ketekorero
Catholic Diocese of Hamilton Issue 4 a.d. 2012
Photo courtesy of The Waikato Times
In this issue... Read it online! www.proudtobecatholic.org.nz Features
10 A hidden treasure-Raglan and Te Mata 12 Unravelling the mystery of your fertility 13 Catholic Family Support Services 14 Mission Sisters in Vietnam 16 Year of Faith 21 Vocations to the Priesthood 22 In the footsteps of Mary MacKillop
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Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Diocesan News
4 Mission Sisters Celebrate 150 years 5 Bishop Denis’ 75th Birthday Celebrations 7 Jubilee for Jubilee ECE 8 Tauranga’s Knight Commander
Our Parishes
6 Cambridge Confirmations 6 Twenty new Catholics in Fairfield 9 International Mass at the Cathedral
Young and Catholic
Easter Reflections
17 Baptism in the Year of Faith 18 Catholic Youth Office News
Our Schools
20 Chanel Shield 2012 23 St Columba Frankton 24 St Pius Melville 25 St Mary’s Tauranga 26 St Patrick’s Te Awamutu 28 St Joseph’s Te Kuiti 29 Catholic Kids’ Corner
The Kete Korero is an official publication of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton. Deadline for contributions to the next issue is 14 February Kete Korero Magazine c-/ 51 Grey St, P.O. Box 4353, Hamilton East 3247 Tel: 07 8566989 kete@cdh.org.nz. Sponsorship and advertising: David Barrowclough, c-/ Chanel Centre Tel: 07 8566989 Fax 07 8567035 0800 843 233 or email: cdf@cdh.org.nz Printed by APN Print, Wanganui
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Frassati Men’s Weekend
16
Catholic Youth Office: Sports Night
23 Growing Great Men
Cover: Bishop Denis Photo courtesy of the Waikato Times
Bishop Denis’ Message My Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
5 Bishop Denis’ 75th Birthday Celebration Photo: Waikato Times
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On 11 October last year, Pope Benedict sent a letter, entitled “Porta Fidei”, to all of the Catholic faithful throughout the world. In this letter, Pope Benedict invited us to join with him in celebrating the Year of Faith that began on 11 October. This was the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council. On that day, in St Peters in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the Eucharist to mark the opening of this special year – the Year of Faith. In the spirit of joy and hope promised to us in the documents of Vatican II and in collegiality with the Universal Church, we join Pope Benedict as we seek to deepen our Faith over the coming year. As a preparation for the Year of Faith, I set in place a series of workshops around the diocese, where we met together to better understand the four main documents of the Council. Thank you to those who responded to my invitation to participate in these and to rediscover a sense of Joy and Hope. The response to these has been very humbling, as people have come to understand the deeper meanings the documents hold. These sessions have been well supported and participants have been really enthusiastic at the intent of the documents to even further “open the doors” and allow the Spirit in. There will be other opportunities throughout this Year for us all to deepen our faith. The first of these is a pilgrimage to the grave of our beloved Bishop Max Takuira Mariu sm. This is planned for his anniversary, Thursday 12 December 2012. Another pilgrimage to Rangioawhia on 21 February is also planned. I would encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to share in the re-discovery of a real sense of love and wonder of the Church as envisaged by Vatican II. I will continue to pray for you all in this special Year of Faith as I ask you to pray for me and my fellow priests.
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May God bless you, Yours sincerely in Christ
Hamilton Diocese’s hidden treasure +Denis Browne BISHOP OF HAMILTON
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Mission Sisters Celebrate 150 Years
T
his year is the 150th Jubilee of the foundation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in Lyon, France. On Wednesday 22 August the Sisters of the Hamilton Diocese gathered to celebrate at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Over 400 parishioners, friends, associates, pupils and past pupils joined them in this joyful celebration. The Mission Sisters have had a strong presence in education in Waikato and this was displayed as the pupils from Marian School, Sacred Heart Girls’ College, St Joseph’s Opotiki, St Peter’s Cambridge, St Anthony’s Huntly, St Columba’s Frankton, St Paul’s Ngaruawahia, St Joseph’s Schools Morrinsville and Fairfield, St Peter Chanel Te Rapa and St Pius X Melville were introduced to the congregation as they each processed into the Church. Many had school banners with them and these were placed in the sanctuary giving a visible picture of the influence that the sisters have had on Catholic Education in the Diocese.
A highlight was the singing of “Missions Divine” by the girls of Sacred Heart. This song was written for the 150th Jubilee by a past pupil of St Pius X, Father Chris Skinner SM. All were invited to stay awhile and share soup and buns in the church foyer after the celebration. Many memories were shared as stories were exchanged and friendships renewed. Carmel Cole RNDM
More about the Mission Sisters on page 14
Bishop Denis Browne was the main celebrant and was assisted by many of the priests of the local area along with two deacons. Girls from Sacred Heart Girls’ College led the congregation in singing and the head girl (Hannah Doherty) read the first reading. Representatives from the schools led the congregation in the Prayer of the Faithful and brought to the altar the gifts and symbols of the sisters and their mission at the Preparation of the Gifts.
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Pupils from schools founded by the Mission Sisters
50 Years of Faithful Service Bishop Denis’ 75th birthday celebrations on Friday 21 September were a tribute to a man who has dedicated 50 years of his life so far to serving Christ and His Church. The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton was filled with Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, religious and laity as they gathered for Mass and a celebratory supper. During his homily, Bishop Denis spoke about St Matthew, on whose feast day he was born. The Mass was followed by a spectacular supper in the Sacred Heart Girls’ College Hall. The Hall hummed as people caught up with old friends and met new people from around the diocese. Cardinal Thomas Williams and Archbishop John Dew from Wellington both spoke and offered their congratulations to Bishop Denis on reaching such an important milestone. Cardinal Williams observed that Bishop Denis had worked his way south over his 35 years as a Bishop, from Rarotonga to Auckland, then to Hamilton Diocese and joked that the Bishops of Palmerston North and Wellington were worried that Bishop Denis would continue his journey south and take over their dioceses next! Fortunately for those Bishops and for the people of Hamilton diocese, as Cardinal Williams observed, Bishop Denis found his home among the people of the Hamilton Diocese and the Bishops of Palmerston North and Wellington are now safe.
Photo: Waikato Times
Colleen Graham, Bishop Denis’ Secretary also commented on this in a poem written for the occasion, joking that she never knew how many people to expect for dinner as Bishop would often invite people he had met during the day. We too offer congratulations to Bishop Denis on his birthday and pray that there will be many more to come!
