Bishop Meeking Funeral Coverage – Pgs 2, 3, 17
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A selection of pages from the NZ Catholic: June 28 - July 11, 2020 current1 issue Buy a full print edition at your parish The national Catholic newspaper June 28 - July 11, 2020 • No. 592 Theological college Principal joins considers new coalition against Auckland home 4 legalising cannabis 4 Bishop laid to rest Bishop Meeking funeral coverage – pgs 2, 3, 17 www.nzcatholic.org.nz NZ Catholic: June 28 - July 11, 2020 Bishop Meeking Funeral 3 Bishop Basil Meeking farewelled in Chch by MICHAEL OTTO ment years, Bishop Meeking “helped many in re- treats and direction, using the fruits of his labours At a requiem Mass for the seventh Bishop of to guide and advise people, from the wisdom of Christchurch, Bishop Basil Meeking, the tenth his experience”. holder of that office, Bishop Paul Martin, SM, was generous in his praise of his brother bishop, while n Thanks acknowledging the burdens and difficulties that After Communion, Bishop Martin again ad- he had experienced. dressed the congregation, noting that he was At the requiem at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in wearing a pectoral cross Bishop Meeking had Christchurch on June 17, Bishop Martin said he given him. was grateful to Bishop Meeking “for his support Bishop Martin thanked many people for the and care of me since I became the bishop”. help they gave Bishop Meeking at various times in “He was very loyal and kind and I really en- his life, and also noting some of Bishop Meeking’s joyed the times we were able to get together to other ministries and roles, such as his 18 years chat. He didn’t ever tell me what I should do or with the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Uni- that what I was doing was stupid or any of those ty in Rome and his work in Chicago Archdiocese things, and I really appreciated that,” Bishop from 1997 to 2006. Martin said. Bishop Martin said he was grateful for the Bishop Meeking died on June 11, aged 90. “presence and support of many other faith com- In the last few months of his life, Bishop Meek- munities in our city”. He mentioned that the ing experienced a time of “trial and frustration” as Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop Peter the nation went into and out of lockdown, Bishop Carrell, was not able to be at the requiem, but had Martin said in his homily. It was a time of “purifi- attended a vigil Mass the previous night, celebrat- cation” for Bishop Meeking, as he placed “his life ed in Latin in the extraordinary form. in God’s hands for the final journey”. “[Bishop Carrell] did attend the vigil Mass last Just before the lockdown started, he had been night, so he would have got the fullness of Cath- convinced to move into care, despite being keen olic religion,” Bishop Martin said, again drawing to stay in his own place at St John Fisher House, murmurs of laughter from congregation. Bishop Martin said, noting that Bishop Meeking Bishop Martin acknowledged the presence at had had “a couple of falls previously, and people the requiem of Dean Lawrence Kimberley from were starting to get a little worried about him”. the Anglican Church. Bishop Martin, who was principal celebrant at At the end of his remarks, Bishop Martin men- the requiem, stressed that Bishop Meeking had tioned that Bishop Meeking had made a generous previously made it very clear to him that he want- financial contribution to the campaign to build a ed Bishop Martin to be the homilist at the funeral. new Catholic cathedral in Christchurch. “And I think that captures something of this “I think it was a measure of his character and man of faith. He wasn’t interested in eulogies and his faith that, even though he loved the old ca- stories for the funeral. He wanted the liturgy and thedral very deeply, he was very willing and keen prayers of the Church for his soul.” to support the [new one],” Bishop Martin said. Bishop Martin added that “Bishop Basil planned Details of how people could contribute to the his funeral down to the very last detail. This is Bishop Meeking’s casket with symbols of his priesthood “Bishop Basil Meeking Fund for the Catholic Ca- a reflection of his desire not to burden others thedral of Christchurch” were listed in the Mass with the worry, and also to ensure that it is done was not popular, or when it was not well received booklet for the requiem. properly”. This drew a ripple of laughter from by those who were hearing it.” Bishop Martin finished his comments by noting the congregation. Bishop Meeking “grasped and experienced the how consoled Bishop Meeking would have