Kete korero November 2018

ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

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The official publication of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton November 2018 - January 2019

Catholic family's values

Synod celebrates young people's faith Teams approach to marriage Hamilton Dove birthday Pilgrimage to Home of Compassion School winter sports

Meals for hungry

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ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

bishop’s message Synod celebrates young people's faith For all of October, I was one of over 260 bishops in Rome for the Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. We gathered with a large group of young people from around the world, as well as a number of lay people, men and women religious and priests. The Synod was the most recent step in a consultation and discernment process that began with the international survey of young people last year of which some 2000 were young New Zealanders.

Earlier this year, a pre-Synod meeting of young people from around the world was held in Rome. The meeting also had provision for on-line connection so that young people from all locations could contribute.

A working document, the Instrumentum Laboris, was prepared following these events to be the starting point of our discussion and reflection. From this month-long Synod, we have now prepared our own document that we have presented to Pope Francis. What has been the norm in the past is that he will now write his own post-Synodal document to the Church.

Our final Synodal document used the image of the two disciples walking to Emmaus.

It is the same image we have used in our Diocese for the With Hearts Burning spiritual and pastoral reflection process. So much of what we have reflected on in the Diocese is what was discussed in the Synod. We are called to be a Church that goes out or, as we said, to offer a ministry of presence. We are called to be a Church that listens. We are called to be a Church that accompanies. We are a Church that is called to mission. We see these moments in Jesus, listening, accompanying and sending. If we recognise these moments in Christ, then they should be normative in the Church and indeed in every follower of Christ. This is how faith is passed on. We share our experience of faith and our understanding of faith to those whom we meet.

I attended the canonisation of Pope Paul VI while in Rome. In 1975, 10 years after the close of the Second Vatican Council, he issued a Post-Synodal document, Evangelii Nuntiandi, on evangelisation in the modern world. He wrote that he wanted “to make the Church of the twentieth century ever better fitted for proclaiming the Gospel to the people of the twentieth century.” The Synod held last month is about this same mission of Jesus.

Our With Hearts Burning is about this same mission, to proclaim the Gospel to the people of our time.

On the day I wrote this I was discussing the Synod with the Bishop of Luxembourg, one of the micro-countries of Europe. I suggested to him that maybe 95 per cent of the young people in our Diocese don’t come to Mass. He recounted something similar, but then he asked some startling questions, “Do your people miss the young people? Or have they become so used to ‘their’ Mass and ‘their’ parish the way they want it they don’t notice that the young people are not there?” That is one side of the coin.

The other side of the coin is that so many of the young people who do come to Mass in our Diocese are amazing. In my meetings with you, I love your passion for your faith and how you support each other in faith. I love your joy for life and how you are seeking a deeper life of prayer. You, young people, are the successors to the likes of Mary of Nazareth who was young, and successors to the apostles, the young men Jesus called to follow him and Mary Magdalene, the young woman who was the Apostle to the Apostles.

This small group of young people were the instruments Jesus used to form the Church.

Our amazing young people give us the opportunity to bring about a new Pentecost to our Diocese to once more set hearts burning 2000 years on.

In this issue...

Read it online!

www.proudtobecatholic.org.nz Bishop’s Message Synod celebrates young people's faith

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Features Supporting Bishop's Annual Appeal in challenging times 3 From Rotorua to Abu Dhabi - Maureen set to represent New Zealand at Special Olympics 3 New initiative takes Teams approach to marriage 5 Reasons women seek abortions 7 Abortion law review 7 Our pilgrimage to the Home of Compassion 8 Te Hikoi ki Poneke ki te Kainga Atawhai 8 Bernie Mahar finds family through Home of Compassion link 9 Displacement and Catholic Social Teaching - A case study 13 School News St John's College soaring in sport Sport alive and well at Sacred Heart College Campion College sports teams enjoy tournaments Aquinas College winter sports codes buzzing Parish News Celebrating 25 years of feeding the hungry at Hamilton Cathedral Hamilton Dove Fellowship celebrates birthday The Religious Life 'Solid' Catholic values lead Josiah to religious life Daily Mass at the heart of Kilkelly family life

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Advertorial 16

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

Deadline for contributions to the next issue is 14 January 2019 Kete Korero Magazine Chanel Centre, 51 Grey St, P.O. Box 4353, Hamilton East 3247 Editor: Michael R. Smith, 5 High Street, Rotorua 3010; P.O. Box 6215, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua 3010 At: 07 349 4107, 0272096861, kete@cdh.org.nz Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/KeteFb Videos: http://tinyurl.com/ketekorero Sponsorship and advertising: David Barrowclough, C-/ Chanel Centre 0800 843 233 Fax 07 8567035 or email: cdf@cdh.org.nz Layout: Business Media Services Ltd, 5 High Street, Rotorua 3010 Design: Sandy Thompson, Advocate Print Ltd, 248 Fenton Street, Rotorua 3010.

Printing: Beacon Print Ltd, 5 Pohutu Street, Whakatane 3120 ISSN: (print) 2357-2221 & (online) 2357-223X Cover Photos (Top) Brother Jonathan Kilkelly and his parents Gabrielle and Matthew. (Below from left) Peter and Penny Cahalan, Teams; Celebrating 25 Years of Dove Hamilton; school winter sports; and Rotorua parishioners on a pilgrimage to the Home of Compassion.

ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

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feature Supporting Annual Appeal Bishop Steve Lowe s Church we are facing challenging times. Like me, many of you will feel shame at the historical sexual abuse by some priests and religious in the Church. It is a time in the life of the Church where it would be easy to walk away. That’s one option. The other is to give of oneself more and to work harder for the coming of the Kingdom. That’s the challenge for me as your Bishop and indeed for each of us in the Church.

More than ever our age needs an authentic living out of the teachings of Christ and his Church. In our own communities we are seeing the rise of homelessness and extreme poverty. We see our youth suicide rates rise and a spreading drug culture.

We see mental health issues increasing as people find it increasingly difficult to cope with the pressures in modern society.

In last year’s Church survey of young people seven of the ten challenges they faced were related to stress, fear or mental health issues.

And at the same time the number of non-believers in New Zealand has grown to 42%.

That’s why, since becoming your Bishop, I have wanted to focus on the spiritual life and responding to the needs in our communities.

Last year, $60,000 was given through my Bishop’s Appeal to assist me in responding to these and many other needs.

Thank you to all those who gave so generously. This money was used to support our Diocesan Youth Team and their outreach to bring Christ to our young people across the Diocese.

We have some amazing young people and I love being able to meet with them at Diocesan and local events to encourage them in their faith journey.

Maureen off to Special Olympics

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Bishop Steve Lowe invites viewers to watch the new videos.

In the same way, we have amazing social workers at Catholic Family Support Services and chaplains working in our hospitals and prisons. Every day, these people are ministering to people at the most vulnerable times in their lives.

You may have seen the launch of the new video series on praying the Mass.

This initiative came as a fruit of the With Hearts Burning reflection process responding to those who don’t understand the Mass.

Families have been supported with the family camp and the introduction of Teams, a movement that strengthens couples in their spiritual life in their marriage and family.

This year has seen the arrival of a spiritual director in the Diocese who is running retreats and offering spiritual direction. These are just a few of the many initiatives offered to help people on their spiritual and life journey.

There is much to celebrate in the Diocese of Hamilton.

I humbly ask that you join with me in giving of yourself in the work of building the faith community in your parish and in the Diocese by your time, talent and treasure. As part of this can I ask you to please prayerfully consider supporting my initiatives in the Diocese by your support of this year’s Bishop’s Appeal.

May Christ the Good Shepherd bless you and your family.