Carole Fleming and representatives from other Christian churches also spoke, acknowledging Bishop Denis’ support of Ecumenism and his reputation for being a gracious host.
Photo: Waikato Times
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Cambridge Confirmations A
sense of excitement could be felt through St. Peter’s Parish Cambridge. Even the sun shone as 24 children came together to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion. The children had all undergone the parish programme of initiation, which is based around the programme from the Catholic Education Centre, Wellington. The programme, delivered by Monsignor Bennett, Cynthia Piper and Paul Shannon, ensured that the children where well prepared for the Sacraments they were about to take and knew how important they where for laying the foundations of Christian life. Parents, families and friends looked on with pride as Bishop Dennis Browne first confirmed the children and then united them with Jesus Christ, by receiving their First Holy Communion.
The children with Bishop Denis, Mons. David and Deacon Leon
The parents and children would like to thank Bishop Dennis Browne, Monsignor Bennett, Deacon Leon Finn and all the parish community who made this occasion so special for our children. Deirdre Hearmon
Twenty New Catholics A
s parishioners walked in to 10am Mass on the 23rd of September, they wondered who was going for a swim as they checked out the paddling pool up on the sanctuary at St. Joseph’s Church, Fairfield! Twenty children came into the church, receiving the Sacraments of Initiation and 13 were baptised with Father Richard dousing each of them liberally with a bucket of Holy Water as they knelt in the pool.
After returning freshly baptised and dressed in white, the children were joined by seven others, baptised already in other denominations. Together all the children were Confirmed and received Holy Communion for the first time. Shortly after Confirmation the children were given jobs to do handing around the collection baskets and taking up the offertory. As the Leader of the day pointed out, they are now a part of our Catholic community and welcome and expected to take part in Mass from now on. The children are from around the Fairfield area and part of the Transparish of St. Joseph’s Fairfield, St Peter Chanel Te Rapa and St. Matthew’s Hillcrest. K-M Adams and Fr Richard Laurenson
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Jubilee for Jubilee J
ubilee Catholic Early Childhood Centre celebrated its 10th Anniversary on 19 October 2012.
A joyful ceremony took place that included current and past families and staff, our Board of Directors and members of our Cathedral and neighbouring Marian School community. Fr Philip blessed the children and the building, the children sang waiata and a tree was planted by Christina Reymer. Mike Hanaray the Board Chairman did the honour of cutting the 10 year celebration cake and Lisa Vedder, Jubilee’s first Centre Supervisor, was presented with flowers in recognition and thanks for her ten years service to the centre and to all the children that have passed through its doors. Speeches echoed our mission: Jubilee is a community where Christian values are experienced, developed and nurtured in each child, and Jubilee continues to provide care and education for young children through the presence of Jesus in all that we do. Christina Reymer had the vision for a Catholic Early Childhood Centre in the year 2000. A playgroup was established from Clyde St House in 2001, and the vision came to fruition in 2002 when Jubilee became fully licensed and officially opened in October of 2002.
Christina Reymer (Founder) and Daniella plant the tree
The support Jubilee has received over the past ten years from the community, families and staff has reinforced the positive position Jubilee holds in the Early Childhood sector. To these and to all the children that have touched our lives and taught us so many lessons along the way please accept our thanks for your part in the Jubilees journey to date. Veronica Mackenzie
A waiata from the Jubilee children
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Tauranga’s Knight Commander
S
ir Peter Trapski’s many years of service to the Church have been acknowledged with a New Zealand first.
When asked what his faith meant to him, his response was that it was at the core of his being. “It is, I think, basic to the way I try to live my life,” he said.
Pope Benedict XVI has conferred upon Sir Peter the honour of being a Knight Commander, with star, in the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Pope Saint Sylvester.
To list all of Sir Peter’s contributions to the New Zealand Church and wider community would require many pages. New Zealand’s first Principal Family Court Judge and a former Chief District Court Judge, Sir Peter’s services to the Church include having been adviser to the New Zealand bishops on both sexual abuse matters and the protection of assets.
An investiture by Bishop Denis Browne was held during a Mass at St Mary Immaculate Church, Tauranga, on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary on August 15. Sir Peter, who was made a Knight in the same order in 1996, told NZ Catholic that he felt “deeply honoured but humbled” by the delighted reaction of his fellow St Mary’s parishioners. A poem was written to acknowledge Sir Peter’s honour by R.J. Barry, an old university friend, was read out at the Mass by Tauranga parish priest Msgr Frank Eggleton, who also read out an accompanying letter by Sir Peter’s god-daughter. The order of St Sylvester was instituted in 1841 by Pope Gregory XVI and made a separate order of knighthood by Pope St Pius X in 1905, especially to reward laymen who are active in the apostolate, notably in their professional duties and who are leaders in their particular field. Being a pontifical equestrian order, members have the right to ride a horse in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. But Sir Peter said, “I won’t be riding any horses”.
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As a young man, he was a member of Bishop Reginald Delargey’s original Commission on the Laity after Vatican II and he has, more recently, been an adviser to dioceses on the establishment of clergy trust funds, a mediator on different matters for bishops, adviser and patron of the establishment committee of Aquinas College in Tauranga, chairman of parish councils in Mt Maunganui, Tauranga and Lower Hutt and a parish council member in the Cathedral in Wellington. Other services include being a choirmaster at St Mary’s, Rotorua, a co-chairman of the Wellington Archdiocesan Synod, the chairman of the Wellington Archdiocesan Taskforce on Welfare and Justice and being a CCD teacher.
He is currently a member of the Hamilton Diocese Finance Council and serves in his local Tauranga parish as a reader and commentator at Mass. ketekorero Issue 4 2012
Sir Peter Trapski
Sir Peter, who worked as a mediator and arbitrator after his career as a judge, has been married to Lady Helen for 52 years. They have five daughters and six grandchildren. Courtesy of (abridged)
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International Mass
T
he 7th of October is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which is the patronal feast of the Cathedral. Prior to becoming a Cathedral it was known as the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was decided that we would have an International Mass to celebrate the cultural diversity that makes up the rich fabric that is the Cathedral community. During the Mass celebrated by Bishop Denis, the Readings and the prayers of the faithful were read in different languages. The Pacifica community processed in the Gospel and during the Mass, there were hymns in English, Filipino, Spanish, Kiribati and Maori. An Australian contingent (in green and gold from head to toe!) assisted at the offertory, alongside the Irish, Scottish and Zambian family members. The gorgeous Irish dancers gave a great welcome at the door as they handed out newsletters. Following the Mass a large number joined in for a “kiwi” sausage sizzle.
