Kete korero may 2018

ketekorero May - July 2018

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The official publication of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton May - July 2018

Celebrating deacons

New Pastoral Services Team Making Catholic teachers A mountain of love in Te Aroha Winter support needed in Edgecumbe The daily challenge of a parish priest

Animating Youth

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ketekorero May - July 2018

bishop’s message Care for our Common Home is Caring for Our Neighbour

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hortly after Easter, the New Zealand bishops met with the bishops of Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Islands and Australia in Port Moresby, for our four-yearly meeting of the Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania.

Also attending the meeting was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Vatican who is effectively number two to Pope Francis. The Assembly’s theme was Care for our Common Home of Oceania: A Sea of Possibilities. Various scientists were in attendance, reflecting on the impact of climate change and seabed mining.

It is so easy to put such issues “out there” and say “they don’t really impact on me.” For some of our Pacific neighbours, however, it is a question of whether they will stay above water as sea levels rise. The Pacific Islands, New Zealand and parts of Australia have been battered with unprecedented cyclones and tropical storms. Parts of Australia and Papua New Guinea have experienced massive droughts.

In Papua New Guinea, international companies want to commence seabed mining that is prohibited in their own countries in an area that is the breeding ground of the tuna for the Western Pacific. Mining and forestry practices, while providing some employment, are causing further environmental problems. In Australia, major coal mines are being developed, while research shows the burning of coal is the number one contributor to global warming.

In response to this, Cardinal Parolin reminded us of Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical letter Laudato si' on care for our common home, the earth. He reminded us that we must always be “searching for what is better for our human family and common home for today and tomorrow” and our mutual relatedness to God, the creation, neighbour, self. Our love for the creation comes out of love for neighbour and our desire to leave our earth better for our tamariki/children and mokopuna/grandchildren.

This calls each one of us to look at our own habits and reflect on the long-term consequences of what we are doing today. It is a call to responsibility towards others, the common good and the environment rather than indifference. This holds for individuals, companies, communities and nations. We no longer tolerate, for example, polluting our rivers. Why then do we continue to produce coal, which is polluting our atmosphere and causing global temperatures to rise? By doing this we are poisoning the world of our children and grandchildren. We can look at our use of non-degradable plastic.

By ourselves we may feel that our efforts are insignificant but we can make a start.

Together we can make a difference and the first step of making that difference is the transformative dialogue that begins with the question, “How do I care for our common home, the earth?”

In this issue...

Read it online!

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Bishop’s Message Care for our Common Home is Caring for Our Neighbour Features New Pastoral Services Team Focus on faith formation, videos and youth New deacons walking in the footsteps of apostles SetFree: Encountering The Lord Jim Howitt: A certain kind of person Car a blessing for flood family Winter support sought for Edgecumbe The Church calls - the deacon option Terence Sorenson relates his journey to Diaconate Leon Finn on the Road to Emmaus Benemerenti Medal highlights Br Vincent Jury's humble service A mountain of love in Te Aroha

2 3 3 3 4 8 8 9 10 10 11 12 13

Making Catholic Teachers Creating a Catholic learning environment at Aquinas 5 St Columba's proud to be Catholic school challenge 6 Kath Joblin's passion for growing Catholic teachers 7 Parish News Atawhai Assisi changes hands Welcome to the Church family Gisborne parish picnic With Hearts Burning in Whakatane

10 11 11 14

The Religious Life Fr Robert Sharplin: The daily challenge of a diverse parish 15 Advertorial 16

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

Deadline for contributions to the next issue is 10 July 2018 Kete Korero Magazine Chnel 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

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Printing: Beacon Print Ltd, 207 Wilson Road, Hastings 4153 ISSN: (print) 2357-2221 & (online) 2357-223X Cover Photos (Top left) Bishop Steve Lowe with newly ordained deacons; (top right: Bridget Rika and Jim Howitt with car; (below from left) SetFree joy; Te Aroha's Mourveen Warren and Athleen McCabe; and Brother Vince Jury. Bottom right: Jil Yong.

ketekorero May - July 2018

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feature New Pastoral Services Team

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arishioners in the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton are being introduced to a new Pastoral Services Team to animate them in their faith and community.

Alex Bailey, the new Pastoral Services Manager for the diocese, previously the Social Justice Animator, is leading a team that to an extent has evolved from the results already coming in from Bishop Steve Lowe’s With Hearts Burning programme.

The new appointees are as follows:

• Robert Garan has been appointed the Parish Formation and Education Animator.

• Hayden Graham has been appointed as the Pastoral Resource Designer with a particular focus on video resources that engage, educate and inspire.

• Jil Yong is the new Diocesan Youth Animator, replacing Briege Koning.

Focus on faith formation, videos and youth Robert Garan

Robert will support and oversee faith formation and education in every parish. He will look into the different parish programmes where young people and adults have an opportunity to encounter Christ. He will be in contact with parishes to work handin-hand with priests and lay people.

One of Robert’s first tasks is to bring extra life to the With Hearts Burning process. Robert is available to speak to parish groups about With Hearts Burning and train small group leaders.

Robert is from the Philippines, where he studied philosophy and theology. He also worked with a shipping agent doing marketing for a container shipping company for the past 18 years.

In February 2017, Robert moved to New Zealand to do a course in business studies in Tauranga. During that time he worked in the Tauranga parish of St Thomas Aquinas as the faith formation coordinator alongside Father Mark Field.

Robert says that after he completed his study, he decided to continue on the path to a new job with the diocese as it became available.

Robert is married and has two children. His family remains in the Philippines but he prays they will be able to join him soon.

Robert says he wants to help other people in articulating their experiences in finding the true meaning of life in them and see the part God plays.

If you are interested in having Robert visit your parish group, email robertg@cdh.org.nz Hayden Graham Hayden went to St Bede’s College in Christchurch, before studying a Fine Arts filmmaking degree at Canterbury University. He has previously worked for the Tertiary Chaplaincy in Christchurch, and has served a year with NET Ministries Australia.

Hayden is currently working on three video series.

He is primarily focused on creating a Mass Series hosted by Bishop Steve, making more apparent the heart behind the gestures, objects and prayers in the Mass.

“I’ve always wanted to make resources for the church but this is my first opportunity,” says Hayden.

Another series will focus on the people of the Hamilton Diocese, their testimonies and prayer life.

“I’m looking for people to share their story and

give an insight into their prayer life.”

Hayden says that he understands that somebody’s relationship with Christ is very personal and intimate.

“But we want the uniqueness of someone’s prayer life to inspire others to deepen their own relationship with Christ.”

Hayden will be working with parishes in order to find people for this series.

If you are interested in being a part of this series, please email Hayden at haydeng@cdh.org.nz

New deacons walking in the footsteps of apostles Ricky Kuka and Mike Jones were ordained deacons at St Mary's Rotorua on 21 April.

The celebratory Mass was attended by more than 160 people, and a large contingent of deacons and priests along with family members and friends. Bishop Steve Lowe said that the names of Ricky and Mike would be added to those from throughout the centuries past.

"The deacons were chosen because they were men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom."

They were also chosen to have at their heart those in need. The gift they received on the day was like a river that grows as it flowed from the mountain to the sea. In the same way, the new deacons would grow depending on how open they were to grow the graces they had been given.

Jil Yong

Jil is the new Youth Animator for the Diocese and recently moved to Hamilton from the United States. She grew up in Texas and holds a degree in Theology and Catechetics with a concentration in Youth Ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Jil began working in ministry nine years ago with a non-profit called Dirty Vagabond Ministries, where she served college age students from the inner city. In 2012, she accepted her first full time job as a parish youth minister where she was tasked with starting and creating a dynamic youth ministry for year 7 through to year 13 students.

Jil’s passion has always been in building relationships with young people and journeying with them as they are presented with opportunities to encounter the living Jesus.

“I remember walking across the stage at my university graduation with all these plans in my mind.

I wanted to work in a big parish with a thriving youth ministry programme already in place that I could just maintain.