R

otorua’s Maureen McLeod is not only an active participant at St Mary’s Church each Sunday, but she is also set to represent New Zealand.

Maureen has been selected to represent her country at the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games (WSG) in Abu Dhabi.

It is held every four years and will be the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world, with 7,000 athletes taking part.

She will play for the Special Olympics New Zealand football team at the March event. Another Rotorua athlete, Ruaumoko Pukepuke, will play in the basketball team.

Stella McLeod, the 29-yearold’s mother, is Special Olympics Rotorua’s sports co-ordinator and plans to attend the WSG as a spectator.

There was a delay in naming the football team as it will take part in a seven-a-side “unified” tournament, so needed to select four players without intellectual disabilities to play along side the other six team members.

Maureen started playing football in Year 8 at John Paul College, which she attended after attending St Mary’s Catholic School in her

Maureen (front left) with the other members of the Special Olympics NZ World Summer Games football team. (3 coaches and ten players) primary years. At St Mary’s she played cricket and basketball.

Maureen joined Special Olympics when she was eight years old and has competed in three National Summer Games in tenpin, basketball and football.

Stella and Stephen, along with daughters Maureen and Krystal, attend 5 pm Sunday Mass at St Mary’s Church, where Maureen has been regularly rostered on as an altar server since 2002 and enjoys singing with the choir at other times.

The cost of sending each athlete to the WSG is set at $12,500, including three training camps in New Zealand and time spent acclimatising in the Middle East heat before the games start. The team is away for three weeks, with the WSG taking place from the 1421 of March.

Fundraising is underway, and any donations are gratefully received.

For more information, contact Stella McLeod at: stellamcleod@gmail.com

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ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

parish news Celebrating 25 years of feeding the hungry

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ne woman – Kath Kenrick - in the Cathedral Parish is credited with coordinatng the provision of a hot meal once-a-week for the needy for the past

25 years.

This milestone was celebrated in late August with a Mass, which recognised all the men and women who have enabled this mission over the years, with a special mention of those who have died and those who could not attend. This was followed by a celebratory finger-food lunch donated by Kate’s Cuisine.

Back in 1993, a small group of concerned parishioners wanted to address the issue of people living on the streets.

This outreach had started in Frankton in 1992 at the St George Anglican church Hall - now the site of the Good George Pub – and was launched a year later at the Cathedral Centre after having to convince Fr Playfair of the need.

As a result, Deacon Mike Ryan, with Sister Anne Marie (Assisi Order), Charlie Smith, Brian Lovett (St Matthew’s Parish), Mr Vink, Mr Burbery and Kath Kenrick (St Vincent de Paul) formed the Convent Group with the aim of supplying hot food on a weekly basis to anyone in need.

Other key people in the early days included Norm and Val Mildon, Sister Declan, Sister Edwina (Mercy Order), Sister Marie (Assumption Order) and Brian Marquand.

Vegetable garden Norm Mildon established a huge vegetable garden at the then Chanel Centre on Morrinsville Road and recruited some of our regular diners to help him tend and harvest the produce.

Meanwhile, Charlie Smith, Brian Lovett and Brian Marquand regularly went door knocking requesting contributions of meat and bread to supplement the meals. Their natural charm resulted in donations of pies, sausages, vegetables and buns, week after week.

The meals have continued to this day with generous donations of food and cash from our cook volunteers, schools and parishioners. It is estimated that 55,000 hot meals have been served over these years and despite not knowing how many people to expect each week, no one has ever been turned away hungry.

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Kath Kenrick serving a hot-meal - something she has done for the past quarter of a century.

Gift of flowers reflects dedicated service

Probably the most significant gift has been from the cathedral staff and the various priests over the years who have had to tolerate weekly interruptions to their office routine with our meal preparations and serving of meals to our visitors in the adjoining part of the Parish Centre.

However, it is to be noted that Kath’s great organisational skills has kept this venture going, from recruiting members to cook, setting up the roster, and streamlining the flow in the kitchen.

The 47 former and current volunteers present at the celebration, agreed that it was a pleasure to work alongside Kath, dishing up hot food (always potatoes, vegetables and a meat dish) for the needy as they passed by the sideboard in the Parish Centre.

Kath was presented with a certificate of appreciation and flowers for her dedicated service and it is likely she will continue to do so.

In response Kath was adamant that without the wonderful people who had offered to help out over the years, this venture may not have survived this long.

As one person had told her “It was easy to come in once every six weeks to do the job and leave after an hour, with no further commitments or meetings!”

Kath Kenrick receives her gift of flowers and a Marianna Morgan certificate in recognition of her work over 25 On behalf of Hamilton Dove Team years of dedicated service.

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ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

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feature New initiative takes Teams approach to marriage Michael Smith reating a team approach to marriage in the twenty-first century is the aim of a new project in the Hamilton Catholic Diocese.

“Teams” is an international lay movement of married Christian couples. Joe Hogan, the diocese Marriage and Family Life Animator, is leading the introduction of Teams here, with assistance from the Australian-based Oceania superregion of the movement.

Penny and Peter Cahalan from the Australian arm of Teams visited New Zealand in July and late August to introduce the concept and help Joe establish groups.

They told Kete Korero that Teams were not a prayer group and nor were they therapy for couples, although group members pray and listen to each other. Teams meetings have an underlying element of spirituality and an opportunity for married people to talk with each other and share with other couples.

A priest or other religious attends but as part of the group rather than as a moderator.

The structure of the process is that before the meeting the couple sits down and discuss aspects of their life together over the past month.

The couples in the group then have dinner and share their reflections from the “sit-down”. The religious person who is part of the group can also share aspects of his/her life and join the discussion.

“The meeting is about the couple coming to share something of their lives over a meal with a time of prayer,” Penny says.

Couples are asked to practise the skill of “reflective listening”, particularly when they are meeting as husband and wife before each meeting. They are asked to: • listen with a “still tongue” to avoid interrupting their partners

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•

listen with a “quiet mind” rather than thinking what their answer is going to be, and • listen with an “open heart” to withhold judgement.

“We take these aspects into the meeting, so everybody has a turn at sharing around the table," Penny says. Rather than having a free-flowing discussion in which the noisy and the extroverted have plenty to say, but the quiet and the introverted are unable to be heard, this format provides an opportunity to share their lives with respect and love.

The meal provides a sacramental quality to the meeting, Peter says.

“We are sharing the bread of our life story, and eating seems to provide its own sense of community.”

A Simple Meal Teams ideally meeting around a table, but it is a movement that is open, so as to ensure that nobody is excluded. The meal is always inexpensive and simple, with members told to avoid providing anything lavish, even if they can. A discussion around a specific topic follows, and the meeting ends with a prayer and time of reflection.

“It’s a very simple movement and a very gentle movement,” Penny says. “It doesn’t ask a lot of people regarding their life and effort outside the practice of sitting down and meeting.”

Although not an “activist” movement, Teams provides active couples with a place for quiet reflection they might not have access to elsewhere in their busy lives.

The sit-down before the meeting is the real focus, as most marriage counsellors say that the thing that holds couples together is active communication.

“It’s not about what the kids have been doing or how I’m going at work,” says Penny. “It’s about

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Peter and Penny Cahalan (left) with Hamilton Catholic Diocese Marriage and Family Life Animator Joe Hogan and Deacon Ben Pomare and his wife Maria at St Michael's Church in Rotorua. what I’m feeling about life and my relationship and how I am feeling about my faith. A good sit-down is where you feel listened to by your husband or wife, and you feel that they are hearing you. Often, we don’t feel heard by those closest to us.”