Bishop Denis with the Irish Dancers
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A hidden treasure
H
idden in the far west of the Hamilton diocese are two tiny churches with a fascinating history.
The Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Raglan and the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Te Mata are quite possibly the smallest parish in the Hamilton Diocese. While the first churches were only built in 1908 and 1935 respectively, the Catholic presence in the area dates back to 1844. Unfortunately much of this early history has been lost; however, we do know that there were many Maori Catholics in the area at that time, especially around Kawhia and there are records of a half an acre of land in Raglan being given to Bishop Pompallier as a Crown Grant in 1867. Before the churches were built the Sacraments were celebrated in private homes. It would have been a difficult journey for the early missionary Priests, but even so they made the effort to visit these isolated Catholic families, usually once a year. These visits were treasured by the families and stories are still told about one Priest who visited the Swann family in the 1890s. He was a keen hunter so was invited to ‘try his skill’; he later returned with the family’s pet goat. Even after the invention of the motorcar the journey to Raglan and Te Mata was still difficult. One Sunday the Vanhoutte family were driving to Mass when they saw a man standing by his car thumbing a lift. As the family stopped to pick him up Mr Vanhoutte told him to hurry as they were going to be late to Mass. “Oh no you won’t be”, said the gentleman, “I’m the Priest”.
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The Catholic community in Raglan has always been small but committed, with a strong sense of family. Many descendants of the original families are still there and have many stories to tell about their parish community. On the second and fourth Sundays of the month Mass is held in Te Mata, one of the most picturesque parish churches in the diocese. Situated on farm land donated by Jonny Moore, the church also has a small graveyard where many members of the original families are buried. The grounds are lovingly looked after by Tim Brown who has been mowing them since he was 12. Tim vividly recalls fainting in the Sanctuary while serving as the Altar Boy: on Sundays he had to get up early, milk the cows and walk to church, all on an empty stomach (in those days the Eucharistic fast started at from midnight)
Te Mata Church and cemetery
The Good Shepherd
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Children from Raglan’s CatholicKids programme.
Today, Fr Anselm Aherne MHM from Frankton continues the tradition of Mill Hill Fathers serving the Parish, celebrating a Vigil Mass on Saturday nights and the Sacraments as required. Raglan and Te Mata still form a strong parish community and the stories of those pioneer families who built up the Catholic community in the area will no doubt continue to inspire and encourage parishioners for many years to come. Information from “Telling Our Story: A History of the Catholic community in the Raglan, Te Mata and Kawhia regions” Sue Brown and Barbara O’Doherty (Eds.), 2006.
am privileged on occasions to be deacon in the parishes of Raglan and Te Mata in the Waikato. Recently I gave a sermon on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. As I looked up to give my sermon I could see sheep grazing on the hill opposite. And I had been told just before the sermon that the congregation contained two shepherds! After the sermon I spoke with one of the shepherds, Caroline Swann. She has been a shepherd for over 50 years on farmland south-west of Raglan. She has given me permission to share one of her poems about the Good Shepherd. Deacon Peter Spiller
The Shepherd’s Prayer Lord you sent your holy lamb upon earth to be a shepherd to your sheep. Lord we are the sheep of your flock. Lord I am a shepherd to my sheep, When they are lost I will find them, When there is a storm I will find them shelter, When they are hungry I will find them food, When they are in trouble I will go to them, When they are sick I will attend to them. Lord I am a shepherd to my sheep. Lord you are a shepherd to your sheep, When we are lost you will find us, When we are lonely you will be our friend, When we are in trouble you will help us, When we are sick you will heal us, And at our deaths you will come for us. Lord you are a shepherd to your sheep. Lord we hear your voice calling us home, To the holy fields of heaven, Where there will be no more loneliness, No more troubles, No more sickness, And death shall be no more. At last we shall be at peace Lord, In the holy fields of heaven, We shall be at peace. ATAWHAI MERCY ASSISI
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ketekorero Issue 4 2012
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Unravelling the Mystery
A
nna Tuffery and Heidi Mills are passionate about helping couples to understand their fertility.
The two women have recently returned from their second trip to Australia where they completed their final education phase in their journey to become Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System Practitioners. The Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System (CrMS) uses the natural fertility cycle to help couples achieve or avoid pregnancy in a way that upholds the dignity of the human person and the values of the Catholic Faith. Many women know very little about the workings of their reproductive cycle so the CrMS practitioner works with a couple (or an individual woman) to help them to unravel the mystery of their fertility cycle with the help of modern science. By observing and recording biological markers, couples can tell when they are naturally fertile or infertile. These ‘biomarkers’ can also help identify the underlying causes of infertility. “In the CrMS, fertility is observed as a part of health, not disease. It is a system that is specifically not a natural contraceptive; rather, it is a true method of family planning, a method that can be used in two ways, to achieve, as well as, avoid pregnancy. These principles make this system distinctly different from contraception, artificial or natural.”
Heidi and Anna are both passionate about the system and how it can be used to help both women and couples. Heidi says; “The Creighton Model is definitely the most comprehensive system I have come across for regulation of one’s fertility, but it is so much more than that! It helps a woman or couple actually monitor and maintain their cycle, and that is so powerful for people.” And the science is real: research shows that for the CrMS, use effectiveness to avoid pregnancy in couples of normal fertility is 96.8 %1, compared to artificial technologies such as the Pill (92 %) or condoms (85%)2. It has no side effects, respects the dignity of human person and the natural rhythm of their bodies, following the teachings of the Catholic Church. For Anna, who knows firsthand the emotional stress caused by fertility issues, the CrMS has given her and her husband hope. It is Heidi and Anna’s hope that more couples will discover how empowering the Creighton Model System can be. 1. http://www.creightonmodel.com/effectiveness.htm 2. Hatcher, R. (2008). Contraceptive Technology, 19th Edition.
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Serving Those In Need
C
arole Fleming is the Director of the Catholic Family Support Services. She was interviewed by Barry Pryor as part of Your Catholic Corner, a weekly Catholic radio programme broadcast on Free FM 89. You are the head of Catholic Family Support Services. What does that organisation do? It is an organisation under the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton and provides a wide variety of social services in the Waikato as well as budget support and supervised contact for parents who aren’t able to have their children living with them. Most of our work is in homes helping parents make changes so they can be stronger, better parents with more functioning families. The level of poverty that we see coming in our door continues to amaze me but what amazes me more is the courage and strength that those people have in asking for help I have heard you are retiring: is that true? Yes I am. I will have been in the organisation 10 years next May and it seems like the agency is ready to move to the next stage. It’s a good time for someone new to take it to the next level with a fresh set of ideas, fresh eyes and fresh energy. What have been the highlights of your time? The agency has become a very professional social service agency. It has a stronger financial base and the respect of Child Youth and Family and Work and Income. When I think of an average of 500 families we have been able to help each year, over 9 years that’s nearly 5000 families that we’ve been able to help. For me that’s pretty satisfying.