“When I was back home preparing to move down here, I was reflecting on the last six years of my life and how limited I thought that God’s plans for me were. I think about all those opportunities that I have had to say ‘no’ to and stay in my comfort zone, and I am so grateful that I did not, because God’s plans are far greater than we can imagine.

“Through times of discomfort and leaps of faith I have said yes to joy, to love, and to this incredible adventure ahead.

“I am so blessed to be here to listen, to serve, and to journey with you and your families. What a privilege to be entrusted with this ministry,” Jil said.

Jil not only looks forward to her work with the youth and young adults in the diocese but also, and especially, looks forward to serving the youth workers and families in the parishes.

For more information, contact Jil at jily@cdh.org.nz

Bishop Steve Lowe with new deacons Ricky Kuka and Mike Jones and their wives Donna and Irene (from left).

A large group of whanau and friends from Tauranga and Te Puna with Deacon Ricky Kuka.

Deacon Mike Jones's whanau, from left, KarriAnn Vercoe, Ronnie Jones, Desrei Jones, Eliana Maxwell.

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ketekorero May - July 2018

feature

SetFree: encountering The Lord

Jil Yong n Palm Sunday, 258 young people gathered for the ninth annual SetFree Catholic Youth Festival. They gathered in Tokoroa for a weekend of fellowship, music, and new experiences, but what they left with was a personal encounter with the risen Lord.

It was through Mass, worship, Adoration, engaging speakers that their eyes were opened to the Lord and His presence among them.

Throughout the weekend the young people of the Diocese joined young people around the world in analysing the theme given to us by the Holy Father for the thirty-third annual World Youth Day: “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favour with God.” (Luke 1:30).

The Holy Father wrote in his reflection “For us Christians in particular, fear must never have the last word but rather should be an occasion to make an act of faith in God… and in life!

“This means believing in the goodness of the existence that God has given us and trusting that he will lead us to a good end.”

The Holy Father echoed what the SetFree team had been working through with attendees all weekend: to step out in faith and trust in the Love of God; that He alone is the answer to our deepest longings, to our suffering, to our restlessness, and it is Christ that calls each of us to a personal relationship rooted in an expectant faith, a faith that knows that He is a father that follows through for His child.

This year's theme was especially suitable in relation to the heart of SetFree’s mission. The festival is an opportunity for young people who have never experienced Jesus, who felt alone in their faith, who are caught in doubt, the outcasts, the broken, those needing food for their journey to come to the well of grace.

It is in festivals like SetFree that

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Pics above and left by Louis Klassen. Pic below from Hayden Graham. we are reminded that the young Church is not dead, it is alive and well and that through her Sacraments, through her liturgies, through her tireless proclamation of the Gospel, the Lord is raising an army of young saints.

This joy and freedom reverberated throughout the gymnasium at the South Waikato Sports Centre, with a roaring of praise and worship led

by Exalt music ministry from the Diocese of Christchurch.

Over the course of three days, sessions led by Tim Glemkowski (L’Alto Institute), Jil Yong, Vivian Keane, Carmela Nupemuceno, Hayden Graham, the Sisters of Compassion, Matt Gibson, Shana Llorando, Dom and Jess Malgeri, and Bishop Steve Lowe came together and culminated in a night of Worship and Eucharistic Adoration and a morning celebration of Palm Sunday.

It is never easy to adequately describe the life-changing experience of SetFree, and this year was no exception.

To our generous donors, team of extraordinary volunteers, and participants thank you for another incredible year, and thank you for your “yes” to the Lord.

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ketekorero May - July 2018

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making Catholic teachers

New principal on creating Catholic learning environment at Aquinas Michael Smith quinas College principal Matt Dalton has had a life grounded in the Catholic faith.

Born in Lower Hutt to a mother who is a devout Catholic and a father an Anglican, Matt attended Catholic convent schools in Lower Hutt, Tauranga and Rotorua before going to John Paul College in Rotorua, where he was the Head Boy. Matt (pictured) took a long way around to get into teaching, however, first being drawn towards physical education.

“I was very passionate about my sport as a wonderful job that would provide balance.”

In his first year at Otago University, he had to do a pedagogy paper dealing with the theory and practice of teaching PE. The experience turned him off the idea of being a teacher and instead he fell in love with exercise, physiology and the human anatomy side of education.

Although he followed this route initially, he found that job opportunities in the field of sports training were limited in New Zealand.

While in his third year, he had a part-time job as a lab tutor for second-year students, enjoyed it and was prompted to re-visit the idea of teaching.

The government’s TeachNZ scholarship scheme at that time provided him with the opportunity to use his learning to gain the necessary qualifications to become a PE teacher.

Matt recalls his first practical lesson at Otago Boys High School when the teacher was leading a game of dodgeball.

“I watched the way the teacher and students interacted and there was one specific moment in the lesson when I thought ‘this is what I want to do’. Although I had been drawn to this for some time, I had never had the realisation that this was my calling.”

He and his wife Kelly both got jobs in Rotorua, he at Boys’ High and she at Girls’ High schools.

Matt loved the work but had from early the ambition to be in a senior leadership role and, ultimately, become a principal.

The then Rotorua parist priest, Father Mark Field, encouraged him to do some Catholic education leadership papers, but he was doing the National Apsiring Principals Programme and training for an ironman event.

Although enjoying his experience teaching at a boys’ high school, Matt realised he was missing out on sharing his faith. In the meantime, he gained a post-graduate certificate in applied practice, becoming the top graduate for the course and earning the “next expert teacher” award.

Given his relative lack of experience, it may have seemed an ambitious step to become the

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principal of the complex and challenging entity that is a high school.

“But one mentor said to me that if you’ve got it, you’ve got it.”

He started applying for principal positions, although he was selective in focusing on those that were in his set of values. Encouraged to apply for Aquinas College when the position became vacant on the retirement of long-serving principal Ray Scott, Matt toured the school and found it felt right.

Matt has started in his role by sharing who he is, his values and his educational philosophy.

Along with these, he has set four non-negotiables: • • • •

Be kind Be respectful Be authentic, and Be honest.

“Our responsibility is to educate young men and women who are going to be successful global citizens and strong Catholic leaders, and if we can instil those four non-negotiables, it will go a long way to shaping the person who will be able to inact that vision.”

Matt says he has a clear vision for education in that the school needed to offer future-focus learning opportunities, because the world was rapidly changing.

“The reality is that nobody knows what the world is going to look like but we do know that it is going to involve change. Students had to be adaptable and to have the key skills to be able to navigate in this forever changing world.”

Against this background of continuous change, Matt wants to have students develop skills in problem solving, creativity, innovation, emotional intelligence and entrepreneurship.

“We need to create a learning environment that will enable students to generate, develop and refine those skills that will be so important for them to be successful.”

Aquinas, while relatively young, had already achieved a climate of academic excellence.

Jesus and God remained central to everything at Aquinas, so that it was not just a Catholic school in name but needed to embody this aspect of its character, Matt said.

Catholic Communities of Learning There are two Catholic Communities of Learning (COL) operating across our network of Catholic schools, one is centred around the Catholic primary schools contributing to both St John's College and Sacred Heart in Hamilton and the other is in the Bay of Plenty supporting those Catholic schools contributing to John Paul College and Aquinas College.

The Bay of Plenty Catholic schools have created a register within their COL so that all students names and needs are known.

Patrick Walsh, Principal, John Paul College says that the Ministry of Education describe this initiative and sharing of information within the COL as trailblazing and are using this as a model of good practice.

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ketekorero May - July 2018

making Catholic teachers

St Columba's tackling the 'proud to be Catholic' school challenge

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areth Duncan has been the principal at St Columba’s Catholic School in Frankton, Hamilton, for more than 18 months. He has spent the past decade as a principal in the state and Catholic school system, the last being at Te Awamutu Primary School.

Gareth (pictured) has been a teacher for 27 years and during this time he taught at five Catholic schools in the Hamilton diocese. Early in his career, he taught at St Columba's as a classroom teacher.

