Kete Korero February 2016

ketekorero February - April 2016

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The official publication of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton August-October February - April 2015 2016

Opening Mercy Door Maori Catechists mark new era Parish pilgrimage follows Pompallier Young Catholic leaders Saying farewell

Family Support

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In this issue...

ketekorero February - April 2016

bishop’s message

Read it online!

www.proudtobecatholic.org.nz

Merciful like the Father

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ith the start of Lent, I have placed on my altar in the chapel in my home a candle which depicts the logo for this Year of Mercy. The motto for the Year, Merciful like the Father, is taken from Luke’s Gospel… If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you?

Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 32-36).

At the heart of the icon for the Year of Mercy is Jesus the Good Shepherd taking upon his shoulders a lost soul, someone who is broken.

It reminds me of the parable of the Good Samaritan. We that Jesus is the wounded, risen Jesus from the holes in his hands. At the same time, Jesus and the man he is carrying look so much alike and this reminds us that he has taken on our humanity, our broken humanity.

Because of his incarnation, his taking our human flesh, there is no one beyond his mercy, no one beyond his offer of redemption. This is reflected in the merging of one of Jesus’ eyes with one of the man’s eyes. Jesus looks on us with love not only with his divine eyes but also through human eyes.

In the same way we are invited to gaze into the eyes of Jesus, into his face of mercy and discover the divine love of the Father, the divine sight we are called to embrace. It is in this mutual gaze we are invited to see a foretaste of heaven and at the same time to recognise the call to merciful like the Father.

This brings us back to ourselves. When we hear an account of true forgiveness it moves us deeply. And yet so often in our lives there are people that we haven’t forgiven, people who may have done us great harm or injustice.

Perhaps there are groups of people to whom we are prejudiced towards. If this is the case, then maybe our prayer needs to be Father, forgive me, because I can’t forgive yet, but I want to able to forgive. Help me be merciful as you are merciful.

Faith-based Community of Learning Bishop Steve Lowe was in Rotorua recently at a Mass for the launch of a Faith-based Community of Learning Project. Pictured is Bishop Steve with the John Paul College head girl Jessica Macdonald and head boy Robbie Wong-Toi and Brother Sir Patrick Lynch (right).

The project incorporates a group of nine Catholic schools in the Bay of Plenty.

Bishop’s Message Merciful like the Father

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Features Breaking down the walls to mercy 3 Maori catechists mark new era 4 Parish pilgrimage in the footsteps of Bishop Pompallier 8-9 The simple profession of Sister Jeanne Marie 10 School News Faith-based Community of Learning McKillop pupils celebrate Jubilee Rescue highlights importance of water skills Moving words win translation competition School leaders

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Parish News MenALIVE Hamilton a success 6 Family Support Services opens in Tauranga-Moana 7 Working with people living in disadvantage 7 Marriage celebrations in Putaruru 13 Soprano’s concert delights 13 St Vincent de Paul in Matata 13 Youth Young Catholic Leader Programme 12 SetFree changing lives 12 Saying Farewell: Obituaries Pa Hemi’s passion for Maori Mission Mill Hill Missionary Fathers had special links to Diocese The robust life of Fr Dan Johns Fiji community mourns loss

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

Deadline for contributions to the next issue is 12 April 2016 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, kete@cdh.org.nz 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 Design and layout: Sandy Thompson, Advocate Print 248 Fenton Street, Rotorua 3010 Printing: Beacon Print Ltd, 207 Wilson Road, Hastings 4153 ISSN: (print) 2357-2221 & (online) 2357-223X Cover Photos Front page: Bishop Steve Lowe blessing the Holy Door at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Hamilton.

The panel: A waka carrying Bishops Steve Lowe and Charles Drennan arrives at Motuhoa Island.

Bottom corner: Sharon Roil establishing the new Catholic Family Support Services office in Tauranga-Moana.

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feature Breaking down walls to mercy

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ishop Steve Lowe issued a challenge to all members of the Hamilton Catholic Diocese community during the celebration of the Rite of the Opening of the Door of Mercy for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year on 13 December.

“We’ve entered the Door of Mercy but what does it mean?” he asked during the homily in the Mass that followed the event.

The ceremony marked the start of a journey along a route set out by Pope Francis in announcing the Year of Mercy, leading to churches throughout New Zealand and around the world being designated as special places with Holy Doors.

Since the Hamilton Holy Doors were opened

at Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Hamilton, Bishop Steve has received a number of requests from parishes wishing to have Doors of Mercy opened in their churches.

He welcomed such requests.

His homily at the time of the Hamilton ceremony highlighted the challenge behind the Year of Mercy and the Holy Doors.

“We have to look at our lives,” Bishop Steve said, “at our relationships that have been shattered in many ways. What must we do to be more merciful?

“What would Jesus say to you if we asked him how can I be more merciful?

What’s the wall we built around ourselves? We need to look at the walls and how we justified them.”

Bishop Steve gave the example of the wall between Israel and Palestine.

“The Israelis call it a security wall and the Palestinians, who are locked behind it, call it the separation wall. Both speak a truth.”

The truth was in the icon of Our Lady of the Wall on the wall. A door below the icon is a door that looks through from Palestine to Israel.

“Mary is the one who said ‘yes’ to mercy; Mary is the one who takes down walls.”

Bishop Steve said mercy was God’s response to walls and shattered relationships.

“To enter the door of mercy is to discover again God’s love for us. To pass through the Holy Door is to rediscover the mercy of each one of us.”

The design behind the Holy Doors

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onsignor Trevor Murray and Jamie Cox were largely responsible for the design of the Holy Doors at the cathedral and the supporting resource material provided nationally.

The Holy Door contains images from the Holy Door found at St Peter’s Basilica, Rome and has quotes from Misericordiae Vultus, Pope Francis’ Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Msgr Trevor notes that, for the sake of symmetry, images from Panels One and Four of the Holy Door

at St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, have been repeated in the Holy Door at the cathedral.

The celebration contained elements of specific symbolism, the most symbolic of which was around the Opening of the Door of Mercy and the entrance into the Cathedral.

Bishop Steve read the Pope’s Solemn Proclation of the Bull of Indiction: Misericordiae Vultus – The Face of Mercy.

Deacon Peter Richardson provided support with readings.

The bishop invoked the opening of the Door that leads to God’s merciful

heart, made accessible through the open side of Christ on the cross (John 19:34) with the words: “Throw open the Door of Mercy.”