Who pays for all your efforts? We have a contract with the Ministry of Social Development, which funds about half of what we need. The other half comes from trusts such as Trust Waikato and Catholic Care. It’s part of being a Faith-based organisation: we commit to doing the work and the money comes. Is the situation out there getting any better? The people we see lack a sense of hope, so for them life’s not getting better. They are in real poverty, they have real struggles and hardship but they leave us with a sense of hope, a smile and a spring in their step and they tell us that they couldn’t have made these changes without us. Do you have to be Catholic to come to you for help? Never; irrespective of religion, culture, gender or anything, we are there to help people. And finally, your own faith has helped and driven you through these many roles-what does it really mean for you? It is the absolute essence of who I am; it fosters a deep humility that I can serve others, whatever their point of need. While my relationship with Jesus is personal I express that through serving others and I think that is what the Gospel calls us to.
Your Catholic Corner airs at 8:30am every Sunday on Free FM89. The programme is sponsored by St Matthew’s Hillcrest.
Thank you! Catholic Care Foundation would like to publicly acknowledge the generous donations made in support of their annual Caring Sunday appeal. With your help we have been able to financially assist many groups and organisations throughout the Hamilton Diocese On behalf of all these organisations we thank you, for without your wonderful support these organisations could not offer the many and varied services they do, some of which are critical to the daily lives of many. God Bless you all for this amazing support Liz Pennell Manager Catholic Care Foundation
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Euphrasie from the other side
I
n the July school holidays, my wife Elizabeth and I visited the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDMs) in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam. We spent some time with the RNDMs at Thu Duc which is the Mother House for the Sisters in Ho Chi Minh City. At the Thu Duc site the Sisters have 50 Aspirants: young women who are living with the RNDM community to see if they wish to take up the spiritual journey with the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. There are also 14 Postulants who are living the life of the Sisters to discern if this lifestyle is what God is calling them to. Elsewhere the Sisters have 20 Novices who are preparing to make their first vows, 37 Temporarily Professed Sisters and 113 Perpetually Professed Sisters. What was apparent was that the spirit of Euphrasie Barbier is alive and well amongst these dynamic young women who are seeking to follow the calling and spirit of the RNDMs.
RNDM Mother House at Thu Duc
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Sunday at Thi Nghe in Ho Chi Minh City
On the Thu Duc site, the Sisters have a 700 student kindergarten for three to five year-olds. The young pre-schoolers have a long day, from 7.30 am until 5.00 pm, so they spend a period after lunch having their siesta or sleep time. Also present at Thu Duc were many students who come from all over Vietnam to spend two or three days sitting university entrance exams. They come with their parents who support them to be among the 8% of high school students who gain entry to University. It literally is a chance in a life time. The Sisters at Thu Duc offer these visitors food and accommodation. Among this group were a number of Seminarians who wish to consider a vocation to the priesthood.
Sister Tuyet Mau organised for us to visit another RNDM community at Thach An. Here, there is a community of five sisters who run a preschool on a smaller scale compared to Thu Duc. Again, a similar programme is followed and the students were at their siesta time when we visited. We were taken further out into the back blocks to be shown one classroom that had been refurbished and one that clearly needs to be finished off. The Sisters at Thach An have the personnel to run this preschool in the back blocks but need financial support to complete this second room. My feeling, standing in this unfinished room, was that it would be nice if we in New Zealand could assist them to finish off the walls and floors with tiles and put in a ceiling.
The Sisters at Than An made us very welcome and Sister Marie Celine, who had spent a number of years in New Zealand, working in the Christchurch diocese as the Vietnamese chaplain, was extremely grateful that we had come out to visit the Sisters. The New Zealand connection is never far away. We also spent a day visiting two inner city convents in Ho Chi Minh City with Sister Tuyet Mau. The first community was at Thi Nghe which is right in the inner city. The RNDMs run a preschool there and a number of sisters who were taking classes to improve their English speaking skills were also present. For all of the RNDMs the ability to converse in English is very important because it is in this language that the 1000 RNDM Sisters communicate with each other, worldwide. The second community we visited was the Than Tam Shelter which is a narrow three storey convent which assists expectant mothers and mothers who have just had their babies. Sadly, we were told by the sisters that Vietnam has one of the highest abortion rates in the world. This convent at Than Tam is trying to assist a small number of women to have their babies and to reconcile their situation with their own families and the fathers of the children. The young mothers are taught sewing skills and are given a safe environment to allow their babies to be born and have a real chance at life. The Mission sisters in Vietnam were very welcoming and we would like to thank them for their generous hospitality to two visitors from New Zealand who are part of the world wide Euphraise Barbier family. It would be hoped that we can keep an ongoing relationship with these RNDM Vietnamese Sisters and that we can find practical ways to assist them in their mission in this part of the world. Peter Tolich, Director of Religious Studies at Sacred Heart Girls’ College in Hamilton.
Who was Euphrasie Barbier? Adèle-Euphrasie Barbier was born on 4 January 1829, Caen, France She Founded the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM) on Christmas Day, 1861. Euphrasie made several journeys to visit her sisters in Oceania and personally visited St Mary’s Convent in Hamilton, founded in 1884. Abbé Lefournier, Euphrasie’s Parish Priest wrote: “Your Mother was an extraordinary woman who had all the aptitudes for promoting the glory of God, the salvation of souls and, in particular, for carrying out the great work to which she had dedicated herself... what fruitfulness, under the inspiration of God, have her courageous undertakings had!”
Many people and families in recent years have preferred to give a Christmas Gift to people who are in need rather than acquire more things for themselves. This year Sister Catherine Brabender, Director of the RNDM International Mission Office, has produced a Christmas Gift Catalogue Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions – A Gift that Makes a Difference features four projects
Feeding program for children in Long Dien Hospital, Vietnam.
Empowerment of women living in abject poverty, India South.
St Peter’s Orphanage, Bangladesh.
Centre for children with special needs, Kenya. If you are interested in receiving this material and would like to participate in this project please contact Tania Halliday in the RNDM Province Office.
Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions 35a Britannia Street, Petone PO BOX 30 575 Lower Hutt 5040 PHONE: (04) 939 1231 Siesta time at Thu Duc Preschool
EMAIL: tania.halliday@rndm.org.nz
ketekorero Issue 4 2012
15
Year of Faith
The “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church. (Porta Fidei) The Year of Faith has begun! Here are some ideas for how you can deepen your faith this year:
1.