At the initiative of Bishop Steve Lowe, Australian couples involved in Teams visited the diocese to explain what the movement was about, how it worked and whether parishioners wanted to be part of this new development.

Two teams in Mount Maunganui, two in Hamilton and another in Taupo were expected to be formed initially. There is interest in forming several other teams in the diocese and in Auckland. Each team in New Zealand will have a pilot couple from Australia who can use Skype.

The pilot couples are all experienced Teams members. At the same time, Penny and Peter are aware that this long-distance piloting is something of an experiment for the Oceania movement. Yet that’s how the movement started in Australia. The first team in Melbourne was piloted by slow-mail from Paris. “So in one sense we’ve just turned full circle – only the means of communication are a lot faster, better and more informal these days,” says Peter.

Penny and Peter joined the movement in 1980 and had seen changes in the makeup of Teams in that time.

Teams work well for young married couples, but those who may have divorced or be widows or widowers remain members, as Teams are an ideal support system.

The changing nature of society over time has also seen a rise in the number of couples where either one of the partners may not be a Catholic. The role of the spiritual

companions also offers a gentle balance in helping prevent the groups from becoming a social get together.

Penny says the structure in the Hamilton Diocese is such that it is favourable to the introduction of Teams. Bishop Steve had appointed Joe Hogan as Marriage and Family Life Animator, and he had been rolling out a series of programmes throughout the diocese. The bishop had kept on hearing about Teams and believed a need existed for the programme here.

Changes in Australia had seen “amateur” marriage formation volunteers supplanted by professional social workers.

Although done mainly for risk management, health and safety concerns, the outcome was an effective professionalisation of services at the expense of lay involvement. While Teams have remained “plugged into” the system, they receive less in the way of official support than previously.

Peter says they welcomed Bishop Steve’s support and all the work Joe Hogan was doing.

“We have found a wonderful network of people doing marriage education and preparation for years. In Australia, that process has been professionalised and the lay couples pushed aside. We could see how much better the New Zealand model is, because it does mean those couples are there with a caring eye as people go through marriage preparation.”

Work already done here is expected to help Teams groups be set up relatively soon, so that they become indigenous to New Zealand after initial assistance from established counterparts in Australia. For more information, contact Joe Hogan, 027 742 4466; joeh@cdh.org.nz

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ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

feature Hamilton Dove Fellowship celebrates birthday

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amilton Dove turned 18 this year! It’s a significant “age” for an eighteen year old. As Wilma Conroy, one of the founding members of Hamilton Dove said that it’s the age of moving towards adulthood and the ‘new twenty first’ by today’s measure.

The fellowship has been meeting at St Joseph’s Fairfield Church community hall since the first meeting.

The birthday evening began with a couple of gathering songs and followed by the fellowship’s chaplain Fr Patrick Keane’s birthday blessing.

After the praise and worship session, Wilma, with the help of slides in a PowerPoint presentation, shared the history of how Hamilton Dove started 18 years ago.

The special moments of fun and frolic highlighted through photos of past birthday celebrations were extracted from the photograph albums which Wilma has created over the years.

We were blessed to have the Bay of Plenty Dove team members, who have been truly close to our fellowship years, also join the evening's celebration. Christine Kornman, the founding president of Hamilton Dove shared the “Godincidence” of discerning the founding scripture: (“I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn hearts of stone and will give you an obedient heart.” Ezekiel 11:19).

It was Sr Anne Marie Jones who encouraged several women at a Dove retreat to gather and to pray for Dove fellowship to be in Hamilton.

From this retreat in Raglan, came the first team of Christine Kornman, Nichola McCarthy, Wilma Conroy and Theresa Goulding to form Hamilton Dove 18 years ago.

The monthly meeting has continued to be held at St Joseph’s community hall since the beginning and Sr Anne Marie is still a faithful attendee.

After the slide show, Wilma then led the sing-along in thanksgiving for the gift of dove fellowship in New Zealand and in celebration of our 18th birthday.

The evening concluded with a sumptuous supper shared by the women and cutting of the birthday cake by Fr Pat and Sr Anne Marie.

We thank you for all the women who support this fellowship in the past, present and welcome those to come.

Dove Catholic Fellowship for Women - The primary focus of Dove Fellowship is on leading women to a

Wilma Conroy

Christine Kornman, Deborah Cotter Fr Patrick Keane, Maree and Linda (Tauranga) (Tauranga) and Wilma Conroy

(Right) Sr Anne Marie and Fr Pat personal and ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, to become fully immersed in the life of the church and to become effective evangelisers of others. The emphasis is on women’s ministry to women in gentleness and love as exemplified by Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church. (This is extracted from the national Dove Catholic Fellowship for Women website) Hamilton Dove Fellowship Meets on the firet Thursday of month at 7.30pm at St Joseph’s Fairfield Parish Centre, 86 Clarkin Road, Hamilton.

Dove Catholic Fellowship for Women is a Catholic ministry welcoming all women. To find out more about Dove Fellowship, please go to www.dove.org.nz for details.

Marianna Morgan On behalf of Hamilton Dove Team

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ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

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feature Reasons women seek abortions

T

he abortion debate in New Zealand is dominated by the opposing views of the socalled ‘pro-life’ and ‘pro-choice’ abortion groups.

Absent from the debate is an exploration of the reasons upon which women base their decision to terminate a pregnancy and whether those reasons meet the legal criteria for an abortion.

The grounds for legal abortion in New Zealand fall under section 187a of the Crimes Act 1961.

This states that for pregnancies of not more than 20 weeks abortion is permitted when "the continuance of the pregnancy would result in serious danger to …the life, or to the physical or mental health, of the woman or girl, or that there is substantial risk that the child, if born, would be so physically or mentally abnormal as to be seriously handicapped."

Additional grounds include pregnancy as a result of incest or intellectual disability of the woman or girl.

Pregnancy, by its very nature, brings with it physical, emotional, social and hormonal changes. When there is an unexpected pregnancy, there can be contradictory emotions, perhaps an initial sense of joy, and/or a sense of regret along with grief and loss for what may have been.

Continuing with an unexpected pregnancy inevitably means that life plans will have to be changed.

Fear and desperation can affect a woman’s ability to assess her situation with clarity and obscure potential solutions that would otherwise lead a woman to want to continue with her pregnancy. Abortion can be seen as a quick and practical solution for an unintended pregnancy.

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future career, education being too young or immature for the responsibility of child-rearing being middle-aged existing family commitments relationship insecurities, including a violent relationship, and a desire for overseas travel.

These reasons are clearly ‘socio-economic’ in nature. Overseas studies indicate that, as in New Zealand, socio-economic reasons rank highly as reasons for abortion.

Nevertheless, statistics show that the majority of abortions in New Zealand are approved on the grounds of preserving mental health.

For example, of the 12,823 abortions performed in the 12 months up to December 2016, 97% or 12,437 are listed as being approved on such grounds.

The question rightly arises as to how and whether socio-economic reasons can be legitimately categorised as constituting “danger to the mental health of the woman”.

This point was not lost on Radio New Zealand reporter, Susie Fergusson, who recently suggested that New Zealand women need to “lie” to get an abortion (28 May 2018). An alternative interpretation, however, is that the reasons women most commonly give for wanting an abortion are accepted by the abortion consultants as being sufficient to meet the legal criteria in New Zealand.

The experience of those who work with women in crisis pregnancy situations confirms that many women with an unexpected pregnancy are genuinely distraught and fear for their future.

Taking time to listen to their stories gives a genuine appreciation for the predicament in which some women find themselves.

Given the very obvious distress that some women with an unintended pregnancy exhibit, it is not surprising that medical professionals concur that continuing a pregnancy might pose a danger to a woman’s mental health.

