member of the Catholic Women’s League in Hamilton when it was established on 10 August 1939, and served as president from 1968 to 1971 and again from 1980 to 1982, in addition to many years on the Executive. She compiled and published a brief history of the Hamilton Branch of the League at the time of its 50th Jubilee in 1989. She was also a founder member of the “Homemakers” circle of the League, a life member of the CWL and was active and vocal as a league delegate to the Hamilton branch of the National Council of Women

She was a keen follower of rugby, both the All Blacks and Waikato, listening to coverage of Ranfurly Shield matches on radio while ironing on a Saturday afternoon.

When the children had left home, and after years of caring for her invalid mother, Zoë returned to work, this time as a secretary in the library at Waikato University. She thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and the sociability of these later years of work, the extra reward being some long delayed overseas travel with Bill, including visits to son Anthony and his family on postings to Samoa, Canada and Japan, and the opportunity to share time with Annabelle and Christopher and their families in Australia. She wrote and had published three carefully researched family histories, well before genealogy had become a popular and accessible pastime.

A witness to more than a century of growth and change, both in her beloved Hamilton, New Zealand and the wider world, Zoë had a strong and enquiring mind, expressing her well-reasoned

opinions with force and clarity. To the end, she could make an observation or a recollection with animation and humour, acknowledging and respecting these strengths in others. Zoë died peacefully on September 30 2013 at Mercy Parklands Hospital in Ellerslie, Auckland. Bishop Denis and Fr Dan Johns celebrated her Requiem Mass on Saturday 5 October before her burial alongside her husband Bill in the Hamilton East Cemetery.

A witness to more than a century of growth

Father J Williams 1912-1913

Father Williams was a Parish Priest for less than two years, but in that time he founded the Celtic Sports Club which was to become the nucleus of the convent building fund and was probably involved in the building of the Manunui Church.

However, this young priest was struck down with

leukaemia aged only 31. After the diagnosis, he was unable to return to Taumarunui and died in Auckland on 16 November 1913.

The whole town shut up shop for the duration of the Requiem Mass which coincided with a similar Mass in Auckland. Perhaps the Anglican Minister’s tribute in a sermon to his parishioners sums up Father Williams attributes.

“His self-sacrificing labours, his unfailing geniality and kindness were held up as a pattern for imitation and his geniality and friendliness never stood in the way if the exercise of his sacred office, for he was above everything, a Priest”.

A plaque in his memory was placed on the side of the convent.

OBITUARIES

THE PIONEER TOTAL ABSTINENCE ASSOCIATIONAim of Association:Peace and harmony in the home

for information please contact:John Joe Lynch

15 Loch St. Remuera, Auckland 1050or Telephone: 09 522 1728 after 7.00 pm

Friendly priest fondly remembered

Pioneer Abstinence Total Abstinence AssociationOn 1 March 2014 members of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association from the Auckland and Hamilton Diocese met at the Tyburn Monastery at Bombay.The day commenced with Mass, followed by a meeting at which a new directorate was elected for the coming year. Plans for the growth of the Pioneers was discussed with growth Association being foremost in the plans. The members who attended the meeting are in the adjacent photo.

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At his installation Mass on 27 April 1980, in his newly consecrated cathedral church, Bishop Edward Gaines said “It is my task, as your bishop, to seek out, to support, to inspire and to gather together the work of the Spirit among the faithful, so that as one body in Christ they may be a saving light for all.” The following day he met with his priests, and announced that they would all leave the diocese for a 10 day meeting early in the new year, and in January 1981 the first Priests Assembly was held at St Mary’s Seminary, Greenmeadows.

This was the first of several occasions when Bishop Edward completely broke the mould, and instead of replicating all the structures of the original Auckland diocese, allowed the Spirit to speak through the hearts and minds first of the clergy, and then of all the people of the diocese. He had an extremely gifted group of people setting the agenda for the Assembly, priests who had fully embraced the vision of the Second Vatican Council, and their starting point was to discern the mission and ministry of the People of God ‘at this time’ ‘in this time, in this place.’

I played a small part in this Assembly as a resource person, and was present at the end when the priests, expertly guided by Jesuit priest John Reilly, articulated their vision - and immediately recognised that it was a limited vision, not inclusive of the vision what the priests had said with all the people in the parishes, and to hold a Diocesan Assembly later in the year. This Assembly, held at Waikato University in November 1981, was the culmination of Vision 81, and the beginning of a time of enthusiastic growth at both diocesan and parish level.