Grow in knowledge of your Faith: You can’t love what you don’t know! Make a commitment to read a part of the Catechism each day: this great site can help you: http://www.flocknote.com/catechism
2.
If you are not a keen reader, get together with a group of friends or fellow parishioners and watch The Catholicism Series by Robert Baron, for more information contact Jamie Cox: jamiec@cdh.org.nz or 0212284521
3.
“Faith without works is dead” (James2:17) So volunteer in your Parish, for St Vincent de Paul or a similar organisation and put your faith into action!
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$47.50 +$6.50p/pkg
This book is about Anglican Priest Michael Lapsley’s early years in New Zealand, his Ordination and work in South Africa. There he became active in the anti-apartheid movement, ultimately joining the African National Congress. He lost both his hands and one eye in a failed assassination attempt that made world news. He returned to South Africa to found the Institute for Healing of Memories. Visit Us: 38 Higginson Street Otane, Hawke’s Bay
35km’s south of Hastings only 800m off SH2
Freephone: 0508 988 988
Year of Faith Pilgrimage Wednesday 12 December 2012 Bishop Denis invites you to join him on pilgrimage to Bishop Takuira Max Mariu’s gravesite on 12 December, this day being the anniversary of Bishop Max’s death. There will be a Rosary at the cemetery, Otukou Marae by Lake Rotoaira (Signposted) at 3 pm. Mass at St Wirenfried’s, Little Waihi, at 5 pm Please RSVP if you wish to stay for the Buffet Meal which will follow the Mass. RSVP to Reception at Chanel Centre 07 856 6989, or reception@cdh.org.nz
www.christiansupplies.co.nz
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Be an Ambassador for Christ! ketekorero Issue 4 2012
St Pius X Melville welcomed Monsignor David Bennett on Sunday 10 June when 13 of our school students received First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
Baptised in the Year of Faith
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n Sunday 14 October the Catholic Tertiary Chaplaincy at the University of Waikato and Waikato Institute of Technology celebrated their End of Year Academic Mass. This year is was a particulary special occasion as one student, Patricia (Tricia) Ramalose was Baptised, Confirmed and recieved her First Holy Communion.
We were especially privileged to have Bishop Denis present to celebrate the Mass.
Tricia receives the ‘Light of Christ’
Tricia (right) with her sponsor Mellisa and Bishop Denis
After Mass we had the traditional Waicath barbecue, celebrating our newest addition to our Catholic family on campus and the end of a sucessful academic year.
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The Catholic Youth Office has been busy over the last few months, leading school retreats, helping out youth groups and planning some awesome events likeSetFree2013, our mission trip to the Philippines in December and next year’s World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Check out our website or friend us on facebook to keep up to date with what’s happening in the CYO!
Young Leaders Retreat
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atholic primary school student leaders from the four of the diocesan southern cluster schools (St Patrick’s Taupo, Bishop Gaines Tokoroa, St Michaels Rotorua, St Mary’s Putaruru) joined hosts St. Mary’s Rotorua recently for a leadership and personal development day. The day was facilitated by Youth team workers Alex Bailey and Karen Whyte from the Hamilton Youth Team.
Janine with her Mum
Do you remember Janine Robinson? Formerly from Tauranga, Janine joined the Sisters of St John and St Dominic last year. On 1 October, the feast of St Teresa of the Child Jesus (Therese of Lisieux) Janine received the habit of the order . Please pray for her as she continues to seek to know and love God more deeply!
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“Typically our schools are smaller and in provincial centres, and therefore tend to be the only catholic school in their town. The Young leaders Day is a tremendous opportunity for our student leaders to gather with other like-minded people and gain a wider perspective of what it is to be a young catholic” said cluster co-ordinator Danny Nicholls. The day was a mixture of leadership development, fun activities and team building, delivered from a catholic perspective. It is hoped that this initiative will now continue on an annual basis and potentially be made available to more primary schools in the diocese. Quotes from participating students - “The best part was the games and activities and getting to know other leaders from other schools” (Leah, 12 years old). “There was good balance of activities and talking. We discussed how important it was to follow the example of Jesus and the saints and that there are lots of different types of leaders. (James, 12 years old) Danny Nicholls
Frassati Men’s Weekend “You ask me whether I am in good spirits. How could I not be so? As long as Faith gives me strength I will always be joyful!” – Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
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nspired by Blessed Pier Georgio Frassati’s love for mountaineering and the outdoors, the Frassati Catholic Men’s Weekend gathered single men, married men, seminarians, and preseminarians from around the Diocese. Located on top of the Kaimais, The Lazy Tramper was an ideal venue for all things manly to take place. Greasy food, a deliberate lack of salad, and excessive servings ensured the success of weekend. The days were punctuated by Mass, Prayer of the Church, and the Rosary. Participants enjoyed gentlemanly activities such as: Clay bird shooting, archery, target shooting, petanque, tactical board games, and bush walking. Deacon Henk Gielen and Phillip Sherry (one of NZ’s longest serving newsreaders), men who both are ‘straight shooters’ when it comes to Catholicism, presented their experiences and shared their stories for the group to reflect on.
Glen caught helping with the dishes
A great weekend was had by all. Suggestions for next year include; mechanical bulls, paintball shooting, and an Easter bunny hunt… Watch your Parish newsletter and don’t’ miss out! Alex Bailey, Youth Director.
Spending time with the big Man
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Chanel Shield 2012
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his hotly contested cultural competition between the five Catholic Colleges in the diocese takes place each year in the third term. This year the venue was Aquinas College, Tauranga. We started with a powhiri to welcome all of our visitors, followed by Mass celebrated by Monsignor Eggleton. We then settled to the serious business of pitting our considerable skills against each other – all in the friendly spirit of St Peter Chanel, of course. There were nine events altogether, including impromptu drama, debates, speeches and bible and poetry reading; the two day event culminated in a Bible quiz involving all 75 contestants. This competition provides an excellent opportunity for our students to make friends with others around the diocese and is a real showcase of their talents. A great time was had by all and it was a delight to witness the friendly spirit in which the competition was contested. The eventual winners were John Paul College, Rotorua, but the real standout for the weekend was the joy that our young people find in their faith. Well done to all who took part. Vince Shaw, Aquinas College DRS.
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Students from John Paul College enjoying the hospitality
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Maynard and Kate enjoying the speeches
Vocations to the Priesthood
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An essential part of our prayer is praying for the family, the seed bed for vocations and the first seminary.