A Remembrance of Baptism was a key element to the Mass that followed, with a container of water blessed and sprinkled.

The Mass of the Third Sunday of Advent followed.

Although the ceremony had a serious intent, many of the congregation afterwards took a great deal of joy in examining the doors and having their photos taken in front of them.

Bishop Steve Lowe blessing the Door of Mercy (left) ; the congregation join in the ceremony (above); the Our Lady of the Wall icon on the wall separating Palestine and Israel (right); and the details of the panels of the Doors of Mercy.

Panel 1

Panel 2

Panel 3

Panel 4

The Angels at the Gates of Paradise

The Fall

Mary The Annunciation

The Angel of the Annunciation

Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan

The Lost Sheep

The Merciful Father

The Cure of a Paralytic

The Woman who was a Sinner

The Need for Forgiveness

Peter’s Denial

The Front of the Cruxifix The Good Thief

The Appearance to Thomas

Christ’s Appearance to the Disciples

The Conversion of Saul

Opening the Holy Door

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ketekorero February - April 2016

parish news Maori catechists mark new era

Above: Whanau support for the Catechists.

Right: The Catechists gather under the statue of St Mary with Bishop Steve Lowe (centre), the late Fr Hemi Hekiera (far left), Fr David Gledhill and Br Vincent Jury.

Bishop Steve blessinging Ed and Louise Kirk (below).

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n early December, while the annual Santa parade enlivened up the Saturday afternoon streets in Rotorua, the congregation in St Michael’s Church shared the twin celebration of a march into a new era for Maori parishioners.

The introduction and blessing of Maori catechists under the auspices of Father Hemi Hekiera and the recognition of the role played

by Father Anthony Timmerman has since taken on more significance.

Just before publication of this edition of Kete Korero, Fr Hemi died, while concerns remained around the health of Fr Tim.

Bishop Steve installing the Kaiawhina and Katekita.

With the development of the “Who is my neighbour?” strategic plan for the diocese, Fr Hemi and Fr David Gledhill had relocated to Rotorua, located at the former residence of the Mercy Sisters beside St Michael’s School.

Interviewed following the ceremony, Fr Hemi told Kete Korero Maori people were needed to take up the call to dedicate themselves to the church.

“The church is the people of God. That can be translated in many different ways. For me I translate it as being the leadership of the Catholic Church in different cultures and in different

people. It’s not just a clerical church anymore.

‘So you have people who are dedicated in the church. From the catechists’ point of view and the katekita and kaiawhina (men and women), we need Maori people to take out that call.’

The Anglican Church had different ministers for each marae and hapu who looked after the spirituality of the marae.

“So it is really a real Maori perspective, which was here from the very beginning,” Fr Hemi said, adding the move also reflected the Vatican Council in going in that direction.

Father Hemi leads out fellow priests and Bishop Steve after the Mass.

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parish news So what will be the role or the duties of the catechists?

“Any call or any ministry. They are doing this now – if any people want to say some prayers or attend any occasion.

“You see, Maori people do not always contact the church anymore, they contact people. They ask for help here and there and they don’t always go through official channels; it’s always been like that really, more so now because priests are harder to get hold of. And they (people) don’t always know how to work through the structure of the church to contact the people.”

Kaiawhina is the general term for a helper; call to give help. Women mostly fill this role, Fr Hemi said.

“That can be where we try to see individuals and what is their particular area of help that they can give. So it is specialised to the particular person, where they see their role may be. It is mostly for the women.”

Katekita is a person who can take on the role of a priest when a priest cannot be there.

“They cannot baptise or do marriages but they can do a lot of other things, especially tangi and unveilings; and marae protocol may call for a spiritual presence there.”

Fr Hemi said efforts were being made to ensure the catechists remained in touch with the local structure of the church in the area where they are.

“They would do many things the parish would not know but it is good to keep in contact. We don’t see it as a structure going on its own. We see it as part of the structure of the Catholic Church in the area here.”

Most of the catechists are based in Rotorua with some from Murupara and Tokoroa. They attended sessions involving Maori spirituality, Christian spirituality, theology, the Bible, pastoral work, prayers, and we try to get wider base of prayers and meditation.

However, Fr Hemi said it was not just like a lecture, more a familiarisation of practical

Pictured left to right: Frs Eamon Kennedy, Anselm Aherne MHM, Tovio Iusitino, Fr Anton Timmerman MHM, Bishop Steve, Frs David Gledhill SM, Mark Field, Hemi Hekiera SM. situations they may face in the roles.

Pa Tim, as he became widely known, now lives in Auckland. More details can be seen in an article by Marcel van Leeuwen in the November 2015-January 2016 edition of Kete Korero.

Interviewed after the ceremonies, Fr Timmerman said, although he was not able to learn the Maori language, he enjoyed being with the people in Rotorua.

“I enjoyed the Maori part of the parish.”

He said the ceremony for the catechists in December was part of the building of the church community and it was a sign that the faith was alive.

Note: An obituary for Pa Hemi can be found on Page 14 of this edition of Kete Korero.

Pa Tim listens to some of the many speakers during the celebration in the crypt at St Michael’s following Mass.

Well-wishers surrounded Pa Tim.

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ketekorero February - April 2016

parish news menALIVE Hamilton a success

Neighbours celebrate collegiality

By Alison Taylor ur parishioner representatives gathered on Sunday 22 November on the Feast of Christ the King for our first Collegial Area Mass.

Our Lady’ s lovely little church in Otorohanga, was too small to accommodate the number of “family” expected from north and south so Otorohanga South School Hall was the venue.

Our Lady’s parishioner Chris Tappenden’s beautiful floral arrangements decorated the venue, along with a pair of visually arresting icons borrowed by Diane Porter from the Diocese. The decorations were fitting frames for the small central altar from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, transported for the occasion.

Light reflecting brass and some extra sacred vessels on loan from collegial area neighbours ensured the stage was, literally and figuratively, set for a king. Clergy, led by Father Joe Stack, assistant priests Fathers Matt McAuslin and Aidan Mulholland, with Deacon Brian Whitlow, plus parish representatives as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, altar servers.

Readers of the Word, and the St George’s Music Group - organised by Margie Aguilar and pianist Suzanne Downey - were in tune with the Mass theme. At the conclusion of Mass, a large feast of finger food, put together from each parish’s plate contributions and served by host parishioners, was there for the taking.

