THE MON T HLY MAGAZINE FOR T HE CA T HOLI C S OF T HE DUNE D IN DIO C ESE HE ABLE T FebruaryT 2010 T Issue No 151 Mass gathering … Wearing lei presented by the Dunedin Samoan Catholic community, Holy Cross Seminary staff and seminarians on the steps of St Joseph’s Cathedral with Bishop Colin Campbell and diocesan priests after the Mass for Vocations on February 9. Seminarians gather in Dunedin By GILLIAN VINE Bishop Campbell said. other single people to consider with open TWENTY-TWO seminarians and four staff Yet, in the Year of the Priest – a time hearts and minds what God was calling members of Holy Cross Seminary met when the fastest-growing “religion” in them to do. in Mosgiel on February 8 and 9, before New Zealand was no religion – there was a The Presentation of Gifts was made by beginning a hikoi, a national pilgrimage greater need than ever for the shepherds members of the Dunedin Samoan Catholic from Mosgiel to Auckland, with a Mass and pastors called for by Christ. community, who had earlier presented lei for Vocations in each of New Zealand’s “We need courage, boldness, passion to priests and seminarians. six cathedrals, as they journeyed. and commitment to bring the love of The 22 men at Holy Cross came from Bishop Colin Campbell told those who God to our fellow Kiwis … so we can be every diocese in New Zealand, with two packed St Joseph’s Cathedral on February a nation of faith under the Southern Cross students from the Dunedin diocese, 9 for the first hikoi Mass for Vocations of God,” the bishop said. Vaughan Hook and Gregory Clarke, and that it took “real courage” in today’s world He reminded the congregation that the at the Mass, Mr Clarke read 2 Timothy 1: for a young man or woman to make a national seminary had been founded 6-13. Mr Hook sang the post-Communion commitment to the priesthood or religious at Mosgiel by Bishop Verdon and that hymn, Give Thanks to the Lord, composed life. “Priesthood flies in the face of today’s today’s seminarians were following in the especially for the Year of the Priest by Fr world. It flies in the face of society’s values,” footsteps of many holy men. He urged Chris Skinner SM , of Wellington. Oldest Mercy Sister dies aged 102 In this issue… MERCY Sr Mary Dominic died at Calvary Hospital, in Invercargill on January 29, two weeks after her 102nd birthday. She had lived at New priest welcomed ������������������������������������������������������ 2 Calvary since November 2008. Retiring after 24 years ������������������������������������������������������ 3 “I count myself lucky, living and working with good people, Preparing for WYD in Madrid ���������������������������������������� 5 with the sisters who are my family and with people I have taught Diamond jubilees celebrated ������������������������������������ 8-9 and with their families too. It is a great life and I thank God for St Peter’s College prizes ������������������������������������������12-13 it, for all that happiness,” she said at her birthday celebration. Out and About ����������������������������������������������������������������16 Sr Mary Dominic’s obituary is on page 15. The Tablet February 2010 Priest from Sri Lanka keen to share his faith By GILLIAN VINE “In our country, parents depend on sons to care MOVING to Dunedin from the Diocese of Mannar, for them in old age,” he explained. in north-west Sri Lanka, in January has been a His father was a farmer, growing paddy rice on huge change for Fr S.J. Thevasahayampillai but his 4ha farm, and Fr Theva recalled his enjoyment it is a challenge he is meeting with faith and working with his father, who was “very proud” enthusiasm. that his son entered religious life. “I’m feeling more comfortable; it’s feeling more Asked how a priest from Sri Lanka came to serve homely,” Fr Theva, as he is known, said. in New Zealand, Fr Theva explained that, when It was difficult initially, being away from his Bishop Colin Campbell attended the Synod of homeland and family but he had been “very, Bishops in Rome late in 2008, he met the Bishop very well looked after”, not only by the people of Mannar, Rayappu Joseph, and told him of the in South Dunedin where he was living in the Fr Theva shortage of priests in New Zealand. Bishop Joseph presbytery with Fr Niusila Mariano, but by diocesan agreed to send a priest to Dunedin diocese and Fr Chancellor Fr John Harrison and Fr Mark Chamberlain. Theva responded. His initial appointment is for three years. A priest for 24 years, Fr Theva first heard the call when he “Our priests like to go out to help,” he said. was in his mid teens, saying he was inspired by a cousin who Ordained in