A vocation is a mystery. It is the wonderful work of God, working in the lives of people, speaking to the core of their being and calling them to do something extra ordinary. This is the work that God has planned for them to do.
Fr Eamon Kennedy Acting Vocations Director
uring the Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI wants the Church to ‘rediscover the faith.’ Alongside rediscovering the faith, encouraging and fostering vocations, particularly to the Diocesan Priesthood, also takes prominence. Promotion of vocations belongs to the whole Church and is the responsibility of all the faithful.
From the 14 to the 16 of December 2012 the annual retreat for men 18 years and older, wishing to discern a vocation to the priesthood will be held at Ngakuru, the Tyburn Monastery. This is a wonderful opportunity to get away from the busyness of our lives and spend time in prayer, in silence, in adoration, listening to talks, meeting some of our seminarians and mixing with men who too are discovering what the Lord’s special plan is for them. th
th
As we continue to pray for more vocations to the priesthood in the words from the Roman Missal, the Collect ‘For Vocations to Holy Orders,’ “… raise up worthy ministers of your altars and make them ardent yet gentle heralds of your Gospel.”
Contact: (07) 878 6417 or text. 021 616 950 vocationsdirector@thepriesthood.org.nz www.thepriesthood.org.nz Scan this code to watch a short video about the Vocation to the Priesthood called “Fishers of Men”
Another wonderful opportunity is ‘Hearts Aflame’ held at the beginning of January in Marton. This is a gathering of young adults single and married, who receive teaching and formation in the Catholic faith. This for many young people has been a turning point in their lives, where they have committed themselves to Christ and the Church. www.heartsaflame.org.nz We can all do our part in planting seeds, by encouraging men to explore the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood. Many priestly vocations have grown from a tap on the shoulder, an encouraging word or a question to a man who you see has the qualities of a vocation to the priesthood. Crucial to promoting vocations is prayer. Vocational work is very much the work of the Holy Spirit. We can all pray to the ‘Lord of the harvest’ that he will continue to call men and women to serve the Church through the Priesthood or in religious life in our diocese. “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, pray the Lord of the harvest will send out labourers into his harvest.” (Mt. 9:38) In every age Christ commands us to pray for more vocations.
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In Mary Mackillop’s Footsteps
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he desire to strengthen the unity that exists between the Federation and Central Josephite Congregations inspired their Affiliate and Associate leadership teams in Aotearoa New Zealand to meet and explore ways of working together. In 2009 the first combined meeting took place at Mission Bay in Auckland. Since then, the teams have continued to meet each year. At the meeting in Whanganui last year, Sister Marie Skidmore facilitated a process of discernment about the possibility of becoming one group. There was great energy and enthusiasm as we shared how this could happen. It was decided to invite an independent facilitator to work with the two teams in 2012 to assist us in coming to a decision about becoming one.
In June 2012, we came to the unanimous decision to become one group: Josephite Companions Aotearoa Our new vision statement is as follows: As we walk in the footsteps of Fr Julian Woods and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop we Josephite Companions (Aotearoa) respond to the Gospel by reverencing the Sacred in ourselves, others and our environment. We do this in the ordinariness of our everyday lives by: • Living simply and prayerfully • Acting justly with integrity • Responding to the needs of our time • Being thankful for God’s love • Providing inclusive hospitality and down to earth practicality in the spirit of Aroha. Patty Dudson
LEAVING A LEGACY FOR THE FUTURE Helps fund the Chaplains in the prisons, hospitals and universities; youth initiatives; teacher religious education training; Proud to be Catholic programmes; and Sacramental Programmes.
A gift in your Will is a simple and enduring way to benefit future generations of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton. No gift is too small to make a significant difference.
Booklet Guide
available from your Parish or from the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, Chanel Centre, Hamilton Phone: 0800 843 233 Email: gregb@cdh.org.nz 22
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Growing Great Men
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he year 8 boys at St Columba’s Catholic School in Frankton are learning to be great men. Visiting the school on a Tuesday afternoon you will be met with an unusual sight: 12 year old boys running to Mr Chris May’s classroom as soon as the end-oflunchtime bell rings. The boys are taking part in Nga Tama Toa, a programme which aims to teach them ‘to be a man, not ‘the man’.’ Mr May first started thinking about a programme for boys back in 2009. He could not understand why the boys in his class would not sit still, but remembering his own childhood it suddenly clicked; “I thought about myself at that age; I was exactly the same.” The underachievement and high dropout and suspension rates for boys, especially when compared to girls, inspired him to look for a solution that was more than just an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff; a way to get the boys engaged and taking ownership of their own learning. With the support of the school principal Mike Mokai and his mentor and friend Steve Horne, in 2010 Mr May set up Nga Tama Toa, a 6 month programme for year 8 boys. In his classroom on Tuesday afternoons the boys learn basic ‘man skills’- such as how to tie a tie, cook a steak or change a car tyre. Mr May sees this as reading, writing and maths ‘in context’ and the results of the programme are impressive: the boys’ attitudes towards learning have improved and they are taking more responsibility and pride in themselves.
Mr Chris May teaching some of the boys in Nga Tama Toa to change a tyre
It is not just the school that is benefiting from the programme: In 2011 a woman got a puncture near the school just after 3pm. Two boys who were going through the programme at the time were walking past, saw what had happened and offered to help. The woman was quite impressed and wrote to the school, complimenting the young men. Service to the community is another important part of empowering the boys to be great men. All the boys work on the church grounds every 6 months and other service opportunities have been organised in the local community. The programme also incorporates the Catholic Character of the school as well as important cultural values and finishes with a camp where the boys go ‘back to basics’ and get to spend quality time with important male figures in their lives.
With so much positive feedback, Chris May is passionate about seeing the programme expand. Over the past two years he has developed lesson plans and assessments, working within the school and national curriculum. While Nga Tama Toa is not the only way to get boys engaged in learning, the success stories at St Columba’s show that it is working and he hopes that other schools will also begin to use the programme. In spite of a couple of wheel realignments (the boys practice changing tyres on his car) Chris May is still dedicated to empowering these boys to become great men; “to see a young boy grow into a man, come back and still give you a good firm handshake, full of confidence, that makes it all worth it.” Want to know more? Contact Chris May: karismay67@hotmail.com
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Multi-Purpose Room for Melville
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n the 17th August 2012 Bishop Denis Browne opened and blessed the new Multi-Purpose Room and Library at at St Pius X Catholic School Melville. Among the guests were local Principals, Tim McIndoe MP and a good number of parishioners and parents.