Despite the reasons for an abortion being socio-economic, the decision to abort or continue with the pregnancy is made within the context of the whole of the woman’s life.

Pregnancy is a life-changing event, and, for these women, their lives have changed forever.

Pre-decision counselling provides the best opportunity to identify potential solutions for the socio-economic issues a pregnant woman faces.

Unfortunately, such opportunities are not always easily accessed.

As the Abortion Supervisory Committee has noted ‘[b]arriers to accessible pre-decision counselling …can have detrimental outcomes in terms of a patient’s well-being’.

Under the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977, certifying consultants are required to advise women of their right to seek counselling (including from ‘suitably trained lay counsellors’). However, by this stage in the process most women have already made a decision.

Promoting real choice means adopting a social justice approach, one where the social determinants for abortion are addressed up front (Gebel, 2018). This is what it means to be ‘courageously pro-woman, promoting a choice that is truly in favour of women.’

The ‘only honest stance…is that of radical solidarity with the woman. It is not right to leave her alone.’ (John Paul II. 1994) All women facing an unintended pregnancy have three options; continuing with the pregnancy and raising the child; continuing with the pregnancy and placing the child for adoption, or terminating the pregnancy.

For women in this situation, there is no easy choice. This is one of the most important decisions she will make in her lifetime.

Women in crisis pregnancy situations need active, practical support and assistance to find solutions that will allow her to continue the pregnancy to its natural end.

Contacts for free post-abortion counselling: Project Rachel: 0800217033 Pregnancy Counselling Services: 0800 Pregnant NOTE: This article was first published in the Nathaniel Report August 2018.

Abortion law review Bishop Patrick Dunn, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference says taking abortion law out of the Crimes Act will effectively remove all legal protections for the unborn child.

The bishop was commenting on the release of a Law Commission ministerial briefing paper on proposed changes to abortion law.

“The paper is substantial and so we need time to read it and give it careful consideration.”

The briefing paper outlines three alternative options that could be taken if Parliament were of a mind to propose a policy shift to treat abortion as a health issue.

1. Model A leaves the decision entirely up to the woman and her doctor.

2. Model B includes an eligibility test.

3. Model C combines the two depending on how far along the pregnancy is.

In an initial response, Dunn reiterated that we must not lose sight of two key facts in this discussion.

“As we argued in our recent submission to the Law Commission, abortion is both a health and a justice issue and our laws should continue to treat abortion as such.

“There are always at least two human lives involved – the unborn human person and the mother. The current abortion regime recognises this,” Bishop Dunn said in a statement.

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ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

feature The Roopu of St Mary’s of the Cross McKillop Rotorua

Te Roopu o Hato Mere Our Pilgrimage to the Home of Compassion Makiripi o Rotorua:

Te Hikoi ki Poneke ki te Kainga Atawhai

The pilgrims listen to a history talk by Sister Sue Cosgrove about the history of the home of compassion at the canteen.

By Bev Simpkins n Friday 13 April 2018, we attend mass at St Mary’s Catholic Church Rotorua, and then 11 of us board our van bound for a weekend at the Home of Compassion in Wellington. Father Eamon Kennedy gives us and our van a blessing and then we are off. Our twelfth member was flying to Wellington and coming home with us in the van.

We stop at Taihape for lunch, and a few groceries and a change of drivers, then we are on the road again. There is evidence of snowfall along the Desert Road, but the forecast is for rain.

We arrive at our destination about 6 pm (thank goodness for Google maps) and are met by the person in charge who allocates us to our designated rooms and gives us instructions about breakfast the next morning.

What a beautiful environment we are housed in - a spiritual nourishment. We have a kitchen in our four-bed room, so everyone comes for dinner and to watch the TV before retiring for the night. There is a chapel available where we can go and pray on the premises.

We are up early the next morning and go down to the dining room for breakfast before attending 10 am Mass at St Anne’s Church in Newtown, where we are privileged to join in a Maori Mass conducted by a very inspiring Filipino priest.

We return for a talk by Sister Sue Cosgrove about the history of the Home of Compassion, when it was a hospital with a theatre and a convalescent home.

We are then able to take time to visit the museum housing relics belonging to Suzanne Aubert: Her crucifix, recipes for her natural medications (was one of those rongoa she used marijuana? We will never know), the habit she wore and many other articles of interest.

Some of us then head for town to look at the Sisters of Compassion soup kitchen. Although it is closed, we admire the boxed gardens with all the different vegetable and flower plants.

We also visit the building of the “Home of Compassion crèche” reopened in August 2016 as the Queen Elizabeth 11 Pukeahua Education Centre.

The other half of our group remains in the grounds of the Home of Compassion and visits the Grotto and the peaceful gardens.

We are up early for breakfast, so we can go into the chapel which is under construction in some areas due to water leaking. We have a prayer

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In the museum (from left): Jo, Francie Tiki and Sister Margaret in the background. here before Sr Sue Cosgrove gives us more history of the stained-glass windows of the Stations of the Cross, whanau, the altar and then the final resting place of Suzanne Aubert, whose intact casket was reinterred here in January 2017.

Stained glass windows of Matariki, the Southern Cross and the Whanganui River dapple light across her resting place at different times of the day. Now it is time to say farewell to our wonderful hosts as we set off for the Mass at St Mary of the Angels before we continue on our journey home to Rotorua.

The final resting place of Mother Suzanne Aubert. This is our whole group with Sue Cosgrove.

Kneeling: Francie Watson, Bev Simpkins, Sr Margaret Kerrin, Tiki Thomas, Paula Robb, and Sharon Claire. Standing: Mary Kilkelly, Sue Cosgrove, Joan Nygard, Mihi Morehu, Moana Corbett, Libby Doherty and Jo Eastcourt.

The group in the foyer of St Anne’s Church in Newtown (from left): Mihi, Bev, Joan, Tiki, Paula, Libby, Francie, Mary, and Moana.

Translation by Joan Nygard I te paraire o te kau ma toru o Aperira o tenei tau ka haere matou ki te kainga Atawhai i Poneke.

I te mutunga o te miha i te whare karakia o Hato Mere, ka whakatapua matou, me to matou wakakawe, e Pa Eamon. Te kau ma rua matou.

Tetahi o matou ka rere atu ki Poneke, engari i te hokinga mai ki Rotorua ka haere mai ia ma runga I te wakakawe. Waiouru ka kite matou, kei te takoto tonu te hukarere i runga o etahi wahi o te huarahi, engari i te ahua o tenei ra ka heke te ua.

Taihape ka tu matou ki te tina, ki te hoko kai mo to matou nohonga i Poneke, me te tini i te taraiwa.

Tata ki te ono karaka ka tae matou ki Poneke ki te kainga Atawhai. Ka tikina mai matou e tetahi tangata. Ka tohutohu mai ki a matou, kei hea o matou ruma, kei hea te whare kai, me te whare karakia, a he aha te wa o te parakuihi.

He tino atahua tenei wahi kainga ka rongotia te nui o te wairua me, te rangimarie. To matou ruma e wha nga moenga, he kitini, he wahi noho ki te matakitaki i te pouaka whaka-ata.

Aonga ake, i te ata, i muri i te parakuihi ka haere matou ki te miha i te whare karakia o hato Ani I Newtown, Poneke. i tino waimaria matou i whiwhi ki tetahi pirihi no te Filopin. Nana te miha i whakanui i roto i te reo maori.

To matou hokinga atu ki te kainga ka whakamarama, ka korero mai a hihita Sue Cosgrove i te hitori o tenei kainga.