A romantic element of the dry facts of this history is that Gareth and his wife Maureen were married at St Columba’s Catholic Church, and they now have four children who were baptised there.

“So it’s a significant place for us,” Gareth said.

The school typically has a roll of its quota of 500 students, running through years one-toeight. Junior classes have 19-20 students; years 3-4, 26; years 5-6, 29-30; and years 7-8, 30-31.

The school currently has a closed roll, meaning it cannot take in any more children. A waiting list does exist, with only two areas of the school able to be enrolled in – new entrant and year 4.

The school had one year left on its strategic plan at the time that Gareth became principal. Within the past year, the Board of Trustees, through a sub-committee of which Gareth is a member, has been reviewing the strategic ends of the plan.

As a backdrop to this work, St Columba’s is one of the schools in New Zealand founded by the congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions RNDM (also known as the Mission Sisters).

At the time Kete Korero visited, Gareth and the management team were about to roll out a graduate profile for the school based on a charism that draws on the work of the Mission Sisters – contemplation, communion and mission. Three pillars – mission, education and service – have been created as aspirational thinking for students

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as a graduate profile. This exercise has seen the school take the concepts around mission and service seriously.

“My view as a leader of learning is that education is the constant pillar which we are very good at,” Gareth says. This work gave rise to questions around what it was that the school and community wanted as aspirational thinking for children attending St Columba’s.

“So we are very clear about what the mission will be and how we serve the mission with head, heart and soul.”

Expectations The work carried out defining what was expected of a graduate coming out of St Columba’s led to clear definitions around three aspects: Mission (head and soul); Education (head and voice); and Service (hands and feet). These are expressed in language such as “know and love God”, “understand who we are in Christ”, and “proud to be Catholic”.

One aspect - “full and active members of the Catholic church” - is recognised as a challenge currently. Having been out of teaching in the Catholic system and coming back into it, Gareth has raised the question as to how explicit educators were in what it is they wanted and were after in Catholic schools.

“We are polite and I think that as Catholics we are prepared to sit back and say that we’ve got it and it’ll be alright. I think we need to stand tall for the long journey home and say that there’s a problem here, let’s tackle the challenge. We need to take it on and be explicit with our community and say this is first and foremost the mission service. If we can take action with children, then we can be proud to be Catholics by our actions.”

The Mission Sisters set about the doing - this is the example that Gareth is keen for the school and its leaders to follow.

“I want to see kids who are serving the poor – going out clothing the poor, feeding the hungry – and let’s get practical on our enquiries into what

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it is to be authentic around being missionaries.”

The school leadership is continually discussing how it can make the graduate profile come alive. So, the term two statement has as its mission: How can we identify how others might recognise our Catholic identity through our hands, head and feet?

“What are the key things we do, think and believe that demonstrate our key Catholic identity?” Gareth says. Ideally, these aspects of the mission will be implemented throughout the curriculum during the term. Each term has a theme, the first term being solidarity and the second being Catholic character.

Aspirational teachers The role of the mostly passive cradle-to-grave Catholic education of the past was being surpassed by the need for educators to lead children in the footsteps of the mission sisters who rolled up their sleeves and served out in the community.

Gareth says he wants children from St Columba’s to be proud to be Catholic due to the aspirational thinking of the teaching staff. They will understand themselves and what it takes to be “Christ-like”, and their service to people who need them and the people who help and serve them as a learner.

Gareth says the teachers are responsible for implementing the three pillars of mission, education and service.

“We as teachers have a big task to ensure that we model back to students the practice that is our celebration as a school. So that the children understand that they are valued and that they are worthy, that we see it in their outputs in the community work that they do.”

While evidence of students’ achievement is clear in academic outcomes, religious outcomes can be seen through involvement in the parish of St Columba’s and working in the community.

Gareth says committed staff are required to make these aims happen.

“So they are people who understand what it takes to be highly effective practitioners, who understand the expectation that the school profile is about us all as learners, not just what we are doing to kids.

"Come and work here if you have plenty of energy, ready to think, be prepared to be on your toes and triggered by learning opportunity.

Children aren’t waiting for us to get ready – they are ready and waiting to go.”

While that can mean life is frantic and hectic, Gareth says this is the exciting part of being a teacher at St Columba’s.

ketekorero May - July 2018

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making Catholic teachers

Kath Joblin's passion for growing Catholic teachers

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o say that teachers at St Thomas More Catholic School at Mount Maunganui are “into everything” is to put it mildly.

Led by principal Kath Joblin and with a close relationship with the neighbouring parish, the school has developed an ease in being a state integrated Catholic school.

Making Catholic teachers at St Thomas More sees teachers coming together at least once a week for three hours after school rather than trying to schedule daily prayers. The church also offers people an opportunity once a year to participate in the Alpha programme series of interactive sessions exploring the basics of the Christian faith.

Kath (pictured) says it was decided teachers needed some refreshing, so Alpha ran at the school after hours in 2017.

“It was good, because Alpha asks fundamental questions about what you believe.”

The programme was in line with Bishop Steve Lowe’s wish for people to have a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Alpha provided an opportunity for teachers to examine what they believed. This year, the school has been working through Bishop Steve’s With Hearts Burning programme. Parish Priest Fr Darren McFarlane and Assistant Priest Fr Stuart Young take turns attending the weekly Tuesday afternoon meetings.

The programme in the school is run by the teachers, opening the way for some robust discussions about the many questions Bishop Steve is asking. Staff are able to contribute their own experiences, such as why pentacostal churches attracted young people in particular.

“That time we spend together every week is crucial, because we aren’t talking about anything else but what we believe – nothing to do with curriculum or anything like that.”

In September last year, the staff travelled as a school to Rotorua for the launch of the second module of the programme, with Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Auxillary bishop of the Archdiocese of Westminster, England. Bishop Hudson’s presentation was very much around evangelisation in parishes.

“When we came back, having listened to what Bishop Hudson had said and combined with the Alpha work we had done, several teachers asked why they couldn’t help with the sacramental programme at the church.”

Discussions have been underway with Fr Darren on the possibility of teachers being involved in aspects, such as the sacramental programme, after school. The current plan is to look at moving the sacramental programme nearer to the end of the school year, when 4s will be older and will be able to then complete Holy Communion and Eucharist in Year 5. The teachers felt the Year 4 students were too young to really grasp reconciliation at the start of the year.

“So there’s been quite a lot of discussion around that and something really positive is going to come from it. That has come from the Bishops’ talks and all the Alpha work we have done along with the mission work people have taken on as a result of those talks.”

Building teachers, building communities When the annual schools’ commissioning Mass was held in Rotorua, all staff attended and Fr Darren was invited. Afterwards, the teachers took the parish priest to dinner.

“Building Catholic teachers is building community,” Kath says. “I think that is what is sometimes missing. You can’t have faith in isolation from other people. We are all at different stages of faith in the school, but we feel comfortable together because we do those sorts of things.”

The Catholic Education Convention being held in Wellington this year will bring together educators, bishops, priests, school trustees and a range of others associated with the church’s national education system. As in the past three years, the staff will attend the convention in Wellington between 13 and 15 June, and the school will be closed for three days while they are away. Kath admits it is a significant commitment for both parents – with their children being out of

school - and teachers – who have to make up the three days at the end of the year.

“But we see the benefit of being able to go together to workshops and hear the keynote speakers.”

St Thomas More has presented workshops at the last two conventions. Last year, staff assisted Kath in presenting a workshop on integrating religious education to 120 people split up into their year-groups. Among those leading was Leanne Dragovich, a very new teacher, who took a group of Year 1 new entrants teachers, some of whom had long experience, and spoke to them about how they could integrate RE into various parts of the curriculum. Kath says the participants were blown away by the enthusiasm displayed by the young teacher.

“It was great for her because they said to her that she was so brave to be taking on this group and it was so good to hear her passion for what she was doing.”

Kath says giving people such opportunities was a great way of “growing” Catholic teachers.

During their time at the convention, the teachers stayed at the Our Lady’s Home of Compassion in Island Bay. As well as learning about the Venerable Suzanne Aubert, they also learned about the Sisters of Compassion and their work.

