june 2016 1 CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN ABLETISSUE 220 | JUNE 2016 cdd.org.nz Vale Bishop Len Bishop Emeritus, Len Boyle, “The Good Shepherd” has been called home 30 November 1930 – 1 June 2016 May he rest in peace Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5: 2 - 4 2 the tablet Bishop Leonard Boyle RIP “Bishop Boyle was a proud son of Southland and was committed to the people he served.” Bishop Len (Leonard Anthony Boyle) was born at Nightcaps, a ministry as a priest and bishop. He was a proud son of coal-mining town in western Southland, in 1930. His parents, Southland. He would remark about the community spirit in Catherine and Frank, owned a hotel in Nightcaps, (and Southland. Community was very important to him and his later Winton,) and he was the sixth of their nine children. approach to priesthood over more than 50 years. In retirement He was educated by the Sisters of Mercy at convent schools he continued to serve as parish priest in various parishes in Nightcaps and Winton before boarding at the Christian throughout the Diocese wherever he was needed. We extend Brothers’ school, St Kevin’s College in Oamaru. After leaving our condolences to his family, his fellow priests and the school, he worked as a shearer and farmer at Winton, and community that he loved dearly.” fulfilled a childhood ambition to own a farm. In his early Bishop Boyle’s Irish heritage has also been important to his twenties he decided to become a priest and entered the sense of identity. His grandparents had died by the time he was seminary at Mosgiel. He was ordained at Winton on 29 June born, but he was curious to find out more about them. After 1961, an occasion made more memorable by one of the biggest he became bishop, he had the opportunity to visit Galway snowfalls in the district’s memory. and located the grave of his great grandfather, Martin Boyle, Appointments that followed his ordination were: at Annaghdown. The headstone inscription noted that the headstone had been erected by Martin’s emigrant son John Curate, South Dunedin 1961 – 1964; Curate, Georgetown, (Bishop Boyle’s grandfather) from New Zealand. He also found Invercargill 1964 – 1970; Parish Priest – South Dunedin 1970 – local Boyle relatives still on a farm near Galway city, and re- 1972; Parish Priest – St. Mary’s, Invercargill 1972 – 1983. established family connections broken generations earlier by On 3 May 1983, he was ordained Coadjutor Bishop of time and distance. Bishop Boyle returned to Galway regularly Dunedin at a ceremony in the Dunedin Town Hall. After and was feted by family and community whenever he visited. Bishop John Kavanagh died in 1985, Bishop Len succeeded In 2012, Claire Ramsay completed and published his colourful him as the Fifth Bishop of Dunedin. On 9 July 2004, at age 74, and entertaining biography: The Good Shepherd: The life of Bishop Boyle retired, but remained as emeritus bishop. He was Bishop Len Boyle. Copies are available from the Catholic Centre succeeded by a fellow Southlander, Bishop Colin Campbell. Shop – Full of Grace, and from the University Book Shop, Bishop Campbell was in Australia leading a church Dunedin. programme when word was received of Bishop Len’s death. Bishop Boyle had six brothers, Wattie, Jack, Eddie, Frank, He extended his prayerful sympathy and condolences to the Vincent, Cliff, and two sisters Patricia and Margaret (who died extended Boyle family and friends, as well as to his fellow in infancy). priests and the people of the diocese. He made plans to return to Dunedin immediately. He is survived by his brother, Cliff, sister-in-law Eileen Boyle and his 27 nieces and nephews and their extended families. Bishop Patrick Dunn, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, said Bishop Boyle was a proud son of The June issue of The Tablet goes to print just after Bishop Southland and was committed to the people he served. Len’s death, and before his funeral, coverage of which will appear, therefore, in the July issue. “It is with sadness that we pay tribute to our brother bishop, recalling his commitment to the people he served and his june 2016 3 Visit from Fr Chris Skinner Fr Chris singing with the children from St Teresa’s School, Bluff, on ANZAC Day Our Diocese was recently treated to a 10-day musical tour by Fr Chris Skinner SM. From 29 April to 9 May, Fr. Chris offered us a variety of sessions from parish Masses to school concerts to music workshops. Throughout all ten days, Fr. Chris’s joyful energy remained high, delighting people from ages 2 to 92 with his melodious voice and prayerful presence. A large focus of his visit was three workshops in Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill, where he spent a lot of time teaching parish and school musicians his Hopetoun Ordinary Mass. It was well received in all areas, and we are hoping to make this a well-used and well-known Mass around the diocese. A highlight of his tour was a moving ANZAC service hosted and organised by St. Teresa’s School in Bluff, where he sang his famous song ‘Sons of Gallipoli’. Fr. Chris has many family connections in the south and described his time here as a bit of a homecoming. He was especially touched by the warm hospitality he received everywhere he went. A special thanks to all the parishes and schools for their kindness and generosity, which made Fr. Chris feel so at home. While he is not out touring and teaching his music, Fr. Chris has a ‘day job’ in priest formation at the Marist Seminary in Auckland, which he is very committed to. In light of this, we are very blessed to have had the time and energy he gave us during these ten days. We will be building on this enthusiasm for music in our liturgies in September, with a 7-day visit from Michael Mangan. Watch this space and our diocesan website (www.cdd.org) for upcoming details of Michael’s tour. 4 the tablet Update of Lifepod Incubator(s) for South Sudan contributed by lynne toomey Thank you to everyone who has given money for the South Sudan Incubator appeal. As you know, Sir Ray Avery and Medicine Mondiale are working hard to make these revolutionary incubators available as quickly as possible. You can find more information on the incubators at https://thelifepod.co.nz/ Sir Ray had advised that the first production runs will go to the hospitals in the immediate Pacific region, where they have conducted infield analysis of the incubator power requirements, and our incubator(s) will probably not be available until later in the year. Once we have confirmed information on production dates for our order, we will investigate transport options to South Sudan, but in the meantime- thank you for your support, and thank you also to the team at Lifepod Incubator Medicine Mondiale for its vision and for making a life-saving difference. REMEMBERING THE CHURCH IN YOUR WILL An invitation from Bishop Colin... When you leave a bequest to the Church, you give a gift that lasts longer than your lifetime; a gift that will always be remembered. A bequest to the Church may be a specific amount, or a percentage of your estate, or a particular item of value. Big or small, your bequest will be greatly appreciated. If you have an existing Will, with the help of your legal advisor, you can make a simple modification to it. SAMPLE WORDING FOR A BEQUEST CONGR ATUL ATIONS “...to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin for the time being, to use for the general purposes of the Bishop Colin added a Master of diocese as he sees fit, I give and bequeath...” Ministry with credit to his list of academic qualifications. The degree was conferred on Colin David Campbell, in absentia, on 21 May 2016, by the University of Otago. Bishop Colin leads by example when he urges teachers and pastoral workers to study towards further qualifications. Well done. june 2016 5 Food for Critical Reflection Morse Code – God’s Word a homily by bishop len boyle “The thought of a Western cowboy movie brings back many memories. It highlighted, in the field of communications, the importance of Morse code. Often you would hear the sound – dots and dashes – coming from the railway station or post office. The postmaster, in one of these Western towns, advertised for a Morse code operator. A number of applicants queued up to be interviewed. A young man, the last to turn up for an interview, suddenly jumped the queue and walked into the postmaster’s office – those waiting were indignant, to say the least. To add fuel to the fire, the postmaster, after interviewing the young man, came out and told the others he had the job. The postmaster then explained that, while the other applicants were waiting, he had tapped out a Morse code message. “If any of you understand it please come to my office.” The story relates well to all of us as we read or listen to Scripture. We have to interpret the message God is giving to us.