Bishop Denis opens the new multi-purpose room
The Multi-Purpose Room has made a huge difference for the gathering of children, particularly when rehearsing for the latest school production, and for school assemblies. We are very excited about our new facilities. Margaret Dunford.
The new multi-purpose room at St Pius X, Melville.
New Principal in Tauranga S
t Mary’s School Tauranga has a new principal, Mr Ben Fuller.
Ben grew up in Palmerston North and attended St Peter’s College. He is married to Genavier and they have three school age children. Ben is an experienced teacher and has worked overseas in consultancy educational positions. Prior to his new appointment Ben was Deputy Principal of Mangawhai Beach School. Ben took up his appointment as Principal of St Mary’s at the beginning of term four. We marked the occasion on the first day of term with a liturgy led by Monsignor Frank Eggleton in our new hall, the Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey Centre. During the liturgy Ben was presented with a number of symbols representing his leadership role at St Mary’s. Sally Washer
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Monsignor Frank Eggleton welcomes Tauranga’s New Principal
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
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t. Mary’s School in Tauranga began Term 2 by introducing a truly unique method of religious education to the school’s youngest students. The Montessori-style Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a hands-on R.E. program which gives the children sensorially rich materials to work with so they can learn about Christ and His Church in a very powerful manner. The Catechesis takes place in an atrium, a quiet room where children are able to choose from a variety of areas and materials. For example, they can put together the puzzle map of Israel, set up the altar, learn the gesture of the epiclesis, or work with the Good Shepherd parable pieces.
St. Mary’s will be holding a Level 1 training January 14th to 18th, 2013 in Tauranga with Carol Roth, a certified trainer from the Sunshine Coast in Australia. Level 1 focuses on ages 3 to 6, and is foundational for all the other levels. People from outside the parish are welcome to join the course. For information on cost and other details, or to visit the atrium, please visit the atrium’s webpage: www.stmarystga.school.nz/atrium or email atrium@stmarystga.school.nz . St. Mary’s was able to put the atrium together, thanks to the generosity of the Cluny Sisters who provided the room, the PTA, Con O’Leary who donated the carpet, the Aquinas woodwork class, Men’s Shed and many others who worked together to see it happen. There are atria all over the world, but it’s believed that St. Mary’s School has the first in New Zealand in a Catholic setting. St. Mary’s School children love the atrium. Mary-Pat Kengmana
Building the Walls of Jerusalem
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was developed fifty years ago in Italy by Sofia Cavalleti and Gianna Gobbi, a biblical scholar and Montessori teacher respectively. Named for the image of Our Lord that young children most responded to, the Catechesis aims to provide a place where they can fall in love with Jesus Christ. Catechists working in the atrium go through week long training sessions for each level. The entire program consists of six levels from 3 to 12 years old and covers the philosophy of the Catechesis, the Montessori approach to education, the spiritual stages of a child, the specifics of each presentation (there are about 30 presentations per level), and practical ideas on how to put all this information into place. A hands-on approach to understanding the Mass
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St Mary of the Cross MacKillop On 8 August St Patrick’s Catholic School in Te Awamutu celebrated St Mary of the Cross MacKillop’s Feast Day. Here some year three students explain what made Mary special...
M
ary MacKillop was born in Melbourne Australia. She was a teacher and then she became a nun. She worked at a school where she taught kids about God and Jesus Christ. Mary was a nun who went to people’s houses and asked for their scraps so that she could give them to the poor. She had people who helped her too. Mary’s full name is St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Mary was a winner because she never gave up when she tried. She always tried her hardest and when she got something wrong she would not get angry because she loved God so much she wanted to live with God and Jesus in heaven forever. Mary became a Saint in 2010. In Mass today Father said, “Mary was once a loser because some of the bishops didn’t like what she was doing but then she became a winner! By Reese Mary wanted to start a School. Mary was kind and loving. Mary taught children in different schools and countries. When she made mistakes she never gave up. Mary loved God with all her heart and she loved everybody in the whole wide world. Mary became a Saint on 17th October 2010. St Patrick’s School in Te Awamutu New Zealand is a school that is based on the teachings of Mary MacKillop. Sister Margaret who plays the piano for us is a Josephite Sister. We are lucky to have her as part of our school. By Maddy
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Students from St Patrick’s School Te Awamutu
Mary MacKillop wanted to help the poor people because she was a caring lady. Once she made a house and let people stay in there and she looked after them. When Mary was a nun someone told a lie to the bishops and they said that Mary could no longer be a Sister of St Joseph or part of the Church. This upset Mary but she never gave up her dream about teaching children about God. Mary died on the 8th August 1909. Mary became a saint in 2010. By Saskia
Helping the Haven of Grace
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his year the Year 6 class from St Thomas More Catholic School in Mount Maunganui joined the Bay of Plenty Young Vinnies program. Last term we completed our first project through Family Works to support the ‘Haven of Grace’ which is a womens’ refuge. All of Haven of Grace’s food supplies got destroyed in a sewage explosion recently and our Young Vinnies group decided to help them out. To support them we created ‘Soup Appreciation Mixes’ and have donated these jars to Haven of Grace. A ‘Soup Appreciation Mix’ is a jar that includes all the ingredients to make a soup or casserole meal for a whole family. To complete the jars we had to raise money so we held a ‘Character Craze’ mufti day where all the students and teachers dressed up as their favourite film, book or TV character.
The “Soup Appreciation Mixes”
Our Character Craze day raised $285 and there was an amazing selection of costumes. Using this money we bought: pasta, rice, lentils, soup mix and OXO cubes to layer in the jars. Jam jars were donated by families from our School and the Young Vinnies group layered the ingredients in the jars. We completed 78 jars to give to the ‘Haven of Grace’ and the spare food was also donated to them for extra meals. We really enjoyed being able to help others in need and are looking forward to our next project. Noah and Amy, Young Vinnies Leaders .
Students with the jars they made
Phone: 0800 843 233 Email: cdf@cdh.org.nz ketekorero Issue 4 2012
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One Million Children Pray
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tudents and Teachers of St Joseph’s Te Kuiti gathered on 18 October 2012 to join the children of the world praying the Rosary for Union and Peace. Many years ago Saint Pio de Pietrelcina cheerfully said: “think of how the world would change if one million children prayed the Holy Rosary.” Pope Benedict has also suggested that in this Year of Faith we pray the rosary in a special way. Children throughout the world were invited to pray just one decade or the whole Rosary on 18 October, at school or at home, for peace and unity in the World. They were reminded that “Prayers leads to faith, faith leads to love, love leads to service and service leads to peace” The event was promoted by Missionz.
