Miha Māori Nā Hinetapuarau Ioane me Arama Pou.
Sacred Heart Church, Murupara Sunday 23 February 2020. Myself, Arama and our homestay student from Japan, Tomoki, travelled from Hamilton to Murupara to attend Miha Māori (Māori Mass) celebrated by Pīhopa Tīpene (Bishop Steve). Arama and I have close affiliations to this area, Ngāti Mānawa. My Great Grandmother, Peti came from this iwi. She married Hetaraka Merito. They lived at Wairaka Marae (Te Whare o Toroa). My grandmother was one of their daughters, Parehuia but she was brought up in Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. Her Dad was a katekita at Wairaka, Whākatane. He and the other whānau who lived around the Marae at that time were very staunch Catholics and still are today. I looked forward to attending the Mass and meeting up with my whānau who lived in and around Murupara and who are also mokopuna (grandchildren) of Peti and Hetaraka.
Pīhopa Tīpene was given a warm welcome by the kaumātua. Pīhopa Tīpene said Mass in te reo Māori with much enthusiasm, meaningfulness and his pronunciation was tino pai (very good). Miha Māori has been a central part of my life’s journey, growing up in Opotiki, here (where I live) in Hamilton at Hui Te Rangiora, and in other places across the diocese. I hope that with the leadership of Pīhopa Tīpene that Miha Māori will take its place more often within our Hāhi (within our faith). How one conducts oneself during Mass is with much reverence. However, when it comes to Miha there’s a tendency to be a bit relaxed at the sign of peace. Instead of shaking hands and saying “peace be with you” it is full of beaming smiles, hugging, shaking hands, greeting each other with kia ora! In Murupara, for a minute we forgot where we were and it was not until one of the aunties started singing the Lamb of God before we realised we needed to get back to being reverent again!
Church of Hato Pāora, Ngāputahi Sunday, 9 March 2020. It was a great privilege to again attend Mass (celebrated by Pīhopa Tīpene) but this time further into the Urewera at a tiny place called Ngāputahi. The night before, Arama and I stayed with my sister who lived at Ruatahuna and it was with great joy that she and my nephew were able to attend Mass too.
Above: Sacred Heart Church, Murupara. Bottom Left: Church of Hato Pāora, Ngāputahi. See more pictures from this visit on p3. Photos by Jacob Te Kurapa Used with Permission.
On both occasions, Mass was attended by parishioners who came from Rotorua, Hamilton, Ngāputahi and Murupara. After Mass, it was time for whanaungatanga (relationship, connection), manaakitanga (hospitality), wairuatanga (spirituality), kaitiakitanga (trust), kaitāhi (food) and most of all sharing our faith with one another. He mihi tenei ki a koe Pīhopa Tīpene mo to whakahaere i roto i te Miha Māori. Ngā mihi nui, ngā manaakitanga ki runga i a koe hoki. (With much thanks Bishop Steve for leading our Māori Mass. Much greetings and blessings).
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