The occasion provided us with an excellent opportunity to meet or renew contact with fellow area parish members, to congratulate Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parishioners on their 70th year since establishment, and their role as hosts for our area Mass.

Everyone enjoyed the experience of getting to know “Who Our Neighbours Are”.

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A report on the recent menALIVE event for men in Hamilton by Mike Conroy

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he weekend of 7-8 November 2015 saw just over 60 men, mostly from in and around Hamilton City, gathered at St Columba’s School Hall, Te Manawa, for a menALIVE event. The event, in the planning for about 12 months, was the first such event to be held in the Waikato region and is the fourth run in New Zealand.

Judging from the feedback received, it was a very successful event. The hope is that other parishes or parish clusters in other parts of New Zealand will take up the challenge of organising and running one of these events for men in their area. menALIVE is an Australian based Catholic Ministry to Men and is an event based ministry which does not seek membership wherever it goes. Its vision is instead to stimulate men to develop a more structured prayer life, particularly through scripture journaling, a form of Lectio Divina (or Divine Reading), and to encourage men to become more involved with the life of their parish.

Many men who adopt scripture journaling find it useful to join a small group of men who might meet on a regular basis to share some of the insights they have received, and in doing so strengthen the bonds between them as Catholic brothers.

The recent event in Hamilton was presented

by Peter Gabauer and Mark Lysaght from menALIVE Brisbane. The two-day programme started out with a very effective icebreaker session which soon saw men opening up to other men about aspects of their lives that some may not have ever shared before.

As the weekend unfolded, a series of talks were delivered covering topics entitled the Father’s Love, the Father’s Dream, the Father’s Son, What Then Must We Do and To Be a Man of God. After each talk, the attendees had the opportunity of sharing in small discussion groups and working through some thought provoking questions. earlier in the day to reflect upon.

The Sunday morning sessions were aimed at preparing the men to deepen their prayer life and encouraging greater involvement in parish life. In particular, there was a workshop which led men through an exercise in scripture journaling using the S.O.A.P. method – scripture, observation, application, and prayer.

There were some very moving testimonies shared during that time and clearly for many, the experience was life changing indeed.

Finally, we gathered for Holy Mass in the parish church nearby and we were joined by a number of family members for this. It was a fitting end to a very memorable weekend.

ketekorero February - April 2016

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parish news Family Support Services opens in Tauranga-Moana

By John Kavanagh atholic Family Support Services started a service over in the Tauranga-Moana region in January 2016. Initially, we are operating four days a week based at St Thomas More parish in Mt Maunganui. St Thomas Aquinas parish also supports the service, and we are operating for the benefit of the region.

Sharon Roil, who is one of our most experienced social workers, is setting up this service, promoting the work we do, and identifying the best way of providing assistance.

Sharon has previously worked for Catholic Family Support Services, then more than four years with the Corrections Department, before spending some time doing humanitarian studies and a stint of relief work in South Sudan.

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We are thrilled to have the opportunity to expand our services to another part of the diocese. It has long been an anomaly that we are a diocesan service, but are based solely in Hamilton. The problem, of course, has been that our contracts have been restricted to the Hamilton area, making it tough to get funding to start up a new service these days.

Catholic Family Support Services offers a very distinct service. We are committed to the Principles of the Church’s social teaching and this does mark us out, I believe, from other social services.

I hope that parishioners in the Western Bay get to see some of the wonderful work we do and support us.

Sharon can be contacted on 021 389847.

Sharon Roil setting up the new Family Support Services office.

Working with people living in disadvantage

By John Kavanagh ope Francis has in his short time as Pope, challenged us as Catholics to focus on those in need. One of his quotes that applies to us at Catholic Family Support Services is “I have a dogmatic certainty: God is in every person’s life. God is in everyone’s life. Even if the life of a person has been a disaster, even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs or anything else - God is in this person’s life. You can - you must - try to seek God in every human life”.

Clients who seek our budgeting service are often those who are most disadvantaged in our society. While we do get many who have got themselves into financial trouble through bad decisions, others have had a lifetime

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of deprivation and have never experienced anything other than living on a very limited income. It is one of the most challenging things, working to help people move out of debt when they just do not have enough money to do much more than survive.

Many of these people are tempted to borrow to alleviate their situation through financial institutions, which offer quick or easy access to money. Often these loans incur quite highinterest rates. From that point on, it is very hard to help borrowers recover. A lot of our work then is about helping them get out of their financial difficulties.

We run our budgeting service from our office in Morrinsville Road, but we also run an outpost at the St Vincent de Paul shop in Frankton, two days a week. Most of those who use our service refer themselves, but other agencies such as Work and Income, and other community groups refer others.

We have recently established a relationship with Community Corrections and see clients referred by Probation Officers at St Vincent de Paul. We also run a money management and cooking class with Corrections clients once a month. Our aim is to teach them skills so that they do not get themselves into financial trouble.

People from all nationalities use our service.

We recently had a migrant family with four small

Leave your loved ones fond memories .... not your funeral costs Please collect a brochure, (incl. information document, application form) from the Parish foyer or contact

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children. The father had seasonal work, so they often had no money for food from week to week due to the changeable nature of the work. As a consequence of this, they incurred high bank fees as regularly defaulted payments cost the couple anything from $80 to $150 weekly. Further, the family had overextended themselves with credit cards and loans to meet family commitments back home. They had not fully understood the consequences. Over the months of working with this family, their weekly budget has changed from $600 in deficit to $53 surplus.

Thanks to the work of our budget advisors we were able to provide support to negotiate with creditors, apply for hardship through Kiwisaver, so they can start paying off some of the loans.

This family is still living a hand-to-mouth existence, but they had gained some control over their situation.

Not every client has such a positive outcome.

Some are so far in debt that there is only one thing they can do, and that is to apply for insolvency under the No Asset Procedure (NAP) or bankruptcy process. Some just do not want to face up to their situation and, consequently, they do not manage to get on top of their debt.

However, as Pope Francis says, it is our job to continually see God in that person’s life and to persevere in trying to get the best outcome for that person.

St Vincent de Paul opens Matata food bank St Vincent de Paul now have a Food Bank in Matata to cater for the needy and under-privileged of that area. It is situated in the Community Centre on Wilson Street.