I nga tau o mua he hohipera, he kainga mo nga turoro. i konei Muri mai ka haere matou ki te kite i te wahi pupuri taonga tawhito. Etahi o nga taonga ko nga kakahu o Meri Hohepa, tana ripeka, me nga rongoa. Te nuinga o ana rongoa no nga rakau o te ngahere.

Ko etahi o matou I pirangi ki te haere ki te taone ki te kite i te kitini hupa. i te kati ke, no reira ka matakitaki ratou I nga kari mara, ma nga kari putiputi, tino ataahua. Muri mai ka haere ratou ki te kite i te wahi tiaki tamariki kohungahunga. i whaka tuwharetia i akuhata 2016 te ingoa ko te matauranga waenganui o kuini Riripeti tua rua.

Era o matou i noho iho, i haere ki te matakitaki i nga kari, nga papa rakau.

Ka kite matou i te ana o Mere, te whaea tapu o Hehu karaiti. Tino rawa te whakapakoko o Mere i konei. i te ra tapu, i te mutunga o te parakuihi ka haere matou ki te whare karakia kei te whakatikatikatia nga te mea kei te uru atu te wai, ka uwa ana. Ka korero ano a hihita Sue Cosgrove mo te hitori, me nga pikita i runga nga matapihi, te ata, me te urupa o Meri Hohepa i roto te whare karakia.

Kei runga i nga matapihi nga pikita o te awa o whanganui, a matariki, me te taki o Autahi.

Ka mutu nga mihimihi ki o matou kai manaki, ka haere matou ki te miha i te whare karakia o Mere o nga Ahere.

Mutu mai ka hoki mai matou ki Rotorua.

ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

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feature Bernie Mahar finds family through Home of Compassion link Michael Smith chalice located at the Chapel of Our Lady of Compassion in Island Bay in Wellington has brought family history full circle for Rotorua parishioner Bernie Mahar.

Bernie, now aged 84, had spent some time researching family history and, as happens, came up with discoveries that took him by surprise.

His mother Mary Lesley (Mollie) Beckingsale had found late in life that she was adopted at birth and she was really Mary Seymour Beckingsale.

She was born in 1908 to one of the 12 children of the Seymour family in Christchurch.

None of the family knew of the circumstances of her birth and the circumstances of her upbringing. Adding to this sadness was that two of her aunties became Sisters at the Home of Compassion in Wellington (Sr Delphine and Sr Damian).

Another two sisters became Sisters of Mercy (Sr Raymond and Sr Elizabeth), and two of her uncles became Marist priests (Fr John and Fr Henry (Harry) Seymour).

Leap forward across the decades, and Bernie’s parents had a drapery business in the central North Island town of Raetihi. Family members, including Bernie, spent some time at St John’s Convent in Jerusalem run by the Sisters of Compassion, the order established by the Venerable Suzanne Aubert.

Bernie fondly remembers picking cherries in Suzanne Aubert’s orchard, never at the time expecting to find a close association with the sisters.

Sr Damian even spent time in the family shop in Raetihi, never knowing that Bernie’s mother was her niece.

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Mollie's journey Bernie’s mother’s siblings were never aware that she had been adopted, or that her mother had even had a baby. Mollie was put into foster care for 12 months. A provision of this arrangement was that her grandmother could arrange an adoption in that time, which she proceeded to do to her very good friends, the Beckingsales of Wellington.

Sadly, Josephine (her adopted mother) died when Mollie was only seven, so she was brought up by her adoptive father John Nelson Beckingsale, who was not a Catholic.

Her adoptive father placed her in Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt, and visited her every second weekend.

After she passed away in 1989, Bernie started to trace the Seymour family and spent time with the Home of Compassion archivist, Sr Josephine Gorman.

Through this work, he found out the history of his aunties. His interest in Suzanne Aubert, her story and her cause grew from that point

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Farm succession Property transactions

Muriel Winifred Seymour (Sister Damien) (left) and Doris Mary Seymour (Sister Delphina)

Bernie Mahar with his mother Mary Lesley (Mollie) Beckingsale, who was adopted at birth and was really Mary Seymour Beckingsale.

Bernie and the family chalice with Sr Margaret Anne Mills the Congregational Leader at the Home of Compassion.

on. Bernie is a promoter of the cause of Suzanne Aubert on her road to sainthood, along with the work of the Home of Compassion.

up as an only child of adoptive parents whereas she could have been part of a very large, extended family.

This has been, however, quite a spiritual journey for Bernie and his family rather than simply an exploration of family history.

He feels Jerusalem is a spiritual home for his family, given his own family visited the convent and had picnics under the cherry trees when he was younger without knowing the links.

“Whenever I am down Whanganui way, I go to Jerusalem as I feel it is a spiritual home for us. I love the atmosphere there.”

Chalice links family Like many who have experienced self-discovery through finding previously unknown family, the journey has been at times emotional for Bernie.

When he and Lois were visiting the Home of Compassion about five years ago, one of the sisters (Sr Rachel) showed him a chalice that was presented to the Home of Compassion by the Seymour family in memory of Fathers Henry and John Seymour SMs. Around the base of the chalice was placed the stone from their grandmother’s engagement ring on one side. On the other side, was a dux medal from St Pat’s (Town) College, which had been won by one of the brothers.

“The chalice is used at Mass in the Home of Compassion every day. So, I feel I have a great affinity.

“When I saw the chalice, I burst into tears. I just couldn’t believe it. It was very emotional, as it just came right out of the blue.”

Bernie says finding the chalice that is still in use after so long and the story of his mother’s brothers and sisters has tied his family to the Home of Compassion for generations.

There is a sadness in that his mother died not knowing that this was her family and had grown

AT INNOVATION PARK - HAMILTON • •

Business Families Trusts

• •

Parish Promoter Lois sadly passed away three years ago. Bernie has become a Parish Promoter in the cause of the life and works of Suzanne Aubert.

Suzanne Aubert celebration day was this year celebrated on 7 October, the first Sunday in October The national day of celebration aims to raise awareness of the spirituality and good works of Venerable Suzanne Aubert and to gain inspiration from what she did and what she achieved.

It also provides all Catholics the opportunity to commit to praying that the church will soon recognise this remarkable woman of great faith, as a Saint.

For more information, go to: https://www.suzanneaubert.co.nz/

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ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

school news St John's College soaring in sport

St John's College U14 Rugby team (above) remained unbeaten as Waikato champions this season.

Martin Tamoaieta (left) represented Kiribati at Youth Olympics.

The St John's Eagles (below) taking out the Waikato Secondary Schools Premier Basketball Final against Hamilton Boys High School.

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mid a noisy and passionate crowd, the St John’s Eagles beat old rivals HBHS to win the Waikato Secondary Schools Premier Basketball Final in September.

Many Kete Korero readers will remember the late Mr Mel Young who established a strong basketball culture and programme at St John’s, and our boys continue to play in Mel’s memory.

This Waikato final was a fabulous spectacle - the HBHS gym was packed with around 500 supporters for both sides cheering players to put out their very best.

The game was tightly matched throughout, with neither side ever earning a comfortable lead.

The crowd knew they had a spectacular match on their hands, erupting with every goal scored, and players unable to hear each other on the court.

HBHS clawed their way to take a one point lead in the last 20 seconds of the match. And then the magic happened for St John’s – young Year 11 star Finn Lally got a shot

away under pressure and nailed a three-pointer to give his team a 2 point lead with only 6 seconds remaining.

“It was a bit of a ‘Hail Mary’ but hey, if anyone’s going to get those, it should be us right?” laughs Finn’s Dad, Brendan.