The experience was such that the school has booked to go there again. Kath is also the lead principal for the nine Catholic schools in the Community of Learning group in the diocese, and teachers from these and other schools, along with Fr Stuart, will also be joining them.

The Board of Trustees has backed the teachers attending the convention because, Kath says, it can also be seen as the primary professional event with a lot of spin off for the school.

Kath has been the president of the Catholic Principals Association for the past 10 years, with much of the work involving supporting each other in what is probably a more complicated job than in a State-run school due to the added commitment to parishes. As well as having to deal with a Board of Trustees, Catholic principals had also to work with parish priests. As such, Kath has at least one meeting a week with Fr Darren.

“The roles of the parish priest and the principal means we can encounter similar problems.

Schools go through cycles and so do parishes.

Lots of those experiences are common to both roles, and the parish priest and the principal have to support each other,” says Kath.

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8

ketekorero May - July 2018

feature Jim Howitt: A certain kind of person Michael Smith hen there is a crisis, certain people step up. Jim Howitt is one such person.

In the wake of the flooding that left the Eastern Bay of Plenty town of Edgecumbe devastated, Jim read an article published in Kete Korero (November 2017-January 2018) about the plight of the people in the area and the role played in the recovery by St Vincent de Paul and St Joseph’s Catholic School Matata.

The story of Sophia Kepa, her son Connor and partner Danny particularly touched Jim. They were living in a relocatable cabin at the Whakatane Domain Holiday Park after the Edgecumbe stopbank burst and water flooded through their house. Not only were their house and belongings swept away but they also lost their car, meaning Danny could not get to Edgecumbe to work.

When Jim saw the story, he thought: “We can help with that.”

It just so happened that Te Aroha-based Jim and his family had acquired a spare car – a bright goldie orange Toyota – for family members to use when they visited from Australia. It turned out the car had previously belonged to a fellow parishioner and had been well looked after during its 400,000 kilometres of life.

“It was sitting out there in the backyard and I saw the article and thought: ‘Wait a minute, we could do something with this car’.” After figuring out it would work okay with the family, Jim contacted Bridget Rika, the principal of St Joseph’s school, which Connor attended.

The handover of the car was made at the Ngongotaha house of his daughter, Tracy, who is involved in charity work in Rotorua. Bridget from St Joseph’s Matata brought Sophia and Danny through to pick it up. Sophia and Danny were really excited, although Jim wondered what they would make of the brightly-coloured old Toyota.

They were absolutely rapt and so was Jim. The first thing Danny said was “Thank God, I can go to work again.”

Jim says he did not make the gift of the car for any recognition.

“I thought I could help somebody who wants to go to work to support his family, so let’s get in there and give him a hand. It’s always good to help people who are prepared to help themselves.

I get joy out of knowing I can help this person and they can go on and do things and maybe help somebody else.”

Seeing Sophia and the family pictured in the Kete Korero article made him reflect and think.

“I thought here was a nice couple who could just need a little bit of a hand up and hopefully it will make a difference.”

Jim says the Christian principle of “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” has stayed with him since childhood. He refers to his autograph book from 1945, where the biblical saying was written by his step-father.

This is one of three passages from the Bible that have been with Jim (84) throughout his life.

The others being “Judge not lest, ye be judged” and “When giving alms, don’t let the right hand know what the left hand is doing”.

Although christened a Presbyterian as an infant and then becoming a Baptist through family

Car a blessing for family

W

S

Bridget Rika and Jim Howitt with the car. circumstances, Jim converted to Catholicism on marrying Noeline Williams, his late wife. The last of those three sayings became an essential part of their life, as the couple found themselves helping people along the way despite their own difficulties.

Within a year or so of their marriage, and expecting their own baby, they took in a child from family friends whose marriage was breaking up. Over the years, they had taken in a number of foster children.

Jim says he felt comfortable becoming a Catholic from the time he walked into Sacred Heart Church in Ponsonby, Auckland with Noeline. “My thoughts were ‘wow, I want some of this’, so I was easily drawn to it.”

Jim and his family have been in Te Aroha for about 36 years, drawn to the area when faced with the period of 25 per cent interest rates for their mortgage on the large family home in Mt Eden, Auckland. The experiences of the family’s early years have stayed with Jim. Housing was so difficult to find in Auckland after World War Two that he and Noeline, and the two children that they had then, lived in a barrack room with other families in the Victoria Park transit camp, which had housed American soldiers, sharing toilets and other facilities.

“We were so homeless at one stage that when our eldest son was born we lived at the Swanson motor camp in a one-room cabin and a small tent.

However, they managed to secure a flat in a block in the state housing area of Point England.

Individual houses had already been built but the later work involved blocks of flats. Later they were able to access a system that allowed family benefits to be capitalised and paid in advance to parents as deposits on homes, with subsidised mortgages at 3 per cent interest for low-income families. The family moved to Papakura, South Auckland, bought a section and built a house.

Jim has been involved with St Vincent de Paul for much of that time he has been in Te Aroha. He says the need remains the same as always – food – which is why St Vincent de Paul supports the

ophia Kepa says she would like to thank Jim Howitt for the gift of his car along with the organisations which have helped her family, such as St Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army.

As noted in a separate story, Jim donated a car to Sophia, partner Danny and son Connor after reading of their plight in Kete Korero November 2017-February 2018.

“I thought he was a big bear when I met him, because he is tall and big but gentle.”

That meeting was in Ngongotaha, the township on the northern edge of Lake Rotorua, where Jim’s daughter lives.

Bridget Rika, the principal of St Joseph’s Catholic School in Matata where Connor goes to school, drove them over to meet Jim and pick up the car.

The car – a Toyota with a standout colour – has terrifically high mileage but Sophia says it has meant everything to her whanau.

“So we are using the car for what we really wanted [to get Danny to work] so we are finally out of that financial struggle.”

The car has not only enabled Danny to go to work it has also helped in their search to find a new home to live in.

“It’s become an essential part of our lives so far.”

They have remained living in the Whakatane Domain Holiday Park, having been given an extension from 8 April to 15 June in order to look for a new home. However, housing is tight and prices are higher than previously, making the family’s quest much more difficult.

“We are still in the hunt for a permanent home but we are on a low income and so everything is unaffordable in the current situation,” Sophia says.

Te Aroha community food bank along with the local budgeting service and the Catholic schools in the town and Paeroa.

In 1985, Te Aroha was woken to a flash flood sweeping boulders, mud, trees and other debris down the mountain and through the town.

Leaping into the tour bus he owned, Jim drove along the road to be greeted with a rapidly approaching wall of water. After quickly backing up to a rise in the street, he jumped out and started to load people into the bus to escape the deluge. Three people died in the flood and a girl was swept away, and was found alive in a tree 1.5 kilometres away. Shops in town and more than 50 homes were damaged.

ketekorero May - July 2018

9

feature Winter support sought as Edgecumbe flood still impacts residents The following is a report from Brenda Whelan of Thermal Land St Vincent de Paul. Brenda (pictured) and her husband Bernard have been working to help people in their continued recovering from the April 2017 floods in Edgecumbe.

has grown more resilient than ever, especially with the help of everyone all around the country.

I can truly say, I am proud to be from a small town with such a big heart.

We have seen the generosity of people helping and the greed of people causing more heartache.

Often Edgecumbe seems forgotten as it becomes yesterday’s news and the public think everyone is back in their homes.

Other areas have been affected too. Fifty-two properties in Taneatua were flooded especially some of the farms. Fourteen hundred hectares of farm land was under water for 10 days. It has taken several months to get the paddocks workable again due to two feet of silt being deposited. Another family are still living in containers on their farm after six inches of black water flowed through their home and farm.