The Centre is open daily from 9.00a.m.

Until 4.00p.m.

Thanks to the cooperation of the Trustees of the Centre and Manager Linda Bush.

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ketekorero February - April 2016

feature

Parish pilgrimage in the footsteps of Bishop Pompallier

By Patricia Brooks Photos by Moana Bianchin hortly after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi Bishop Pompallier sailed to Tauranga to open a Mission Station that encompassed all of the Bay of Plenty and some of the Waikato.

Known as the Mission of St Thomas Aquinas, this oldest parish in New Zealand was known by the names of the churches, St Mary Immaculate at Tauranga and St Joseph’s at Te Puna.

Recently these two parishes have combined and are now known by their earlier name of St Thomas of Aquinas.

On the Sunday closest to the feast of St Thomas Aquinas, a parish pilgrimage retraced Pompallier’s visit of 175 years ago to Motuhoa Island, a smaller island in Tauranga Harbour that shelters in the lee of Matakana Island.

The pilgrimage was hosted by the Motuhoa whanau and the Borell and Bidois families whose ancestors welcomed Bishop Pompallier in 1840.

Like Bishop Pompallier, Bishop Steve Lowe arrived at Motuhoa Island by waka from the mainland. Bishop Lowe was accompanied by Bishop Charles Drennan from Palmerston North.

Arranged by Kiritoha Tangitu, the 50-plus enthusiastic paddlers included Fr Edwin Macmac, a Filipino priest who has been a Tauranga for the past 18 months.

They were welcome ashore by a powhiri led

by Huati and Colin Palmer from Tuwhiwhi Hapu of Matakana Island, the tangata whenua.

More than 200 parishioners made their pilgrimage to Motuhoa Island by barge from Omokoroa and greeted the bishops’ arrival by

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The waka carrying Bishops Steve Lowe and Charles Drennan arrives at Motuhoa Island (above).

Bishop Steve prepared for the ceremonies ahead (below left).

Parishioners make the pilgrimage by barge from Omokoroa (below right).

ketekorero February - April 2016

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feature

waka on the foreshore.

It was a beautiful Bay of Plenty day, children played in the sand and sea while adults sought shelter from the trees. The absence of any near visible buildings created a scene not unlike that when Pompallier was here.

Mass was celebrated by Bishop Steve Lowe, Bishop Charles Drennan, Fathers Mark Field and Edwin Macmac.

In his homily, Bishop Steve said he came to bring the Good News as Pompallier had 175 years ago. The same Good News the Jesus Christ brought from heaven.

As the Apostle John shared the Good News with Polycarp who became a Bishop in Smyrna, a town in modern Turkey who in turn shared it with Irenaeus who became Bishop of Lyon in France. It was in that city that Pompallier was born and the Marist order was founded. It was Pompallier and the Marists who brought the good news to Tauranga.

“This is the whakapapa of our faith. Our Christian faith is not a pakeha faith, for it is a taonga, a treasure that comes from God, for all people. We live the faith together, that’s why we have the Church, the people of God support each other as a whanau.”

Bishop Steve referred to the paddlers who had brought him safely across the harbour to Motuhoa Island, saying that he depended of their skill for his safe arrival.

“We all have to be paddlers of the waka of the Church, otherwise the taonga of faith, the taonga from God, the taonga brought here from Pompallier will die.”

During the Mass, 14 babies and children were baptised and given Miraculous Medals, as Bishop Pompallier had given such medals to those he baptised.

Bishop Pompallier later bought an eighty foot schooner. He renamed it the Sancta Maria and had a large replica of the Miraculous Medal emblazoned on the sail. Pompallier sailed around New Zealand in the Sancta Maria visiting his pastoral area and sailed to Fatuna to collect the body of the Marist martyr St Peter Chanel in 1842.

A picnic lunch was enjoyed by the pilgrims at Motuhoa Marae before returning to the mainland by barge.

Fourteen babies and children were baptised during the Mass (top).

The pilgrims return to the mainland by barge (above).

An umbrella provides much-needed shade on the island.

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ketekorero February - April 2016

feature The Simple Profession of Sister Jeanne Marie

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n the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, on 12 November 21t 2015, Sister Jeanne Marie from New Zealand, Sr Grace Anne from America, Sr Chiara Lucia from Mexico and Sr Therese Alix from China made their simple profession as a Sister of Mary, Morning Star. These four nuns are a reflection of the truly multinational community of the Sisters of Mary, Morning Star. Each culture was respected and included within the service as different parts of the Mass were sung and spoken in Latin, French, Chinese, Spanish and English.

About 50 sisters from the community arrived from all parts of the globe to support their fellow sisters in this special celebration. Sister Jeanne Marie and Sister Grace Anne were blessed to also have members of their family present at the ceremony. Oblates of the community of the Sisters of Mary, Morning Star, who have associated themselves with the community, were in attendance along with friends and supporters of the sisters from the local community. About 80 people shared in the joy of the profession, along with three priests and the local deacon.

The sisters ensured that all members of the congregation understood significant parts of the service by allocating a translator as appropriate.

For example, the homily, which was spoken in French and reverently translated into Spanish and English by multilingual sisters in a quiet non-intrusive manner.

The profession took place within the Mass.

At the beginning of the service, the sisters processed in with the priests. Each experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit in their own way.

Sr Jeanne Marie’s family: Paul, Sr Jeanne Marie, Alana, Shona (Mum) and Michelle.

Sister Jeanne Marie was filled with joy and couldn’t stop smiling, the smile of a bride at her wedding. Her face glowed with happiness and her eyes sparkled with excitement.

The ceremony began with the “Venia”. The four sisters prostrated themselves before the altar as all the sisters chanted the “Veni Creator Spiritus”.

The ceremony followed with the interrogations of the responsible sisters and responses of the four sisters, where they asked for the mercy of God and the help of their fellow sisters. They also ask to become hidden like Mary, to become small and hidden so that God can become large in their lives.

After the liturgy of the word and the homily, each sister advanced in turn to profess their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in the hands of the Prioress. And after having signed her vows on the altar, each returned to sing her praying of self-giving or “Suscipe” – “Receive me Lord according to your word, and I shall live, do not deceive my waiting.

Alleluia” - Ps 118:16.

The ceremony ended with a special blessing for the newly professed sisters and their new veils were also blessed.