been by Among the concelebrants at the funeral were power of being in relationship with Jesus Christ”, the number of people praying for him, as shown the Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, Archbishop Bishop Martin added. by the attendance at the funeral. Novatus Rugambwa, Cardinal John Dew, and Bish- “And that then directed his actions, his prayer, After the requiem, Bishop Meeking’s mortal ops Stephen Lowe, Michael Gielen, Denis Browne, his concerns.” remains were interred at Bromley Cemetery. Peter Cullinane, Owen Dolan and Colin Campbell. While Bishop Meeking might have experienced n Photos from different times of Bishop Meeking’s Fr Gerard Aynsley, vicar general of Dunedin dio- aspects of his life and ministry as something of a life are on page 17. cese, represented Bishop Michael Dooley. burden, “he was able to laugh and enjoy moments In the homily, Bishop Martin said the readings of levity. He was kind to people, especially when chosen for the Mass (Wisdom 3:1-9, Psalm 62, Ro- they were struggling. At times, he may have been mans 6:3-9 and John 11:17-27) tell people about perceived as being a little stern, but that was not Bishop Meeking’s understanding of his life, his his inner disposition. There are many who will faith and his relationship with God. account for this in their interactions with him”. “This was a man who knew that God had called n Testing him to certain tasks and to the life as a priest With reference to the Wisdom text that referred and as a bishop, and he wanted to be faithful to to God testing the righteous like gold in a furnace, this call.” Bishop Martin said, “I am sure that Bishop Basil Bishop Martin mentioned Bishop Meeking’s felt that he had been tested at times during his faithfulness and his love of the Eucharist, as well life”. as his love of the priesthood. “The things that were asked of him were de- “He endeavoured to share that love and un- manding and difficult. And he endured periods derstanding with his brother priests and with the when he felt he was facing real threats and chal- people of the Church, so that it may be valued lenges. But he remained steadfast in his faith for what it is. And he took seriously the call of and his desire to do what God asked of him. He a bishop to be the teacher to his people. And he understood that he was here, not for his own endeavoured to teach what the Church teaches self-aggrandisement and pleasure, but for the and to help us understand why it teaches it as service of the Gospel and to grow in holiness. it does.” “And he was willing to do that, even when it Bishop Martin also recalled that, in his retire- Bishop Paul Martin, SM, preaches the homily TIM GOULDING, MARIA WEST, Auckland Parishioners JOHANN ROCHA, LYNETTE DUNCAN ST. PETER’S COLLEGE EPSOM, AUCKLAND AND JOHN PAUL GOULDING A CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOR BOYS Barristers and Solicitors ELLIOTT DANIEL OVERTON & GOULDING 33 Selwyn Street Onehunga. PO Box 13017 Onehunga Ph 09 622 2222 Fax 09 622 2555 www.doglaw.co.nz • Winter sport resumes. • Chess: The Musical FUNERALS KEMP BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS – opens Saturday 29 August. 25 Oraha Road Huapai Auckland PO Box 600 Kumeu 09 486 2631 . 027 486 2050 [email protected] Auckland 0841 157 Shakespeare Rd Milford North Shore 0620 Ph 09 412 6000 www.northshorefunerals.co.nz Fax 09 412 6016 ST PETER’S COLLEGE BUILDS OUTSTANDING MEN Email [email protected] ST-PETERS.SCHOOL.NZ @SPCNOW 4 Features NZ Catholic: June 28 - July 11, 2020 Theological college considers new Akld home by ROWENA OREJANA Catholic Theological College, what then that could affect our funding.” we are going to do now is to look He said some planning has been The Covid-19 pandemic lockdown may have at all the things that we need and done around this possibility. slowed down some of the projects of Te Kupenga then start working out what’s viable Dr Metuamate said he is proud of — Catholic Leadership Institute in its first year, for us. I will also be talking to staff how fast the lecturers of the college but the organisation is now starting to get into and students about what they want adapted to the new way of teaching gear. to see in the new campus going during the lockdown, particularly at Te Kupenga chief executive Dr Areti Metuamate forward.” levels four and three. told NZ Catholic that a “proper campus in Auck- Dr Metuamate also indicated that “One of the fun things that hap- land” is being sought for the Catholic Theological a new website and branding will be pened is that all of [the] lecturers College, the new Catholic tertiary education pro- revealed next month.