F

irstly, I would like to thank all parishes in the Hamilton Diocese who so generously reacted to Bishop Steve’s request on Easter Sunday 2017 and sent in donations. Secondly, I would like to thank the Saint Vincent de Paul National office who released funds immediately, so we were able to assist from day one supplying toiletries for the 1900 evacuated people who had nothing. Thirdly, my thanks to other SVdP areas particularly Hamilton for their generous donation of a truck load of furniture, and Western Bay for boxes of towels, bedding and other requested items. Lastly, special thanks to individual conferences and parishioners who read of the plight of the Edgecumbe people and sent money and aid plus four of you chose to adopt a family and continue to support them.

Without all your help we would not have been able to help so many families.

In real terms, we have provided over 20 fridge freezers, 10 vacuum cleaners, 40 sets of drawers in which to store clothes in to prevent them from getting damp on garage floors, towels, bedding, warm nightwear, slippers, gum boots, and food to the many uninsured families.

We have also been there to listen and give support as people continue to wait for their homes to be repaired. Ninety three homes are still to be repaired, 12 properties have finally been removed and the repair to the stop bank began in April 2018. We must remember that these 12 homes housed families who had lived for up to three generations in the houses. Edgecumbe was very much their home where family and friends were and where their children and grand-children lived. Most of the 12 families have relocated to different areas in the Bay of Plenty and, although they are in new houses, they feel to have lost the community they knew and grew up in.

The long-term impact has not been good.

Many residents are tired and depressed after long battles with insurance companies or the issues they are having with some of the workmanship in their repaired houses.

Long-term impacts The local doctors are concerned as many residents remain on sleeping pills and anti-depressants since the event. Talking to residents, many have seen friends become ill due to the floods. This is when being a sympathetic ear or letting people know prayers are being said helps enormously.

Families staying with relatives has put a strain on households regarding space, privacy, relationships, increased food and power bills etc.

• •

Farm succession Property transactions

We visited one family with 11 people in a threebedroom house plus the garage and a horse box.

In winter it was very cold sleeping in temporary accommodation. Even with tents put up in the garage it was cold last winter, so let’s hope this winter will not be as cold.

Generosity and greed Over the past two terms, I have been relief teaching at Edgecumbe College where one in three students were affected by the flood. As regards the school, the head girl Dayjah Edwards's report given at the anniversary ecumenical service on 6 April highlights that the sports hall is still out of action, the recently refurbished library is condemned, the music block is condemned along with the agricultural classroom.

Dayjah noted: "Despite what has happened, the community has grown more resilient than ever, especially with the help of everyone all around the country. I can truly say, I am proud to be from a small town with such a big heart."

Earlier in the year, with the help of Bunnings, the outdoor growing area was rebuilt with new raised beds so that Agricultural classes could continue. With a new school being planned in the next two years, the Ministry of Education will not spend any money on repairs given a new one is planned. Being at the school, we were able to pinpoint 17 families in need of assistance plus several students who needed help with fees.

These families have been faced with increased rents or evicted as the owner wanted to sell his newly repaired house and make a nice profit.

Despite what has happened, the community

AT INNOVATION PARK - HAMILTON • •

Business Families Trusts

• •

Matata school help In Matata, the small Catholic school lost some of its students who lived in Edgecumbe and are now housed in cabins in the Whakatane caravan park. The small school has to find over $1000 a term for the additional kilometres the school van has to do. The van now goes to Whakatane camp site to pick up children, then to Edgecumbe to pick up children whose houses were not flooded, and then to school in Matata, and the reverse every evening. The bus is driven by volunteers but the extra fuel cost has to be paid by a school with a very tight budget.

So, what does the future hold for these families? What can we do? I think we must continue to support them and to visit them in order to ensure they do not feel like the forgotten people. We must help the remaining 78 families when they move back into their homes with furniture and whitewear. We can all pray for the lonely, depressed, the displaced and the ones not coping financially after their rents have been put up.

Val, a widow with two sons, has had to spend her half-term break putting up 30 metres of fencing at the end of her property. The council will then come and inspect it. If it is good enough, her insurance will pay half the cost of the materials further stretching her already tight budget. It is this sort of trial that makes every task twice as hard.

One thing you can’t help but notice is the brave spirit in the town as they rebuild their lives and community. Two weeks ago, the vet reopened.

However, the wish of everyone I speak to is that the supermarket reopens soon as many can’t afford the transport into town for their weekly shop.

I hope this report lets you realise that issues in Edgecumbe continue and we certainly need continuing support to help our brothers and sisters in Christ over the next few years.

Wills Problem Solving

www.GraysonClements.co.nz Ph: 07 857 0900 Fax: 07 857 0901 Partners: Michael Grayson mgrayson@gclegal.co.nz Andrew Clements aclements@gclegal.co.nz

10

ketekorero May - July 2018

feature The Church calls - the deacon option

E

very day each of us experience calls on our time. These calls may be to complete a task that we have been putting off, maybe to phone someone, maybe to exercise or pray.

For some the call can be more substantial and persistent, such as a call to ministry within the Church and the Diaconate in particular.

Are you being called to use your gifts and talents in a special way through the Sacrament of Orders, to the reception of the special grace of the Holy Spirit enabling the exercise of this sacred ministry?

The Diaconate is as old as the church itself. In “Acts” the Apostles

ordained the first deacons after asking the other disciples to choose seven of their number filled with the Spirit and wisdom. These men devoted their lives to serving the Church under the direction of the Apostles, firstly to ensure that the Greek speaking ‘Widows’ of the church did not miss out on the life of the Church. So, the Apostles could focus more intently on leading the Worship and on the ‘Diaconia’ or Ministry of the Word. (Acts 6:1-4 ).

Stephen, the first martyr in the Church, was stoned to death for preaching Christ Jesus.

The Diaconate is a vocation from Christ through the Church to an

order of Sacred Ministry. Sacred Ministry means to order or govern the Church Community. (Ministers of the Crown govern the country.)

Deacons do this in a particular way in their ministry of the Word at the Altar and Charity. Deacons are designed to do the background work, gathering, showing and helping the faithful to come before the Lord in Holiness.

The bishop and his priests lead and direct the Teaching, Governing and Sacred Worship in the Church.

The word ‘minister’ is Latin for the greek word ‘deacon’ and means the same thing. The Diaconate is not a profession, nor a part-time

job. Deacons are ordained not “to Priesthood but to Ministry”, and are particularly dedicated to duties of charity and of administration. (see Lumen Gentium 29).

The Diaconate is an order in its own right, adding to the sacramental fabric of Christ’s Church on earth the Christ who came to minister, not to be ministered to. The work and the spirit of the Diaconate continues to be as relevant as it was 2000 years ago If you sense that this is you and would like to know more, please contact Dc Peter Richardson at the Diaconate Office in Hamilton or the Director Fr Aidan Mulholland at Waihi Parish.

Terence Sorenson relates his journey to Diaconate

T

he twenty second of April 2004 was the day I committed myself to God and is my Ordination Day as a permanent Deacon.

The road to ordination I was a soldier in the Vietnam War Zone many years before the day of my ordination as a deacon arrived.

I had this sudden feeling that something was happening to me.

I can only describe this as a spiritual feeling that was leading me to a calling I did not yet know about.

After arriving back in New Zealand, this feeling became more intense. I grew more involved in St Anthony’s, my church in Mangere Bridge, where Friar James Meates taught me so much.

Every night after work, I would leave my job early to get to St Anthony’s to do our evening prayer together (the office). Time went by learning about Saint Francis, hence my spiritual life was and still is Franciscan. Over the years, everybody I spoke to, especially Fr Jim, would say “be patient and pray about it”. This feeling I had was getting stronger and stronger! Fr Jim had been a major in the army before he entered the Franciscans, making him so easy for me to talk to.

The day came, however, when Jim said to me: I think it is about time we spoke to the bishop. We made an appointment to see Bishop Denis. We talked, and the bishop said to me “I am sure you have a vocation, but what am I going to do with you? Let’s just be patient and pray about it.”

It was about this time that Cindi and I bought a house in Whangamata, so we used to come down here on Friday night and go

to Mass on Saturday. I thought at the time that Whangamata was in the Auckland Diocese. I still hoped that God was going to take this feeling away - wrong.