The music throughout the service was provided by the sisters’ choir. Within the community. each sister is given certain responsibilities, and those with a talent for singing are assigned to the choir. The choir’s many hours of practice and rehearsal were very evident. A small group of six sisters carried their voices in pure harmony, and the gift of their music enriched

Sr Jeanne Marie sings her prayer of self-giving or “Suspice”.

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each of us and the ceremony. After the mass, all those present were invited to continue the celebration with a shared meal. As part of the celebration, sisters sang and played musical instruments for us. We in turn had prepared two songs for them.

We sang Mo Maria and Tutira Mai Nga Iwi. Both songs were delightfully received by the sisters, and the talented singers were very quickly able to join in the chorus of Mo Maria.

We did some simple actions to Tutira Mai Nga Iwi and the sisters enjoyed re-enacting these whenever Sister Jeanne Marie came into a room over the next day or so.

The day had begun in prayer and, as befitting the occasion, the day ended in prayer with the sisters, their family members and friends of the community moving into a time of quiet adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. During this adoration, each group of families was blessed with the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The following day, the feast of Christ the King, the celebrations continued and we were invited to join in with the sisters’ liturgy with further times of prayer, the divine office, adoration and a mass of thanksgiving.

As befits a community with a strong focus of the study of philosophy and theology in order to understand God, themselves and their fellow human beings, a class was given on the mystery of the presentation of Mary. The class given in French was once again lovingly translated into English for us.

After the office of Vespers (evening prayer) of Christ the King, Sr. Jeanne Marie’s younger sister, Michelle, became an oblate of the Sisters of Mary, Morning Star. An oblate is a layperson who affiliates themselves with a religious community, desiring to live the spirit of the community in the world where they live.

Cross venerated Sister Jeanne Marie and her fellow sisters were overawed by the cross she received.

The meaning of the carvings on the cross were recited many times as sisters came and went throughout the day.

Many sisters instinctively connected with the cross’s spirit and willingly venerated it and shared their wairua with it as we had within our parishes. Our prayers and theirs were truly connected through the conduit of the cross, and I am sure we will continue to be connected spiritually.

Shona Woodhead

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Fax: 07 857 0901 Andrew Clements aclements@gclegal.

ketekorero February - April 2016

11

school news McKillop pupils celebrate Jubilee Top students and leaders Aquinas College

2016 Head Boy Liam Burn and Head Girl Kimberly D’Mello

Campion College

Head Prefects 2016: Jessica Blakeman and Duncan Summerfield.

St John’s College

The McKillop College, Rotorua, 50th Jubilee 2016 attracted 122 registrants. The number lent itself to an intimate and relaxing journey, spending precious quality time with old school friends, the Sisters of St Joseph, teachers, parents and friends of McKillop College.

Rescue highlights importance of water skills

Jack Virtue, then a student at Gisborne’s Campion College, was involved in the rescue of four people from a rip at Wainui Beach in early summer.

Jack, an off-duty surf lifesaver, was watching the surf from his car when he saw the drama unfold in front of him. Jack managed to reach the two youngest youths and bring them to other helpers on the beach before going back to rescue the other two. All four people were safely brought back to shore.

“It is great to see the benefits that surf lifesaving brings to our community especially with so many beaches,” the school newsletter noted. “We need many young people trained like Jack for such circumstances.”

Campion College started the 2015 school year with the tragic drowning of John and Paul Wakelyn and that adds impetus to the thanks and congratulations to Jack for his

quick responses and his ability to bring these people to safety and avert another multiple tragedy.

“We encourage all youths to learn to swim for survival and to consider the benefits of surf lifesaving. You never know when you may need these skills.”

At the time of the rescue, Jack was a Year 13 student at Campion College and had finished high school apart from final exams and plans to attend the New Zealand Maritime School this year. Jack is the son of Gavin and Jenny Virtue from Wainui.

The photo and additional reporting courtesy of The Gisborne Herald.

2015 Dux Portia Thompson and Proxime Acessit Annabel Anderson

Sacred Heart College

Samuel Jaques (Headboy), Taylor Hamlin (Dux) and Cameron Lafferty (Academic Leader).

John Paul College

2016 Student Leaders (from left): Special Character Leader Juanita Raman; Head Girl Jemma McClymont and Deputy Head Girl Madeleine Muldowney.

Portia Baine, the 2015 Dux and is attending Victoria University doing Law. Proxime Accessit, Emily 2016 Head Girl Jessica Macdonald Sopers, is at Waikato University and Head Boy Robbie Wong-Toi studying towards an Engineering degree.

Moving words win translation competition Two Year 12 students from John The competition theme was Paul College won a 2015 national “Peace” and Kesia Kurian and literacy prize by translating a Bethany Cheesman chose a poem French poem into English.

by Victor Hugo in rhyming couplets The competition was run by the and translated it into English, also New Zealand Centre for Literacy using rhyming couplets.

Translation and Wai-te-ata Press at Their translation is presented Victoria University. below.

After the Battle My father, a hero of smiles so kind With the horseman he loved, who followed behind.

He was a great horseman who feared no attack After the battle, they roamed on horseback The death covered field on which night was falling And my father, he heard from the shadows a calling T’was a Spaniard from the army that had lost the fight He dragged himself, bleeding, into their sight Gasping, broken, pale, half dead “A drink, a drink, for pity’s sake!”, he said Turning to the loyal horseman, his actions heartfelt Father took a flask of rum from his saddle-belt And said, “Here, give a drink to the poor injured man” But suddenly as the dismounted horseman began To head towards he of the Moorish land The Spaniard seized a pistol that lay by his hand And aimed at my father, crying, “To hell!”

The shot passed so close that his hat cleanly fell And his horse reared back as if from flame “Give him a drink all the same.”

12

ketekorero February - April 2016

youth Young Catholic Leader Programme

T

he Young Catholic Leader Programme (YCL) is for year 12 students from Catholic secondary schools in the Hamilton Diocese going into a leadership role in 2016, or wanting to better develop their leadership skills. Students outside of Catholic secondary schools were also invited to attend the inaugural leadership programme.

Leaders gathered for five days of leadership training and character building sessions while also having the opportunity to grow in friendship with like-minded young people.

The programme took place at Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp on 1216 December 2015. The camp was a great success. We look forward to hosting this event again in 2016.