August 1984, Fr Theva has worked in Mannar was a priest. The youngest child of five, answering his call to diocese apart from 1993-94, when he studied in Rome. His the priesthood involved a huge sacrifice by his parents (now contact with Fr Mariano has enabled him to brush up his deceased), as he was the only boy. Italian, in which Fr Mariano is fluent. “I’m not as good,” Fr Theva said, adding that Italian is his fourth language after Tamil, English and Singhalese. The Lab will get He expected Bishop Campbell would post him to another parish once he had settled in and he was happy to go you smiling again! anywhere. Very much pastorally oriented, he looks forward to sharing the love of God “in a simple way and conducting the Eucharist Contact us Direct for and other sacraments in a meaningful way”. New, Full and Partial Dentures “I like to be simple in my approach to show God’s love,” he Denture Relines said. Denture Repairs & Cleaning Bishop’s Bake ‘great event’ Free Consultation & Quotes THE Bishop’s Bake was again a great event to promote the Open 24 hours, 7 days for repairs! Catholic Caring Foundation (CCF) in the diocese. Bishop Home visits can be arranged by appointment. Colin Campbell is grateful to those who supported the event by purchasing a cake. The generosity of many in the Registered Clinical Dental Technicians diocese saw 80 cakes distributed to the needy in Otago and Southland. With donations made to the foundation, Friendly and professional sta the Bishop’s Bake can be considered a success. Fast, e cient turnaround and guaranteed workmanship Diocesan general manager Stuart Young said: “The A range of prices to suit everyone’s budget success is not measured in financial terms but in being WINZ and insurance quotes welcome a means for Christian outreach, particularly at Christmas. We manufacture and custom t Mouth Guards The tougher economic times did impact on the volume of sales but we would be hopeful that support will continue Rest Home visits (we can also name dentures) and indeed build over the coming years. “We had a few distribution problems this year for PH 477 1422 PH 217 1121 which we apologise. For the Christmas 2010 promotion, Ground Floor Cnr Herbert & FINANCE we would welcome any feedback or suggestions for Radio Otago House AVAILABLE Windsor Streets 248 Cumberland St Invercargill improvement and already it has been suggested that Dunedin deliveries could be made to the respective parishes and the parishes could deliver the cakes as part of Christmas visiting and parish welfare,” he said. Funds raised by the CCF are distributed to local organisations providing help and assistance to those in the community who need it. In 2009, Auckland’s CCF gave Cre8ive 4774 Cre8ive CUTTING EDGE DENTAL TECHNOLOGY more than $504,000 to not-for-profit agencies. The money distributed came from interest on CCF funds and showed 0800 500 730 www.the-lab.co.nz what a well-endowed CCF could achieve in this diocese. 2 February 2010 The Tablet Board chairman retires after 24 years By GILLIAN VINE Fund, as the CDF was He believes one of the most important JOHN FARRY, who recently originally known, was financial decisions was the 2007 retired from the diocesan established in the 1980s, appointment of Stuart Young as diocesan board of management, Mr Farry was given by general manager. Dunedin was “the last relates an old Arab Bishop Len Boyle the of the New Zealand dioceses to see the proverb: “Trust in God but task of explaining how it light and appoint a general manager. tie your camel to a date worked, so he undertook I look back and wonder why it took so palm. “a road trip to explain it long.” “Sometimes we had to the parishes”. One of Mr Farry’s unfulfilled dreams neither camel nor tree but After that experience, is the establishment of a property trust just trusted in God.” he was asked by Bishop to put the diocese on a firm financial He tells the story to Boyle to serve on the footing, something he had hoped for illustrate the financial Board of Economic when the Moreau College site was sold difficulties faced by the Administration, now the – but the money was needed elsewhere. diocese in the 24 years Board of Management, His other dream is to see the former he served on the board, John Farry established because of Dominican priory building restored. latterly as its chairman. changes to Canon Law. Despite attending some 300 meetings “One of the myths is that the Church In those days, everything was run of the board of management over is wealthy and nothing could be further from the Bishop’s House, as there were the years, Mr Farry has still found time from the truth.