Two years later, in 1983 the second Assembly of Priests was held, this time in Auckland, but it was a time of spiritual renewal and retreat rather than a planning session. In 1985 Bishop Edward called together the young people of the diocese in Te Hui Ruatahi, yet another occasion where the presence of the Spirit was a powerful reality. Perhaps the most moving aspect of all these gatherings was the willingness of Bishop Edward to listen – each time he kept his own input to a minimum, and urged people to say what they really thought.

The ‘Vision’ yearsby Judith Collins

Attendees at the 1983 Assembly.KETE ARCHIVES

The process was simple – what does it mean to be the Church? what is our mission and our ministry? how do we do this, and what support and resources do we need? The answers to those questions would dictate the diocesan structures.

And that is pretty much what happened as the Pastoral Resource Centre, Youth Ministry, and a number of activities and resources expanded to assist parishes and schools to make the vision a reality.

Bishop Edward was often perceived as quite authoritarian, but in none of these vision gatherings was he anything but attentive and encouraging. At the youth hui he moved everyone almost to tears when he stood up at the end of a long day of prayer, reflection and hard work, and said simply “ You are beautiful”. Not his usual turn of speech, but true nonetheless.

In 1987 Bishop Edward called not another Assembly but a formal

Synod, held in the Cathedral the following year in 1988. Many of the same people attended, hoping to take the whole process a step further, and sort out some of the things that had stalled as time went by. It didn’t really work, the ‘boardroom’ style process was intimidating, and inevitably many of the initiatives of the early years had been institutionalised and shifted from ‘mission’ to ‘maintenance’.

The first years of the Hamilton diocese were an exciting time, and I have always been impressed that so many of the people who gathered for those early assemblies are still deeply involved in the life of the church. Those who have died are remembered with love.

Judith Collins worked for the Diocese of

Hamilton from 1981 – 2006. At different

times she worked in the Pastoral

Resource Centre, the Social Justice

office, and Catholic Communications.

The early years of the Diocese of Hamilton were a time of vision, and quite deliberately so.

SEMINARY APPEALCatholic Diocese of Hamilton

The SeminaryHoly Cross Semina r y i s s i t u a t e d i n P o n s o nby, Auckland and is the National Seminary for the training of Diocesan clergy. Holy Cross is home of our 6 Seminarians training for the priesthood. We have 35 parishes in the Hamilton Diocese and only 32 priests in active parish ministry. Some parishes need 2 priests. We need more priests in the diocese.

‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest’ (Mt 9:35-38) ... ... the prayer which Jesus asks of the Church therefore concerns the need to increase the number of those who serve his Kingdom... Therefore every vocation, even within the variety of

Pope Francis’MessageFor the 51st World Day of Prayer for Vocations Dear Brothers and Sisters,

paths, always requires an exodus from oneself in order to centre one’s life on Christ and on his Gospel. Both in married life and in the forms of religious consecration, as well as in priestly life, we must surmount the ways of thinking and actng that do not conform to the will of God. I ask you bishops, priests, Christian communities and families to orient vocatinon pastoral planning in this direction.

THE SEMINARY FORMATION PROGRAMMEWhat it costs - Costs are substantial. This year costs are expected to be around $45,000 per Seminarian, currently we have 6 Seminarians. Their costs cover Seminary/Good Shepherd College overheads, meals, accommodation, text books, course fees, telephone/internet, power, insurance, day trips ..... These costs are funded largely by the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, plus any donations. For this reason the diocese is requesting your help.TAX REBATE: Generally individuals can now claim one third of their charitable donations up to the level of their annual taxable income excl. the donations (please refer www.ird.govt.nz/individual/tax/credits). Donors must present receipts. Companies/Organisations are also able to claim a tax credit, see (www.ird.govt.business/tax/expenses)Disclaimer: The Catholic Diocese of Hamilton cannot provide advice to you on the tax implications of donations. Please contact your tax professional for advice on your specific situation.

“...they followed Him... they know His voice”

(John 10: 14)

Supporting seminarians

Dear friendsThank you in advance for

your generosity in supporting this year’s Seminary Appeal.

Our seminarians really appreciate your support, as they discern their vocation and God willing journey towards the Priesthood.

Please do remember our seminarians in your prayers, for men discerning a vocation and many more Priestly Vocations for our Diocese and for New Zealand.

Thank you for your assistance and support.

Kind regards and God bless - Fr. Eamon Kennedy, Vocations Director


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kete korero may 2014

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