Akasha Rio tells her journey of YCL. Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behaviour, love, faithfulness, and purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 YCL taught me that with a hunger for justice we are more than what others deem us to be and we will go beyond their expectations.

YCL challenged 20 youth leaders; physically, emotionally and mentally. Each day there was a test, in every role, in every game, in every session, even in every prayer.

Throughout the five days and four nights, we continued to grow as we were inspired by our leaders, by our bishop and by our fellow parish priests.

What was YCL? YCL was the beginning of our lives as leaders of Christ, a push into the world of passion and change. We were taught that with every journey you must make a start with courage and passion.

You must excel and promote proactive leadership, healthy friendships, teamwork and service.

The call to lead is not to be taken lightly; It demands perseverance and commitment in the moments of failure, and humility in the moments of success.

As a leader, you must always have a vision, a plan, and a group of extraordinary individuals that will aid your cause but also support and

advise you the entire way.

The week began with 26 strangers who knew nothing about one another or what may lay ahead. We were placed in cabins with people we did not know but would soon be having “lights out� conversations with. Put into small groups with people we did not recognise but soon be singing chants and cheering one another on. YCL was not only an opportunity for individuals to enhance their abilities as leaders but also to surround ourselves with people who held the same determination to become youth leaders of tomorrow.

We ate, slept, swam, played, laughed, cried, danced and grew as friends and as a family.

When I looked back on those days, I remember the sense of comfort I had with this group. The freedom to express my ideas and emotions without judgement and to find peace with God. YCL was liberating.

SetFree changing lives SetFree is changing lives, and is renewing the faith of the next generation!

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Join with over 200 youth and young adults, speakers, priests and religious from New Zealand and abroad in Tokoroa for SETFREE 2016.

The theme for SetFree is the motto of the Year of Mercy: Merciful Like The Father.

SetFree 2016 will be hosted at the South Waikato Sport and Events Centre, Tokoroa from 18-20 March. Given this change, SetFree will begin at an earlier time of 1:30pm at Papa O Te Aroha with the official Powhiri. Thankfully, the change in venue means we are able to offer youth and young adults registration at the reduced price of $75 each.

REGISTER NOW at setfree.org.nz or e-mail hello@catholicyouth.org.nz for more details.

Without the opportunity to attend YCL, I would not know the foundation of leadership and my relationship with God. I would also be oblivious to how much appreciation and respect I would have for an unique group of 26 leaders of Christ.

I say with great certainty the YCL class of 2015 of the Hamilton Diocese will strive for excellence, go beyond their own limitations, continue to challenge the world and inspire others.

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ketekorero February - April 2016

13

parish news Marriage celebrations in Putaruru John Fong istory was made in Putaruru recently when two brothers and their respective wives celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary within three weeks of each other.

John Mathis married Audrey Ashley on April 30, 1955 and his brother Frederick married Eileen Leslie on May 21, 1955. All four were born in Putaruru and have lived there all their lives and attend St Patrick Catholic Church.

John and Audrey are blessed with eight children, 21 grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren while Frederick and Eileen have seven children, 19 grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.

John says that he and Audrey have a very happy marriage and are blessed also with six fine sons-in-law and two lovely daughters-in-law.

And how have they stayed together for all these years? “Love and respect for each, and praying together,” says John.

Frederick says that patience, old-fashioned values, commitment and always being there for the other regardless of what circumstances may bring formed the basis of their successful marriage.

During the morning Mass at St Patrick Church, parish priest Fr Vincent Jones surprised the couples by presenting to each of the couples a framed blessing from the Pope.

Meanwhile, 22.4 km away in Tokoroa, parishioners of St Pius X Kevin and Kathleen (Jo) Cantwell, also celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They were also presented with a Papal blessing by Fr Vincent Jones.

Kevin and Jo were married in Wanganui on August 27, 1955 in St Mary’s Church by Fr Tom Cook SM, a cousin of Jo’s father. In 1964, Kevin and Jo moved to Tokoroa. Kevin was one of 10 siblings and Jo was one of nine. So, in keeping with tradition, they themselves have

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Fr Vincent Jones presents Kevin and Jo Cantwell with their Papal blessing. (Pic by Richard Mace.) eight children, 21 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren.

Jo says that marriage is not an easy ride and can be hard work. There must be commitment from both spouses. “Unless each person is prepared to sacrifice some of their wants for the needs of their relationship and their families, it will never succeed,” she says and adds, “and a sense of humour is also essential!”

She says that there have been bad times which had to be faced together. Their faith has been a life-line and the knowledge that there is a greater being than themselves is a great comfort and support. They also appreciate the support of likeminded people and the in-put and friendship of the Sisters and clergy.

“Any couple” says Jo, “who have remained loyal to each other for many years is just as worthy of this special [Papal] award!”

Collection split decided Following the last Council of Priests’ meeting it was recommended to Bishop Steve Lowe that the Sunday Collection and Direct Credit be split as follows: 70 per cent for the support of the Parish and Diocese, 30 per cent for the support of the Clergy. Throughout the Diocese there were inconsistencies in how each Parish made the split. Bishop Steve accepted this proposal and mandated this split for the Diocese of Hamilton.

The split is to take place as soon as possible. All parishes must comply by 1 January 2017.

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Soprano’s concert delights

John Fong n Sunday of 29 November 2015, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton reverberated with the beautiful soprano voice of Monica Orbe as she gave a concert to raise funds for the poor in her home country of the Philippines.

Her repertoire ranged from the sacred to the popular. It was a wonderful display of Monica’s musical talents: good intonation, pitch control, rhythm and phrasing; an ability to express appropriate emotions and her wide vocal range, reaching the top notes effortlessly and with good breath control. In addition, words could be clearly understood.

Monica’s musical talents come from her mother, Theresa who is a pianist and singing teacher. Both give of their time to the Cathedral, being members of the choir (both are singers and Theresa is deputy conductor), and helping at weddings and funerals. Monica and Theresa were also guest musicians at the Auckland Eucharistic Convention held in 2015.

Monica also plays the piano and guitar.

Monica’s time in Hamilton is now restricted as she began her medical training as a doctor in 2015 at the University of Auckland. While as a 14-year old, Monica was a semi-finalist in NZ Got Talent.

She has just returned from the Philippines after spending a month with her family (this is her first visit home after arriving in New Zealand in June 2010). While back home, she gave a concert to raise further funds.