That lead held, and our boys are proud custodians of the Waikato Premier Basketball Cup. “Sport at St John’s is an important part of our culture” explains Principal, Shane Tong.

“We are proud to have very high participation rates, and we work hard to be competitive both regionally and nationally.”

“Sport plays an important role in the development of boys into well rounded young men.

Sporting opportunities Alongside the obvious physical benefits, sport provides leadership opportunities, teaches boys about the importance of teamwork and builds resilience” reflects Mr Tong.

“Through sport, our young men share a camaraderie that often

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young men.

“That’s a special feature of our Catholic schools that other schools can never match” says Mr Tong.

“I’m constantly struck with the high levels of support on our sidelines, and that support makes such a difference to our boys”.

develops into lifelong friendships.

Boys need to know that they have a place in the world and often they find that through sport.”

Other sporting highlights for St John’s this year include: ● Cricket Colts team – Waikato and Northern Districts Champions, ranked sixth in New Zealand ● U14 Rugby team – Waikato champions, unbeaten this season ● Football Colts – runners up in Waikato competition and in Knockout Cup final ● Athletics – Waikato / BoP Junior Champions in 100m relay, sprints and long jump ● Rowing – Martin Tamoaieta representing Kiribati at Youth Olympics We are fortunate at our Marist school to have outstanding support from our wider community of Old Boys and parents who coach, manage, sponsor and cheer on our

New gymnasium Young sportsmen will be pleased at the new gymnasium being built at St John’s and ready for action in 2020.

Featuring a multi-purpose arena with bleacher seating for over 400, weights facilities and PE teaching spaces, this will serve the next generation of College athletes.

This is the first stage in an ambitious development phase for St John’s College, which has been granted a roll increase.

“Bishop Steve Lowe, our Proprietor, has committed to a substantial investment programme over the next four-to-five years,” says Mr Tong, “which will transform our facilities, ensuring we remain the first choice for young Catholic men in the Waikato.”

St John’s took time to celebrate its sporting year at a Sports Awards dinner held at Vilagrads in October, where the supreme prize is the Mel Young Sportsman of the Year trophy.

Roll on summer And then sport will roll on. Cricket and rowing are already underway.

Touch rugby, tennis, athletics, swimming, water polo, softball, futsal, waka ama, ultimate Frisbee and mountain biking will begin, and our young athletes will be competing, laughing, winning, losing, connecting and creating friendships.

Ryan Overmayer Director of Sports

ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

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school news Sport alive and well at Sacred Heart College

Sacred Heart Hockey 1st Xl in action.

Sacred Heart Girls Kirikiti Cricket Team

ith another winter sports season at Sacred Heart Girls’ College in Hamilton drawing to a close, there is much to be reflective and proud of. With close to 65 per cent of the girls attending Sacred Heart involved in extracurricular activities, participation numbers are on the up.

Students are active and developing lifelong healthy habits for future years to come. With 25 sporting codes on offer at Sacred Heart there is much variety and many of the girls are taking full advantage of the opportunities offered to them. Rugby Sevens is the latest addition to the list of sports and with 35 girls involved, watch this space!

As a school we are well aware

when representing our college in sports. Our students are proud to represent our school in sport and to further build our identity as a Catholic community.

Our newly appointed Director of Sport, Mark McAlley, is responsible for the strategic direction of sport in the college. When asked what is more important: participation or success, he replied, “Participation.

If you want to create a winning culture you first need to build from the ground up. Ensuring numbers are strong across multiple codes increases healthy competition and from there as long as there is a positive, supporting, challenging culture and quality coaching, our athletes will rise to the top. I am committed to ensuring each and every student enjoys their sport

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of the importance of our students being involved in extracurricular activities and the critical part that this plays in the holistic development of the individual.

Many schools focus on getting those ‘newspaper headline results’ which draw students to their school. However, Sacred Heart’s immediate focus is on increasing participation and seeing our girls enjoying and getting the most out of their sporting experience while at college. Participating in sport is a way for us to grow into the people God made us to be. Pope Francis describes sports as “a very rich source of values that help us to become better people.” We see this in the virtues, such as loyalty, commitment, respect and tenacity, that our students demonstrate

whilst at Sacred Heart.”

Not only have Sacred Heart had success across a number of winter team codes including the Premier Netball Team winning the Mission Cup in Term 2, there are a number of individual athletes representing New Zealand in their chosen sports.

As Pope Francis stated earlier this year, “We need to deepen the close connection that exists between sport and life, which can enlighten one another … to always improve as a person, in all of life’s aspects.”

We value this connection and look forward to continuing to grow the role of sports at Sacred Heart Girls’ College.

Mark McAlley Director of Sport Development Sacred Heart College

Campion College sports teams enjoy away tournaments

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isborne’s Campion College competed in an annual Year 9 and 10 sports exchange with Aquinas College from Tauranga during August.

Teams from Campion travelled away and took a boys basketball team, a girls volleyball team, a football team, a rugby team, a mixed hockey team and a netball team.

Although results didn’t go the Campion’s way in any of the sports, the attitude and commitment shown from all our students was outstanding, the college reports.

Rugby was where Campion came closest to victory, the boys just getting pipped at the final whistle after leading the entire game. In the end we lost by 44-42.

Girls volleyball also put in a strong showing before eventually going down in three sets. However, the future looks promising for

Campion volleyball if these girls keep at it. The football team also put in a solid effort. After being down 3-0 at halftime, the team fought right to the end to only concede one goal in the second half. It was great to see girls also competing in this fixture with Breanna Ferris playing extremely well for us.

Hats off to Andre Riley and Blake Marshall as well for backing up straight from the rugby field to play football as well.

In the netball, after a solid start from our girls, Aquinas eventually pulled away to win 34-19. And in the boys basketball we went down 75-19 against an Aquinas team that had a lot more size than our boys.

Led by Allen Arnaldo the team battled until the end, but Aquinas was just too good on the day.

Basketball Campion’s senior boys’ basketball

team were able to travel to Whanganui to take part in the Schick Central Cup Secondary Schools Basketball Tournament.

They played five games against very competitive teams. Highlights included the awesome attitude of our students in training and fundraising as we prepared for the trip, the building of team relationships, meeting new teams and making new friendships and putting 110 per cent into their games.

We often heard from officials and the general public about how respectful, helpful and wellmannered the boys were at the arena, at the motel and around Whanganui.

Hockey The Campion 1st XI hockey returned from the 2018 Aon North Island Mixed Hockey Tournament

in Whanganui placed a respectable eighth out of 13. It was a great experience for the team and was also an opportunity for some students to experience their first national tournament.

Campion came through pool play tied in second place with Newlands, so we had to have a shoot out to see who would advance into the quarters.

We won that 3-1 and moved into the quarters to face the overall winners Hamilton Christian School.

Unfortunately, we lost that game 2-0 and then very narrowly losing the next two games to finally place 8th.

Congratulations to Sam Middleton who was named Campion's tournament MVP. A big thanks goes out to Christine Middleton who managed the team and Lachlan Vause, who was he umpire and assistant coach.

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ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

school news Aquinas College winter sports report

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quinas College, Tauranga, has teams playing in the following winter sports codes: Winter Codes: • 18 Netball Teams • 11 Basketball Teams • 6 Football Teams • 6 Hockey Teams • 3 Rugby Teams

Total of approximately 484 AC students, based on 750 roll. This equates to 64.5 per cent of our students competing in winter sports codes alone.

Netball It was a huge year for Netball at Aquinas with a record 18 teams entered into the local competition. Thirteen of 18 teams made it through to semi-final rounds.