In 1995 Bishop Denis was transferred to Hamilton Diocese from Auckland, and a short time later we moved to Whangamata.

In 2000, Fr Richard Laurenson became the parish priest caring for Whangamata. Cindi said be careful, because he was getting me to do so much.

One day he came over to our place one Saturday, gave me some papers and told me Bishop Denis had said for me to fill them out and give them back to him after Mass.

Road to formation Deacon Mike Rolf (Gisborne) and I used to have lectures every Tuesday night. We met in Rotorua every term to catch up with each other, attend lectures, have a shared meal and go to Mass that evening, then go home.

We did this for three years. Cindi and I used to stay in Tokoroa with Deacon Kerry Parker, who was a year ahead of me in the process of becoming a deacon.

The time was getting closer and closer but that feeling still remained very strong in my head.

The day has arrived On the morning of 22 April 2004, we went down to the Whangamata Memorial Hall ready for my ordination. Bishop Denis said that he really didn’t want to ordain me in a hall. But when he saw the Hall it looked like a Cathedral. It appeared amazing.

The people of Whangamata said and still say that the hall has never looked the same since. We sprinkled buckets of Holy Water

Association.

Fr Richard placed the Stole over my shoulders, and so I am now the Padre to the RSA, along with being the Chaplain to our rest home and hospice.

I am kept busy and thank God every day for my Diaconate.

Deacon Terence Sorenson (left) with Fr Richard Laurenson on the day of his ordination. everywhere. I was ordained a deacon and appointed Chaplain to Whangamata Returned Services

Working with my wife Let me say that I would not be where I am today without Cindi, my wife.

Cindi has walked beside me all the way in my diaconate and still is there today. She never questions where I’m going and never asks me what I have been doing when I get home.

Sometimes you get woken up early in the morning and you just go. Once I get to where I’m going I survey the problem and if I need a priest, I ring him.

Every year, the deacons and aspirants had a retreat at the St Francis Retreat Centre Friary in Auckland and we still do.

Atawhai Assisi changes hands As from April 2018, Tamahere Eventide Rest Home and Retirement Village take ownership of Atawhai Mercy Assisi Home and Hospital.

The two complexes are located near each other on semirural land southeast of Hamilton.

Tamahere CEO Louis Fick says the two businesses share the same Christian values and attitude to service and Atawhai Assisi's Catholic ethos will be maintained under the new management structure.

“The Sisters of Mercy owned Atawhai Assisi. When they decided they needed to sell it, they did not want it to go to a commercial operator. They were willing to sell it to us at a reasonable rate, which

will allow us to address a lot of deferred maintenance that requires attention,” Louis says.

“A number of retired sisters and priests live at Atawhai Assisi. They are part of the pastoral team at the rest home and hospital. They will continue to do that and will work with Tamahere's pastoral team.”

Tamahere support services general manager David McGeorge says all the frontline staff at Atawhai Assisi will be retained on their existing terms and conditions.

“There are 90 staff at Atawhai Assisi and more than 100 at Tamahere. With a combined staff of 200 we are a major employer in Hamilton, ” David says.

Article courtesy of Touchstone magazine.

ketekorero May - July 2018

11

feature Leon Finn on the Road to Emmaus

T

he Road to Emmaus could well describe my journey into the Diaconate. For me, this journey began back in late 2003 when, together with approximately eight other men, I attended a weekend retreat held at Bishop Browne’s residence in Hamilton.

We had come together to hear about the Diaconate and its activity in the Hamilton Diocese. Hamilton had already ordained a number of men to the Diaconate, and our group would now be the third intake to consider the vocation in this ministry.

I think it was fair to say we were all a bit nervous and apprehensive as to why we had agreed to come along, but such concerns were quickly put to rest as the retreat

Leon and Judy Finn director, Dc Mike Ryan, assured us that such feelings were only natural. A number of us attending already knew each other and like the disciples on the road, talked eagerly as to why we had agreed to come and where the Lord was in our lives.

GISBORNE PARISHIONERS' PICNIC

Parishioners from St Mary Star of the Sea, Gisborne, held their annual parish picnic at the Botanical Gardens in March. Catching the later summer light, they enjoyed an evening of fellowship and fun, with many bringing their own picnic, blankets and seats.

None of us would have been there if we did not have the support of loving and understanding wives.

They not only had to put up with husbands wanting a weekend away from busy households but also becoming involved in a new direction, requiring our wives to work alongside their husbands in the Diaconate journey.

After completing a number of theology papers, retreats and interviews which spanned an active four years of my life, four from my class were ordained in early May 2008.

The Diaconate has made a change for me. I have become a good listener and have come to trust in the Lord more. I still, however, fall by the wayside just like others

and continually try to work in areas of my life that require numerous improvements. There are times when prayer life becomes hard and when I question whether God even exists. But then something wonderful happens, which I could only describe as the Spirit bringing me back to the reality of knowing that God loves me regardless of all my warts and pimples.

I am blessed by having a wonderfully supportive wife in Judy, a great family and being in a parish where parishioners love and do their best to support one another. I don’t walk alone on the road and can truly say, like the couple in the Emmaus story, whose hearts were burning as He talked to them on the road.

Welcome to the Church family

CAMPION COLLEGE GISBORNE Congratulations to Scott Hatwell, Hunter Middleton, George Glover, Lillie-Mae Valentine, Taylah Kingi, Dakota Isaac, Rhys Grogan, Tanay Goldsbury, and Riley Willson who were baptised in a wonderful celebration of Mass. These students will continue in the Sacramental Programme with the remainder of the students journeying towards First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

We pray blessings upon them as they now prepare for Confirmation and First Holy Communion on May 27.

ST PATRICK'S TAUPO This Easter 2018, the parish of St Patrick’s Taupo celebrated the baptism of three adults and one child, and the reception into the church of three more adults.

Another adult also went through RCIA and will be baptised later this month. It has been a fruitful journey for our catechumens and candidates which for many began with Alpha almost 12 months ago.

We were blessed to have a fabulous RCIA team of catechists, sponsors and prayer leaders.

Alison Carroll Formation in Faith Coordinator

12

ketekorero May - July 2018

parish news Benemerenti Medal highlights Br Vincent Jury's humble service

A

Michael Smith Benemerenti Medal presented to Brother Vincent Jury by Bishop Steve Lowe was a fitting highlight of an overwhelmingly successful celebration of his 70 years with the Christian Brothers and his service to Murupara and the broader community.

The celebration of his life and works on 18 February brought together friends and supporters from the Catholic and the Murupara and regional communities. Among those attending were many people who were influenced by and had worked with Br Vincent.

The small Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Murupara was crowded with well-wishers who came from far away, including Australia, Christchurch, Auckland and Gisborne. Br John Webb, a member of the Christian Brothers Province (Australia to New Zealand, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and East Timor) was also present.

Prominent among the lay well-wishers were members of the Temm family. Br Vincent grew up in Remuera, Auckland, and was close to this prominent Catholic, legal family. Members of the family present were taught by Br Vincent when he was at St Peter’s College.

In his homily, Bishop Steve recalled Br Vincent’s courage in leaving home to fly to Sydney as a 15-year-old to enter the Christian Brothers for schooling and future service.

Murupara was the first place Bishop Steve came three years ago after becoming Bishop of the Hamilton Catholic Diocese. He described how the small, forest-based Eastern Bay of Plenty township was his “spiritual home” in the diocese. Br Vincent came to Murupara in 1991, Bishop Steve said.

“Some people would say that Murupara was a place that was like a wilderness. Three years ago, I said you know the issues here, what the devils are and the things that drag people down.

But you know where the angels are, who want to make the community different, better and raise people up.”

Bishop Steve said that, although Br Vincent might not like him saying it, Br Vincent was one of those angels. “When Br Vince came here, it was a whole mutual relationship, particularly with Maori, as he journeyed with them and the community journeyed with him.”

Relationships, such as the one Br Vincent

built with the community, were an example of the opening up of a relationship. The more he was able to do that with the people of Murupara, the more he was able to open up the Gospel.