O

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ketekorero February - April 2016

obituary Pa Hemi’s passion for Maori Mission Michael Smith ather Hemi Hekiera SM, who died at Rotorua Hospital on 5 February, was professed a Marist on 28 January, 1960, and ordained on 16 December 1964 by Bishop Reginald Delargey at Fitzroy, New Plymouth.

Aged 76 at the time of his death, Pa Hemi was the son of Rangi and Pi Hardwood and his links to Taranaki saw his burial at Parihaka.

I knew Pa Hemi only briefly, interviewing him for Kete Korero after release of the plans for Maori participation in “Who is my neighbour?”, the new collegial plan for the diocese. I interviewed Pa Hemi and his counterpart Fr David Gledhill at Whakatane, even though by that time they were both based at Rotorua following moving the former convent at St Michaels Catholic School.

They were so busy, it was the only way to get together with them was to meet them on one of their road trips. Pa Hemi was elected to speak and, although he was hesitant, he forcefully provided a definition of “Whaia Te Whaea” and how this new collegiality would benefit Maori parishioners throughout the diocese.

Fr Phil Cody SM, in his eulogy at the funeral in St Joseph’s, New Plymouth, remarked how one lady, on hearing of Hemi’s death, offered sympathy to his family and commented: Pa was a good person, a good Marist and a good priest; he was passionate and a person of vision.

“Hemi was indeed passionate. He never let a goal go.”

This passionate side was also reflected on the golf course where he would never give up.

“That quality of life – to start and start again – Hemi exemplified in his life and ministry.

Starting Te Ahi Ka (faith-sharing), then the vibrant Waka Aroha in North and South Islands and its energy and ability to encourage people to be fully Maori and fully Catholic in God’s ‘Canoe of Love’. Then Kura Tau and then starting again with Whaia te Whaea – always seeking the best and newer ways for people to grow.”

Hemi was also a person of vision. Fr Phil recalls him confessing during a meeting of the Society of Mary that he had not been the best of Marists but how he “we are called back to our main mission – to reach out to the marginal and to be truly instruments of God’s Mercy…” It was like a beacon to us all and set a new energy and focus for the Chapter, Fr Phil commented, noting that his vison was utterly wrapped up with Te Whaea, Mary! “[He had] Utter faith and trust in her. He wore out his Rosary beads and a set had to be put together to go with him in his coffin. It was

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her call, her mission, her wisdom he sought and followed – “Whaia Te Whaea”. Follow the guiding hand of Mary.

Fr Phil directed thanks to Fr David Gledhill thanks for this companionship with Hemi in the past few years. He described them as a somewhat unlikely but wholly committed team, both supportive and challenging. He kupu whakamoemiti mōu nā Hemi ake, e hoa.. kia maia; a tōnā wā ka tutaki tāua anō.

Hemi held being Maori lightly, without fuss, with many family and elders at the tangi not being too sure who ‘Pa Hemi’ was, recalling him more easily as Bobby Harwood!

“However, Hemi thought it important to take up a Maori name [Hekiera being the name of his grandfather]. Likewise to learn te reo Māori well and speak it. E Hemi, me āwhina te iwi Māori kia tupu haere anō – i ngā Whaea tapu; i ngā pirihi, i ngā katakita Māori, in ngā wāhi katoa.

“Hemi had a great love of the Church and diocesan friends in so many places, and with so many individuals. Bishops and priests, thank you for your friendship and support, especially yourself, Bishop Denis. We share with you a friend in heaven, waiting with his smile and enthusiasm.”

Hemi spent his ministry to strengthen Maori as Maori and Catholic in Maori Mission, Maori Pastoral Care and finally in Whaia Te Whaea, Fr Phil said. This took place in Whangarei, Whanganui, Paki Paki, Te Puke, Wellington and Porirua. Then these last 20 years in the Mission of Mary at Hato Paora, Feilding, Te Kuiti, Hamilton, Taumarunui, Te Puna and Katikati and finally based at Rotorua. Hemi’s vision included the Society reaching out to the whanau Maori in Australia.

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athers Wim Tuerlings and Patrick Lorenzo Bracken, who died in December 2015, were Mill Hill Missionary priests with connections to the Hamilton Catholic Diocese.

Fr Wim, who died on 2 December at the age of 84, was ordained a priest on 8 July 1956 having entered the seminary at Tilburg, The Netherlands, where he grew up. In 1965, he was appointed to New Zealand where the Mill Hill mission was to work among Maori.

During his time here, Fr Wim immersed himself in local life. A visitor in the late 1970s wrote, “Wim obviously enjoys his work. He is quite handy as a carpenter, is cleared loved by the Maori people and has a great rapport with them. He possibly works too hard.”

He is credited with being responsible for the building in Tokoroa of the Papa O Te Aroha Marae, and he also served as editor of the Maori newsletter “Te Unga Waka”, and produced a Maori hymnal.

Fr Wim wrote a history of the Mill Hill mission among Maori, in which he concluded: “Looking back over my priestly years, the words of II Timothy 1:9 come to mind: God has saved us and called us to a holy life, not because of any merit of ours but according to His own design.”

He was recalled to The Netherlands in the early 1970s. While out walking on the Johannahoeveweg on 20 November 2015, he had a fall and was taken to hospital where, sadly, he died. On 7 December there His Requiem Eucharist followed by burial in the Mill Hill cemetery in Oosterbeek on 7 December.

Fr Patrick, who spent 27 years in New Zealand, died in Ireland at the age of 83 on 5 December 2015. Born on 26 June 1932 in Ireland, he was ordained a priest in 1957, and received an appointment to New Zealand.

He served among Maori in Auckland, Rotorua and Murupara, where a general councillor noted during a visit some years later that “He has become in a way a social and domestic counsellor for the township (Murupara). People are calling at his house at all hours of the day and night. His was a most impressive example of responding to the needs of the whole man.” It was also noted that he had been an excellent prison chaplain.

On taking up a Mill Hill Missionary promotion ministry in Ireland from 1984-2013, he travelled extensively, pioneering in people’s homes, shops, petrol stations and even pubs, where it is said he picked up not only “the smell of the sheep” (as Pope Francis has described good priestly ministry) but also the famous beverage stamped with the golden harp.

Fr Patrick’s health had been a concern for some time and he was cared for in a nursing home from 2012. The funeral Mass was at the Church of the Assumption, Tullamore, on 7 December with burial in Clonminch cemetery.