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St Joseph’s Te Kuiti praying the Rosary
Catholic Kids Corner
Did you know that October is the Month of the Rosary? Maybe you prayed the Rosary at school or with your family during October. The Rosary is a good way to pray and it helps us to think about Jesus’ life. Below you will find instructions to make your own Rosary Chaplet. Soon it will be Advent, the time when we prepare for Jesus coming at Christmas. Check how much you know about Advent with our Advent Quiz!
Advent Quiz: True or False?
Easy Rosary for Kids You will need:
1. 2.
Pipe Cleaners Beads Scissors
1. Advent means Christmas.
Start by stringing 10 beads onto a pipe cleaner. This is super easy for everyone, especially small children, because pipe cleaners are stiff so the stringing is easy. Bring the pipe cleaner around in a circle and twist it shut.
on one more bead for the “Our 3. String Father”. 4. Cut off the extra piece of Pipe Cleaner
2. The first Sunday of Advent begins a new Church year. 3. An Advent calendar counts down the days until Christmas. 4. Advent lasts six weeks. 5. Advent means coming. Answers! 1. False, 2. True, 3. True, 4. False, 5. True
• • •
and twist it around to make the cross. For step-by step photos scan the QR code or visit
catholicicing.com/2011/03/easy-rosary-craft-for-kids/ Catholic Shop
Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary
494 Grey St Hamilton East Phone: 07 856 6486 www. rosamystica.co.nz Opening hours: 8.00 am - 4.00 pm Thur & Fri
- after Mass on 1st Sunday of the month and for special events in the Church calendar
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Requiescat in Pace Brother Jordan McCormick FMS 17.3.1927-5.8.2012
W
e thank God for his wonderful gift to all of us of Brother Jordan McCormick, who died in Christchurch on August 5, full of years and goodness. James Patrick McCormick, whom I will call Jordy from now on, for that is the name by which so many of us knew him, was born in Invercargill on St Patrick’s Day 1927. As a newborn baby he was so desperately ill that Southland’s finest doctors told his parents that they should take him home to die, since nothing could be done to save him. But his remarkable mother knew better; brought up on a farm in Central Otago, and trained as a nurse aide, she fed him daily a potent mixture of sherry and whey, to such good effect that he not only survived the crisis, but grew to become a very robust man, who, at the height of his powers, so to speak, was 6ft 3in tall. In later years he often recommended frequent doses of this potion, or at least part of it, as essential for a healthy life. Jordy’s family lived in Invercargill, where he attended the Marist Brothers primary school. Then in 1940 he went to our juniorate at Tuakau. He was received into our order on September 12 1944, taking the religious name of Jordan. After his teacher training in 1945 he taught briefly in Christchurch before being appointed to St Felix College in Suva, Fiji. There he was able to put his language gifts to great use, rapidly mastering Fijian and Indian, which gave him quite a reputation as a teacher who really understood his pupils and their parents. He taught in three more of our schools there before being appointed to St Joseph’s College in Masterton in 1953. There he began a long run of teaching in our secondary schools, serving in Hamilton from 1974 to 1979, and again in 1986.
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Jordy really loved the spoken word; he luxuriated in language, no matter what it was. We all know how he loved cheerful conversation, with anybody, no matter who they were. He had a fine sense of humour and a great fund of stories, so often told with great eruptions of laughter. He was a genial, hospitable man, first for his brothers in community and his pupils, then for his numerous friends around the country; they were drawn to his gracious presence and loved to keep in touch with him. Yet Jordy’s life was not without its sorrows. For many years he suffered from serious depression, so severe at times that he had to withdraw to his room for days on end until things improved. He would tell us that he could feel the black cloud coming upon him, and hoped that we would bear with him until it left him. He also had to cope with diabetes for many years, knowing that it was causing irreversible failure to his eyesight, as well as impeding his walking. In his final years in Christchurch an added burden was almost total deafness. That, plus blindness, must have been a very heavy cross for a man who loved conversation and company, yet our Christchurch brothers, who visited him in hospital with wonderful kindness every day, rarely heard him complain. They are convinced that this is when Jordy’s lifelong steadfast commitment to his religious life and Marist values, especially his great devotion to Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and to Christ’s mother Mary, really paid off, for as his bodily vision and hearing diminished, his spiritual insight and his listening to the Lord became clearer than ever, rewarding him with a remarkable inner peace, a calm and even cheerful acceptance of his situation and its consequences. As we offer him back to God with deep gratitude, may we all be blessed with heartfelt peace, joyous acceptance of his death, and a lively sharing in that sense of victory gained, and of hope so gloriously fulfilled, which our dear Jordy so richly deserves, and now enjoys forever.
Br Humphrey
Wit and Wisdom What’s happening in your parish or school? Email us!
kete@cdh.org.nz
I think there is no suffering greater than what is caused by the doubts of those who want to believe. I know what torment this is, but I can only see it, in myself anyway, as the process by which faith is deepened. A faith that just accepts is a child’s faith and all right for children, but eventually you have to grow religiously as every other way, though some never do. What people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross. It is much harder to believe than not to believe. If you fell you can’t believe, you must at least do this: keep an open mind. Keep it open toward faith, keep wanting it, keep asking for it, and leave the rest to God. ― Flannery O’Connor
Some Vatican II humour...
Secondary Sponsors
Karl Rahner, Hans Kung and Joseph Ratzinger* all arrive at the Pearly Gates on the same day. St. Peter approaches the three of them, and tells them that he will interview each of them to discuss their views on various issues. He then points at Rahner and says “Karl! In my office...” After 4 hours, the door opens, and Rahner comes stumbling out of St. Peter’s office. He is highly distraught, and is mumbling things like “Oh God, that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done! How could I have been so wrong! So sorry...never knew...” He stumbles off into Heaven, a testament to the mercy of our God. St. Peter follows him out, and sticks his finger in Kung’s direction and “Hans! You’re next...” After 8 hours, the door opens, and Kung comes out, barely able to stand. He is near collapse with weakness and a crushed spirit. He , too, is mumbling things like “Oh God, that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done! How could I have been so wrong! So sorry...never knew...” He stumbles off into Heaven, a testament to the mercy of our God. Lastly, St. Peter, emerging from his office, says to Ratzinger, “Joseph, your turn.” TWELVE HOURS LATER, St. Peter stumbles out the door, apparently exhausted, saying “Oh God, that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done...” *All three men were prominent theologians in the 20th Century and played an important role during the Second Vatican Council and in the years that followed. Joseph Ratzinger is now Pope Benedict XVI
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