Congratulations must go to the Y7/8 Development team who placed first in the Y8 Section 6, Year 8A Team who placed first in the Y8 Section 2 and Junior B who also placed first in the Y10 Section 2. The Senior A, Y8B and Y7A all placed second in their respective sections.

The Premier One Team had a spectacular final against Whakatane High School. At half time, the score was 16 – 8 to Whakatane. After a small shuffle around in positions, AC came back firing in the third quarter to bring the score to just 19 – 17 to Whakatane.

The last quarter was filled with suspense as the score went from Whakatane a goal ahead, to AC a goal ahead. It came down to the last 30 seconds of the game that saw Whakatane shoot the winning goal and secure the win for the season.

The Premier One Team worked seamlessly as a team and played a remarkable match.

Basketball Basketball has had a successful season, with

both the Junior A and Senior A Boys’ Teams competing in Baywide competitions and the Junior A Boys’ team heading to the North Island Secondary School Junior Championship from 1– 4 September.

It has been a successful year for Girls’ Basketball at Aquinas too. The Junior Girls’ Team have made it through to the semi-final rounds after a great season together as have the Y7 Girls and Y8 Girls Warriors Team.

Hockey This year we have 85 players across our Intermediate and Secondary School teams in the Aquinas Hockey Club.

Congratulations to our Girls 2nd XI team in winning the third division of Tauranga Hockey’s competition in the first round and they now move up to Division 2 for the second round.

Football Football has been developing momentum at Aquinas College with three Senior teams, and three Junior teams.

The 1st IX Girls and Boys teams are both playing in the Youth 1st Division and the 2nd XI At the time of writing, the boys are playing in the second division.

The AC Scorchers (14th/15th grade) were currently sitting second in their division with only one loss this season and meanwhile the AC Strikers (13th grade) were top of the table with a comfortable lead with only 2 goals scored against them for the season.

Rugby The 1st XV moved up from Division Two after the first round. The 1st XV went on to play seven games in the First Division, looking at a potential placing of sixth out of eight of the best 1st XV’s in the BOP. One highlight game played against John Paul College, a home game resulting with a draw 2020.

The TWOM/AC U15’s have played unbeaten all season till their semi-final. Unfortunately, the boys were not able to keep the Tauranga Boys College from making a last minute try to win the game. Our new U14 AC/TWOM team played consistently in the championship league, building their skills and team experience as Secondary School Rugby Players.

The Amazons Yr 7/8 girls are now playing in their second sevens competition on Mondays with building confidences and numbers. One game played in the last competition against Tauranga Intermediate, gave this experienced team a very challenging time and ran try-for- try.

Eight Aquinas boys across the Rugby Club have been selected for the main training squads for BOP Rep teams. Congratulations to these boys; U18 Ben Lee, Sam O’Connor, Marshall Baker, U16 Taine Rush, Darcy Hoskin. U15 Toby Taylor, Trevel Gardiner Hano.

Snow Sports Congratulations to the Aquinas College Ski Team (right) who competed in the BOPSS Snow Sport Champs on 13 August. Aquinas College came second overall as a team and we received 3 medals.

Charlotte Madams - second junior girl - Ski, Oscar Wood - 2nd senior boys - Snowboard, Xavier Barry - 3rd senior boys - Ski. Mrs Caitlin Tarr – Sports Coordinator

Successful season for Aquinas netball as a record number of teams entered local competition.

Highlights in rugby as 1st XV moves up a grade in Bay competition.

Soccer developing momentum.

Aquinas skiers on the snow.

ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

13

the religious life Displacement and Catholic Social Teaching – a case study Cynthia Piper, The Catholic Institute he displacement of people and the unjust dispossession of land, social and economic resources is not unique to the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. We are familiar with scripture stories of refugees displaced by famine, persecution, conflict, exploitation, and politics.

We read the harrowing stories of refugees.

However, we seem to have less understanding of the impact of historical displacement of Māori.

The Waitangi Tribunal Pre-Publication Report on Te Rohe Pōtae Claims [Wai 898] reminds us of the impact of confiscation of land and displacement of people. It is concerned with the injustice of the Crown’s ninetenth-century invasion of the Waikato and the King Country.

As Christians, we have a responsibility to become informed about what happened in our country.

We are called to work for justice and stand in solidarity with those affected by injustice.

Map showing Rangiaowhia and the positions captured by the colonial forces in 1864. Source: This article looks at the impact of conflict Wikimedia Commons. and confiscation on Ngāti Apakura, placing it It lost the right to participate as iwi and hapū, to within the context of Catholic Social Teaching to person. All people are made in the image of God; work for the common good as it had before the human dignity is, therefore, the starting point explain why so many hapū and iwi are persistent when reflecting on human rights. In attacking conflict, to protect the poor and vulnerable, and in their fight for justice. maintain stewardship over the land.

Rangiaowhia, situated between Cambridge the undefended village of Rangiaowhia, the ‘When such indigenous peoples are deprived Crown violated the inherent dignity and right to and Te Awamutu, was the tūrangawaewae of their land they lose a vital element of their way life of the people. (home) of Ngāti Apakura and its constituent The Catholic Church teaches that people of life and actually run the risk of disappearing hapū, Ngāti Hinetū. The people grew fruit, achieve fulfillment by association with others - in as a people.’ (Pope John Paul II: Message for cultivated hundreds of acres of potatoes, maize families and other social institutions. The attack the World Day of Peace, 1989). The land is a and wheat for the Auckland and the Australian ‘source of life’, it is ‘central to identity- ancestral markets. It was ‘a source of pride for Māori’; on Rangiaowhia, the confiscation of the land connections where each individual can live and and the diaspora that followed undermined the but a ‘source of European envy.’ Rangiaowhia belong.’ (Wai 898:41) stability of iwi, hapū, and whanau.

It ‘caused the was also the centre of the Catholic and Anglican The Waikato War, in particular, the loss and destruction of Ngāti Apakura lives and Waikato missions. invasion of Rangiaowhia and the subsequent On Sunday, 21 February 1864, over 1000 prosperity, and the fragmentation of their iwi confiscations, breached The Treaty of Waitangi. colonial forces led by General Cameron attacked identity.’ Ngāti Apakura’s roots were torn from We can work to right the injustices of the past this ‘defenseless kāinga’ (village) where women, its tūrangawaewae as the Crown ‘attempted to by being properly informed about the events children and old people were sent for safety. make [Apakura] invisible.’ (Borell, 2018) The that happened and use the principles of Catholic In the fighting that ensued some soldiers and Pontifical Council for Refugees acknowledges Social Teaching to stand in solidarity with and Māori, including women and children who were that when people are dispossessed of their land guide us in supporting those struggling because sheltering in a whare that was set alight, were ‘places, which give meaning and dignity to life of the loss of their land, resources, and mana. are lost. Also lost are the places which recall the Today Ngāti Apakura mōrehu (survivors) are killed. events of one’s own history.’ (“Cor Unum”, 1992) scattered among Tainui, Waikato-Maniapoto The Waitangi Tribunal Report notes that Today, Ngāti Apakura is landless.

It has to and Tūwharetoa iwi. They have no land of their Forest Ranger, William Race,stated that whare own, and their marae are built on land gifted constantly explain why that is so, and why its were deliberately set on fire to ‘burn them out, or by other hapū. Justice for what occurred on 21 in.’ General Cameron recorded that ‘the Forest operating marae are not located in core places February 1864 is still being sought by the people. such as Rangiaowhia.’

(Borell, 2018).

In their Rangers and a company of the 65th Regiment However, there is cause for optimism with the surrounded the whare, which was set on fire’ submissions to the Crown, Ngāti Apakura had to findings of the Waitangi Tribunal. knowing people were inside. Captain Von justify its right to claim as a separate iwi.