For well over 25 years, Br Vincent was “the apostle of Murupara". Bishop Steve said he was also in Murupara for another reason - to present Br Vincent with a Benemerenti Medal on behalf of Pope Francis. The medal was a sign of Br Vincent’s generosity in giving himself to the parish and the community. After the Mass, parishioners gathered in front of Sacred Heart Catholic Church – many for photos with Br Vincent and the Benemerenti Medal and the framed Papal Certificate of Authenticity.

John Webb, a member of the Leadership Team of the Oceania Province of the Christian Brothers, who came from Australia, said it was a special occasion when any of the Brothers reached their 70-year anniversary.

“We think it’s a wonderful moment,” Br John said. “Vin has been a significant person, who has strongly encouraged the outreach to the indigenous people in New Zealand.”

Notably, as a Christian brother, Br Vincent had taught in Australia and New Zealand and in many hard, difficult places. He had also been in leadership roles in New Zealand, being highly looked up to in that role for his work in leading, planning and encouraging brothers.

The sunshine seemed to be exceptionally bright during the welcome on to the Rangitahi Marae, which was followed by a karakia prayer led by Br Vincent. Rangitahi is the home of the

Tamahere Eventide Home Trust operating as: Atawhai Assisi Home & Hospital and Tamahere Eventide Home & Retirement Village A Christian aged care service that provides care to all denominations.

We provide Retirement Village, Apartments, Day Programme, Rest Home, Hospital Care, Dementia Care and Respite Care.

Contact details:

Care Service Retirement Village

Sue Pollock David McGeorge

Mobile: 027 445 5728 Mobile: 021 0289 1213

email: gmcare@tamahere.co.nz email: gmsuppport@tamahere.co.nz

Mission: “To provide a quality caring service to older people in a Christian environment”

Pictured far left, Bishop Steve Lowe and Br Vincent Jury with his Benemerenti Medal and framed letter Papal Certificate of Authenticity.

Above top left, with the bishop and other religious outside Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Murupara; top right, with Christian brothers; bottom left, with parishioners who travelled to express their appreciation; bottom right, Ngati Manawa leader Pembroke Peraniko (Pem) Bird, one of many speakers.

Ngati Hui hapu of Ngati Manawa. The name of the wharenui is Apa Hapai Taketake and the wharekai is called Kuranui.

While others made their way to the meeting house, marae committee chairman and educator Pembroke Peraniko (Pem) Bird told Kete Korero that Br Vincent had been a friend to and provided services to his people for 25 years, especially for traditional tangi.

Pem, the principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Motuhake o Tawhiuau was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to education and Maori in 2017, and spoke about the many initiatives Br Vincent had undertaken.

These included the Youth and Counselling Centres, the Murupara Learning Centre, Edmund Rice Camps and Programmes, a local radio station as well as running the parish and doing Sunday services for 25 years. Pem said: “I have got to know him as a frequent visitor to this marae. He’s a servant to the people – he’s humble.”

Humility was an essential quality in leaders in the service of Christ, and Br Vincent embodied that in the work he did. “He used to say to us ‘Be a Ngati Manawa first and a Catholic second’, and I thought that was a huge thing to say and I’m not sure who else would say that.”

Speakers gave insights into Br Vincent’s life, his influence on them and experiences they had shared with him. Deacon Ben Pomare said it was great to have had the ceremony in Murupara and to have had Bishop Steve to say Mass and present the Benemerenti Medal to Br Vincent.

Br Vincent said the number who gathered was extraordinary. Although praise had come his way that day, much of it should go to those who had assisted him in his work. He noted he had taken groups tramping around Lake Waikaremoana at least 20 times and over the Tongariro Crossing six times as well as down the Whakatane River and Te Urewera on three-to-five-day trips, often accompanied by Annette Arnerich when a chaperone was required for younger groups.

ketekorero May - July 2018

A mountain of love in Te Aroha Michael Smith embers of the Catholic Women’s League in Te Aroha provide an essential network of support for priests, parishioners and the community.

Kete Korero met with some of the members to talk about St Joseph’s Parish in Te Aroha, a small town located beneath Mount Te Aroha on the eastern rim of the Waikato region.

St Joseph’s is part of the Parishes of the Holy Family pastoral area, which also includes Morrinsville and Paeroa. The Morrinsvillebased priests in the area are Father JeLo Maghirang, the Parish Priest, and Fr Fernando Alombro, Parochial Vicar.

Athleen McCabe has been the secretary/ treasurer for the Catholic Women’s League in Te Aroha for the past 25 years. Joan Ryan is the oldest member at 94 years of age and has been in league for over 60 years, attending meetings until a few months ago.

The CWL has been in the parish for 82 years and at one time had 90 members. Although numbers are smaller today, the group still provides vital services to the parish.

Te Aroha had seemed to have been in decline, with key services and retail outlets moving to larger towns in the area. However, its setting against the bush-covered “Mountain of Love” makes the town attractive for the quiet and contemplative visitor experience.

The domain includes a unique soda hot water pool facility and Mt Te Aroha has a range of walks for the experienced and inexperienced tramper. The mountain has several cycle tracks that people come to ride every weekend.

Artists have also been attracted to the township, and their works are featured throughout the town.

The township is in an area experiencing some population growth due mainly to the housing crisis in Auckland and Hamilton. As has been widely reported, families have been moving into such towns, attracted by lower house prices and more reasonable rents.

This in turn has pushed up house prices, so an average house in Te Aroha is now more likely to be about $500,000. Those selling up in Auckland and buying in Te Aroha come with money in the bank.

The CWL members report that the demographics of the people attending Mass are also changing. For example, the trend for more substantial farm owners to purchase what once would have been family farms has seen an increase in participation as workers come from the Philippines and Tonga.

As more established families move to other areas, young and vibrant parishioners help maintain the parish and church. Although young families are coming into the area, Athleen notes that many of the young mothers need to work. While some are happy to help in the church, work commitments limit their ability to join CWL. Nevertheless the current 16 CWL members remain dedicated to providing services. An annual fundraising soup and apple crumble luncheon – now in its twenty fourth year - is due to be held on 8 June. All sister organisations in Cambridge, Matamata, Morrinsville, Paeroa and Waihi receive an invitation as well as service and

13

parish news

M

Left, Athleen McCabe (right) with Mourveen Warren in front of St Joseph's Church, Te Aroha. Above, Peter Stanish with two banners over the altar.

Below left and right are pictures from the Te Aroha and District Museum's report on St Joseph's churches. Pictured below left is the first church built in 1884 at the top end of Wilson Street. This site was said to be "very suitable" being on a rise next to the Hot Springs Domain with views of the surrounding country for many miles. Pictured below right is the second church on the third site, the corner of Whitaker and Burgess Streets.

friendship organisations groups in the area.

As well as organising church and flower rosters, parishioners cater for parish functions, including funerals.

Toni van Bysterveldt, apart from the other ministries she does in the parish, makes baptismal stoles for both adult and infant baptisms.

A social justice committee has been formed in the parish to address issues such as euthanasia, and the St Vincent de Paul Society has been operating for the past 35 years. Two rosary groups are active in the parish, and a song and scripture group meets regularly at the house of a parishioner. The Legion of Mary was active in the parish until 2017.

The Tongan community, several of whom come from Auckland to sing on the 3rd Sunday of every month, are an excellent contribution to the parish community.

The parish is committed to be a more welcoming community, acknowledging the presence of the other ethnicities and encouraging them to participate in the liturgical celebrations in the parish.

A Roman Catholic church has existed in Te Aroha since 1884. The current location on the corner of Whitaker and Burgess Streets is the third location.

There have been two churches on this site.

The first one was there for 51 years, before being moved to Waitoa (and eventually sold). That church was built entirely with kauri timber in the Gothic architectural style and included a

large circular stained glass window above the front porch entrance.