Kete Korero is grateful for the details supplied by the Mill Hill Missionaries.

ketekorero February - April 2016

15

obituary The robust life of Fr Dan Johns Michael Smith With input from Peter Richardson ather Dan Robert Johns, who died on New Year’s Eve 2015, could be likened to the Jonah Lomu of the priesthood. Certainly, he lived his life as robustly as the famous All Black and, sadly, he also shared aspects of tragedy and illness that seemed to dog the much younger man.

Aged 78 at the time, Fr Dan was a priest serving at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton. He was renowned for rising early every morning to walk 2.5 kilometres to buy meat and milk, then be home in time to go to Mass at 6.30 am.

Fr Johns grew up on Viti Levu the main island in Fiji, the youngest boy of nine children in a very religious family. In 1951 to be invited to go to St John’s College, Cawaci, Ovalau the next year and here he excelled at sport. As well as breaking the Fiji School record for 440 yards he received much attention and adulation from spectators in a rugby career that included playing in the first Fiji Secondary School XV against a Tongan school boys team Although drawn to the glories of the sporting world, the young Dan joined three others from Fiji in studying at the Holy Name Seminary in Riccarton, Christchurch, under the Jesuits from 1956-58. The then Archbishop of Suva Victor Foley thought it was time for Fijians to have local clergy who belonged to the bishop and, although he was a Marist, he determined they should go to study under the Jesuits.

It was at the seminary that Fr Dan met the now Bishop Emeritus Denis Browne, who remembers his young counterpart as playing rugby like an early version of Lomu.

“Dan could have represented his country at rugby or athletics, but he gave it all away to go to the seminary.”

Fiji’s loss turned out to be the seminary’s gain, as he became the star winger on the rugby team.

“He was a similar type to Jonah – a highstepping winger who could not be tackled and scored try-after-try.”

The four who had travelled to the seminary in 1956 were all ordained in Suva on 8 July 1962. His first appoint from 1963 to 1966 was in Vanuakula, an area with few roads, and this was followed by postings in Suva and to a seaside mission station at Naiserlagi. It was here that Fr Dan decided to take leave from his priestly duties and return home.

What followed was what he later described as “the most difficult period of my life”. After struggling to find work, he eventually got a job as an assistant salesperson with Hook Fiji Ltd, an Australian land management company. He then worked for an Australian pest control firm before going out on his own.

Business flourished until the 1987 military coup intervened. He remained in business until 1993, when parliament was re-elected, at which time he took a job as a parliamentary secretary for the General Voters’ Pary of which he was a member.

By this time, he had married a Monica Martha, described by one source as “the love of his life”. Martha was a nun, who was formerly a teacher and religious of the Sister of Our Lady of

Fiji community mourns loss

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Fr Dan laid to rest at Ohaupo.

Fr Dan Johns pictured with Suva Cathedral and Church in the background.

Nazareth.

They were married on 17 December 1977 after he had received a dispensation from the Holy See to get married. They moved to Suva and they remained there until her death nearly 30 years later.

Tragedy touched his life in other ways but Fr Dan’s commitment to his Catholic faith had never dwindled. He opened the Suva Cathedral church every morning at 6 am and was chairman of the parish council.

Petero Mataca, the first Fijian Archbishop of Suva, was a friend of Dan Johns and encouraged him when he came back and said he wanted to go back into ministry.

Bishop Denis was ordained about the same time as Bishop Mataca and was a good friend.

“I said to him ‘Dan is such a well-known person in Fiji; it might be easier for him to get back into priestly ministry somewhere else. So if you would like to send him down to Hamilton, we’ll give him a position’.”

The last five years of his life, apart from a short spell back as a priest in Suva, were spent at the Cathedral in Hamilton.

Fr Dan kept up his habit of saying early morning Mass. His marriage added another dimension to his service – throwing in a line like “I said to Monica my wife once…” when he realised the congregation might be drifting.

His other great strength was that he loved taking confessions at 11.30 am every day to the extent that he built up a following.

“He said to me not long before he died that once a person goes regularly to the same confessor, the person becomes relaxed and gets to know themselves and their spiritual progress.

Instead of people having a shopping list of things they’ve done wrong, it’s a relationship journey with Jesus and God. “He used to say the less you can say the better as a confessor, because it is God working through the confessor.”

After a Requiem Mass celebrated at the Cathedral, Fr Dan was buried at Ohaupo Catholic Cemetery as part of his stipulation he should remain in New Zealand rather imposing the cost on the community of being taken back to Fiji.

The connection the Fiji Catholic community felt with Fr Dan Johns was highlighted in a eulogy delivered by Julian Sing at the Requiem Mass.

Julian noted how he knew the priest simply as Mr Dan Johns for most of his life and as “a union man, chairman of the Parish council, member of the Bilo Levu club and husband of Mrs Monica Johns, who was a teacher to all my three sisters at St Anne’s School in Suva, friend and fellow teacher with my parents.”

The community was fortunate that Fr Dan was able to serve in the Diocese of Hamilton and the growing Fiji community here.

“Previously, where we had community Masses in Auckland and we were looked after by the then Auckland chaplain Fr Mika, we the Fiji Catholics here in Hamilton were rightly proud and indeed privileged to have our Fiji priest right in our midst.”

Julian said, however, that Fr Dan was firstly dedicated to his service as a priest at the Hamilton Cathedral Parish.

“Early morning Mass and hearing confessions every day, along with the visiting of the sick and the elderly, was always the priority for him.

Inviting him to our homes in the evening, you always were mindful of the fact he would be at morning Mass the next day.”

As a priest, his love for the eucharist was very much evident, he loved his morning Mass, even during the interval he was away from the priesthood.

“We are thankful for his time as a priest, especially his loyal and dedicated service to the church in Hamilton and to the Fiji community in Hamilton.”

Fr Dan never gave up the opportunity to give a homily at weekday Masses, even during the time when he was quite sick and walking to the pulpit and delivering the homily left him breathless and tired. “This will be a new beginning for our small Fiji community, but we are thankful for the experiences that have allowed us to stand taller as Catholics, and as people from Fiji here in Hamilton.”

More toka mada vakalailai saka na matuatabu. Me nomuni na kalougata ni bula tawamudu.

Vinaka.

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16

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ketekorero February - April 2016

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