The Catholic Diocese of Hamilton stands in For Ngāti Apakura ‘the loss of their lands Tempsky witnessed the death of an unarmed solidarity with Ngāti Apakura by supporting elderly man who was trying to surrender. (Wai paralleled the loss of their mana.’(Wai 898: 612) its claims to the Crown, making the story of Rangiaowhia known to the community and 898: 502) taking part in commemorative activities.

After the attack, Ngāti Apakura was dispossessed of their land, identity, social and economic base. The ensuing diaspora saw some Apakura living in Kawhia, others at Tokaanu with Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and some at Kahotea with Maniapoto. Integrated by their hosts, the people struggled to maintain a distinct identity.

Ngāti Apakura was ‘dismembered and redefined by the confiscation.’ It went from being a prosperous and influential iwi of .’substance’ to having the ‘social and economic well-being of the people “rent asunder.”’ (Wai 898: 600,601) Catholic Social Teaching requires us to Contact: acknowledge ‘past and present injustices and David to work to resolve them and effect reconciliation based on justice.’ (NZCBC. 1990) At the heart 0800 843-233 A Pou Whakamaumahara erected on the Catholic of understanding the injustices imposed on cdf@cdh.org.nz displaced persons generally and Ngāti Apakura Mission site in partnership with Ngāti Apakura. The pou tells the story of the invasion of Rangiāōwhia. explicitly, is the primacy and dignity of every

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ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

the religious life 'Solid' Catholic values lead Josiah to religious life Michael Smith rowing up in a “solid” Catholic family meant that Josiah Kilkelly always had the question over whether he would go into a religious order in front of him.

Today, the young Rotorua man is a brother in the Fraternity of Verbum Spei (Word of Hope) based in Mexico.

Br Jonathan grew up in Rotorua, largely home schooled as the family sought to follow a direction dedicated to the Mass (see separate story).

Going to the Catholic Discipleship College in Auckland in 2015 saw him ask the question in a much more direct manner than previously and he searched to find out if God was calling him.

It was at the college in Takapuna that Br Jonathan met Father Dominic Faure, a priest of the Verbum Spei community.

“I was really impressed by him and he inspired me,” Br Jonathan told Kete Korero.

He worked on the North Shore during the next year and during this time he felt a strong call to discern as a religious.

Going away from home provided him with a wider view of the world and made him ask a lot more questions about the faith and life in general.

“We had a lot of different experiences just in community life, in the missions we did and the contact with people from a variety of backgrounds.”

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Prayer life Although he enjoyed the eight months of working, he missed the prayer life and the search for truth he had come to know while at the college. While looking at future options, he talked with Fr Dominic about where he could find the kind of prayer life and formation he sought. He was surprised and encouraged by the suggestion to visit the Verbum Spei community at Saltillo in north Mexico.

“I really liked the community life there. When there is a strong and united community, it really helps.”

What he particularly noticed on first arriving in 2016 was the high level of joy among the brothers at the Saltillo community.

“Everybody was so happy, encouraging each other, which really impressed me.”

Br Jonathan first spent two months discerning from August 2016, during which time he was also observed.

When he returned to Mexico in late November, he was told he had been accepted into the postulancy. He described the ceremony of becoming a postulant as “beautiful” as it coincided with the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a huge time for Mexicans (see below).

At the time of this interview, Br Jonathan had finished his postulancy and novitiate, which takes about two years, and had taken his “first vows” or “temporary vows” of poverty, chastity and obedience. This step reflects a tangible commitment to live in the community in a more real way.

Brothers go on to train to be priests in the missionary order. The Verbum Spei order is relatively new, having been started in Mexico in 2012 by Bishop Raúl Vera López of the diocese of Saltillo.

Br Jonathan says he was unsure what to expect when he went and had not anticipated find-

The Kilkelly family (from left): Grace, Sean, Michael, Jerome, Jonathan, Maureen, Matthew, Gabrielle and James. ing so much joy. are such an important part of life and our plans.

“Just to be with brothers who are so in love We have always tried to think of the place of the with Christ, like I am, is a huge support. The Church and that aspect of our life.” founder of the community says that ‘your brothIt is likely Br Jonathan will be posted to a miser is a stronghold for you’.” sion the brothers are thinking of starting in EnAlthough he had seemed to have had the idea glish-speaking countries, but he acknowledges of religious service in his mind, Br Jonathan is his future is in God’s hands. grateful for the help and inspiration he received from priests in Rotorua. However, he also says Verbum Spei that he was always in the faith through his family For more on the Verbum Spei Order, go to the life. following web site using Google translate: When he met the community in Mexico he http://verbumspei.com/ had a clear belief that this was where he was sup- Note: Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as posed to be. the Virgin of Guadalupe, is a Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary associated with a veneratDaily Mass ed image enshrined within the Minor Basilica of One of the intentions of being home schooled Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. was for the children to go to Mass daily when The basilica is the most visited Catholic pilpossible, leading to an upbringing where they grimage site in the world, and the world’s third were much closer to the Church than is usual. most-visited sacred site. Pope Leo XIII granted “The lifestyle has helped my brothers and the venerated image a Canonical Coronation on sisters and I to see that Christ and the Church 12 October 15.

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ketekorero November 2018 - January 2019

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the religious life Daily Mass at the heart of Kilkelly family life

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he parents of Josiah Kilkelly are happy to see him go through the process to become Brother Jonathan with the Verbum Spei religious community in Mexico.

Br Jonathan was back in Rotorua in August after discerning with the order (see separate story).

“We are very happy with Josiah becoming Brother Jonathan. We pray for God’s will and we trust in that,” Gabrielle and Matthew Kilkelly said.

The family has seven children: Michael 22, Br Jonathan 21, Sean 20, Grace 18 Jerome 17, Maureen 15 and James 8.

Gabrielle has home-schooled each of the children, a move that started mostly when they finished primary school at St Mary’s Catholic School, Rotorua.

“We have tried to foster in them all a really good faith,” Gabrielle says.

A key element in the decision to go the homeschool route was the opportunity to take the children to daily Mass.

“We hope we have helped them build a relationship with God, so they get to know God themselves. We also want them to think about other people rather than themselves.”

Although the move was to some extent led by the children, the family had friends who homeschooled, and it seemed to work well for their family. Gabrielle says she has loved having the children at home and schooling them.

“I have loved having them around and I have been happy getting them to Mass.”

Now that the children are or are becoming young adults, Gabrielle says they choose the directions in which they are going, and she and Matthew try their best to support them in this.

Brother Jonathan with his parents Gabrielle and Matthew.

Michael is doing law in Hamilton; Sean and Jerome are doing animation in Christchurch; Grace has finished a diploma in art and fashion and is heading to Spain for formation and discernment in the convent of Mary Morning Star and Maureen is hoping to do teaching.

Gabrielle says they are happy to see the children on their journey. “It is all there for their choosing. You can give them guidance, but at a certain point they have to make decisions.”

Most of the children have been to the Catholic World Youth Days overseas, where they have been able to see large numbers of Catholic youth vibrant in their faith.

Looking outside her family, Gabrielle advises

other parents to keep close to God with the daily Mass and the Rosary and try to lead children into thinking about others rather than themselves.

Living in a material world, where parents struggle to bring children to understanding spirituality, Gabrielle says it is important to start when they are young. Parents also have a duty to love and pray for their children so as to foster their faith.

“For me, it is trying to put God first in my life, so that anything I do is a reflection of that,” Gabrielle says.

Brother Johnathan with his grandparents, Mary and Joe Kilkelly.

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