The current St Joseph’s was opened in 1957 and was built in an art deco/Spanish Mission style using concrete and plaster. The outside surface was coated in a concrete mix including pink marble chips that used to shimmer in the sun. Unfortunately this unique characteristic was lost during the process of repainting.

The church altar was also made of pink marble and purchased in Italy by the mother of Father Sheely to mark his appointment to his first parish. The altar is now sheathed in wood.

St Joseph’s Church was listed by the Historic Places Trust as a Historic Place Category 2 building in 1985. The church was painted again this year, a significant undertaking for the parish. A stand-out building now on Te Aroha’s main street, St Joseph’s looks set for another century of service.

When Fr JeLo arrived in the parish, he sourced pictures to reflect the liturgical seasons.

Parishioner Peter Stanish, who owns the local signwriting business, transferred the eight pictures on to high quality canvas banners measuring 1.3 metres wide by 2.5 metres high.

Peter, who was born in Te Aroha, is on the parish maintenance committee. Two banners are hung on the wall above the altar, bringing what was an empty space alive and giving further life to the church.

Thanks to Athleen McCabe, Catholic Women's League and Te Aroha & District Museum.

14

ketekorero May - July 2018

the religious life

With hearts burning in Whakatāne

Michael O’Loughlin With Hearts Burning Co-ordinator St Peter Chanel Whakatāne

W

e had about 50 people attend our parish meeting on Sunday night 25 March held in the lounge at St Peter Chanel Church in Whakatāne.

Father Robert Sharplin started us off with a prayer. I provided an outline of the programme for the evening and this was followed with a summary on Powerpoint of the questions and neighbourhood group responses to the first set of questions on “Why do people leave the Church”

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Parishioners are pictured above pouring over the With Hearts Burning material in an endeavour to find solutions to many of the questions asked by Bishop Steve Lowe. Although mostly from Whakatāne, families came from Matata and Edgecumbe for the evening. Their positive ideas were later displayed in the Church lounge. and our responses to them.

These questions and responses will be We then broke into 10 groups (one for each displayed around the Church lounge for all to question) and focused on finding “solutions” to read. concerns relating to each question.

From this, a series of “action groups” will be These were written on large sheets of paper formed to implement some solutions. We are interested in “parish renewal”. and used to give feedback to the meeting.

That was followed by a general discussion, led People have had enough of “stagnation”,

by Bernard and Brenda Whelan and a closure in “retrogration” (backward looking) or “holding prayer by Fr Robert. the line”. There was a genuine desire among People were encouraged to write their name those present to revitalise our faith. We applaud and contact details on any sheet of a question Bishop Steve’s initiative in producing this “With that they had a “burning heart desire” to help Hearts Burning” programme. It is giving us hope resolve, before they went home. for the faith of our grandchildren.

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15

the religious life Fr Robert Sharplin: The daily challenge of a diverse parish Michael Smith alancing the needs of parishioners in a diverse parish is a daily challenge for priests throughout the Hamilton Catholic Diocese.

Kete Korero recently spent some time with Father Robert Shaplin in Whakatāne, talking about his life and work.

Fr Robert was born in Tauranga but moved to Rotorua just before his fifth birthday. He was educated in Rotorua at the then Edmund Rice College with the Christian Brothers. He also had some schooling with the Josephite Sisters at the adjacent Mary McKillop College, and recently attended the 70th jubilee of Sister Maree Joan, who taught him history.

Edmund Rice was a very different school to the current John Paul College, he says, as 40 per cent of the students were Māori. The bicultural experience he had at that time expressed itself a few years later when he was at the seminary and in his role as a parish priest.

The example of the Christian brothers and Josephite sisters was significant. The church today faces difficulties in making up for the loss of the religious orders in primary and secondary schools, which were essential not only for vocations but also religious practice.

“It’s the loss of the witness of men and women who have given up their lives for that active apostolic life which both the Josephites and Christian brothers embody.”

B

A VISION OF PRIESTHOOD Fr Robert says it wasn’t until he was a 30-yearold that he was drawn to enter the religious life as a priest.

At that time, he was working at the then Waikato Polytechnic after doing law and commerce degrees at Auckland University. After graduating, he worked at the legal publishing firm Commerce Clearing House, then went to Hamilton to teach commercial law to accounting students at the polytechnic.

After marking 140 Introduction to Commercial Law exam scripts one night, he had a vision.

“I had a vision that Jesus was calling me to go and see the vocations director, Msgr David Bennett.”

Such visions being unusual in his life, he had every expectation that Fr David would advise him to return to his job. But he didn’t and said the church would give him six years at the Holy Cross Seminary in Mosgiel, Dunedin to see if it was a valid spiritual experience.

It was while in St Michael’s Parish, Remuera, Auckland with Monsignor Brian Arahill during the pastoral year in his sixth year as a seminarian that he learnt Māori.

Fr Robert describes Msgr Brian as a very formative character of the church and one who introduced him to many other “characterful” priests.

“The priests of that post-war era were quite strong characters, because that’s the way their world was, and they had seen a lot.”

While he did have some experience of Māori at Edmund Rice College, Fr Robert had retained a wish to learn the language. While at Remuera, he took the opportunity to study Māori language at Auckland University.

Fr Robert Sharplin with, from left, Elizabeth McAdams (eucharistic co-ordinator), Rae Domney (retirement village chaplain) and Elma Turnbull (activities co-ordinator).

Fr Robert Sharplin with eucharistic coordinator Elizabeth McAdams conducting the Easter service at a Whakatane retirement home.

On graduating from the seminary, Fr Robert’s first parish was Taupo with the parish priest, Msgr Pat Holland, who was not in good health at the time. The newly ordained priest’s primary responsibility was in the south of the parish around Turangi and it was during this period that he increasingly used Māori in the ministry on a regular basis.

Looking back, Fr Robert says the seminary gave time to look beyond the curriculum. It provided him with ample time for reflection and time to study.

While being an admitted “swot” and having a thirst for knowledge, he was able to translate into parish work, as he found once he went to Taupo-Turangi.

“The Māori ministry has its highest expression for the rituals of the tangihanga and that naturally connects to the priestly ministry. You do have to have some of the language.”

He describes the lack of formal Māori training within seminary training as a “lacuna” or gap, and one of the reasons for the substantial loss of Māori practising Catholics since the diminishing presence of Mill Hill and Marist orders.

AGING POPULATION CHALLENGE Our interview was conducted in late March and saw Kete Korero accompany the priest to a nearby retirement village for a service during which he administered holy oil for Easter.

In a way, the service highlighted some of the challenges facing the church, not only in the diocese but also throughout the country. Of the 26-elderly folk gathered in the activities centre, a handful were Catholics.

It also reflected the aging of the population of practising Christians and the challenge that represented for parishes, as the elderly were in homes and their families lived elsewhere or were not practising Catholics.

Fr Robert says parish priests are now facing a wide variety of challenges.

“As a parish priest, you are a man of communion in so many ways.”

Pope Francis’s challenge to priests was to go to the margins rather than focusing only on the centre all the time.

Whakatāne has had a “huge response” to Bishop Steve Lowe’s With Hearts Burning programme, with a number of aspects being discussed. One of those was the number of Catholics “praying around” – going to other religious services – rather than attending weekly Mass at a parish.

“We always have to keep the door open to returning Catholics, but we have also got to be true to authentic traditions,” Fr Robert said.

WITH HEARTS BURNING EXCITING Fr Robert says With Hearts Burning is exciting, because it asks many of the questions priests have been asking for years.

“Some of the responses are uncomfortable and you could say that that person has in their life experienced a spiritual journey that has taken them to a place other than the Catholic Church.

But are we open to their return?

"Are we open to attracting people from other communions who are looking for something very authentic to them?”

The “groupism” that fed the churches and societies in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries had died as people became more concerned about their individual journey.

The challenge for the church is to open up and move away from rigidly hierarchical structure in which it refuses to listen to its own people and clergy. Religious orders, like the Josephites, are showing the way ahead but they have to be responsive to the needs of the people, Fr Robert says. However,he says, it is important to be true to the tradition of the Catholic liturgy.

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