The Newsletter of the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch SPRING ISSUE 86 : SEPTEMBER 2011 Inform: 20 Years Young Page 3 World Youth Day Page 13 Earthquake Update Cathedral Page 15 Dome Comes Down Page 14 INFORM SEPTEMBER 2011 1 Issue 86 18 September 2011 FROM THE BISHOP From the Editor The Sisters of Nazareth The media is often berated for ignoring ‘good’ news, so Dear friends in Christ, I offer you my renewed greetings as I it’s a special moment to realise that at least one mass recuperate from a bout of pneumonia. communications channel has continued for two decades focusing on just that: Good News. I was greatly heartened in recent weeks by a visit to the Of course, the Gospel is a pretty enduring good news story Diocese of the Superior of the Sisters of Nazareth, all the to tell. way from England. She As Inform clocks up its twentieth anniversary with this came to emphasise to me the issue, previous editors and contributors have much to commitment of the Sisters of celebrate. With each issue we have trouble finding the space Nazareth to us. for so many good news stories and positive developments in As you may well know, our diocese. Nazareth House was badly Thanks to all contributors to Inform … and to you for affected by the February reading it! Please pass it on. earthquake. All the residents were evacuated to other rest – Gerard Duignan homes throughout the South Deadline for next issue: Show Day, 11 November, 2011 Island at short notice and the skilled and devoted staff were dispersed. The Sisters of Nazareth have decided to rebuild Nazareth House and have developed plans for a new residential home and accommodation units for the elderly that will be even more in tune with the needs of the city and province than previous facilities. For many years Nazareth House has been an oasis of care and respect for the elderly and sick underpinned by the celebration of the holy Mass and sacraments, and the unceasing prayers and devotions of the residents. We all have a great reason to smile and be joyful at the knowledge that this great work of the Sisters of Nazareth is to go forward as quickly as possible. Website messages The diocesan website: www.chch.catholic.org.nz advertises events happening within the diocese. As a parish, school, or church-associated “At the core of our being, we group you are welcome to advertise long for love and to be loved in events. You can list your event from the link on the home page under ‘events’. return.”Pope Benedict XVI (May 2010). 2 INFORM SEPTEMBER 2011 Inform 20 years young Where were you in September, 1991? The World Wide Web had only just been invented, and was a long way from our shores, Jim Bolger was Prime Minister, Vicki Buck was Mayor of Christchurch, Alex Wyllie and John Hart coached the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup, and we watched Paul Holmes and Krypton Factor on TV. Bishop Basil Meeking’s opening words in the first Inform read: “A warm welcome to Inform. It is a response to my request for further means of communication in our diocese. I hope it may provide some information we need as intelligent and active members of the Church.” He said that we are people who live by faith and “that faith will be the guide and standard of this modest publication.” Many stories have been told, many friends, family members, loved pastors and buildings have left us since then. But so many cherished memories remain. This humble newsletter has expanded, it is now bigger, in full colour, is printed in the thousands, and available to millions via our diocesan website. However some things remain the same. Each Bishop still wants it to continue to celebrate the best of Catholic life in Christchurch diocese. INFORM SEPTEMBER 2011 3 Media Savvy Farewell Sister Eulalie Pastor Farewelled Martini rsm Aged 102 Pastoral Planning Office Known as ‘Aunty Fr Geoff Lee, Vicar General of the Mary’ to her nieces diocese of Lae, Papua New Guinea, and nephews, passed away in July after contracting Mary Margaret colon cancer. He had returned to Martini was born Christchurch last October to celebrate in Kumara on his 60th birthday with his family, which 4 June 1909 to includes his father Rex, 87, and sisters Frederick and The Provision of Vanessa and Ennie, but was never to Augusta Martini. return to his adopted home. She was the third Sunday Mass in the At the same time the funeral service youngest of 12 was held in Christchurch on 2 August, children, including Anne, who became Diocese a Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Sr Mary Edna. Late in 2010 Michael’s church, Eriku, PNG. “Before entering the convent Mary Bishop Barry Born in Gore, he was baptised at told me she thought of herself as a bit Jones presented Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Gore, of a tomboy,” said her nephew John to pastoral areas and confirmed at St Stephen’s church, Houston. “She loved to go fishing and and parishes Shirley, Christchurch. He joined the exploring the area around their home a Working with her older brother Joe.” Anglican Franciscan Friars, gained Document called She attended the Stafford primary a degree in communications, and The Provision school and St Colombkille convent in was in charge of publications in the of Sunday Mass in the Catholic Diocese Solomon Islands. After fifteen years, Hokitika, where she excelled, of Christchurch. Bishop Barry’s desire during further studies in theology at particularly in music, gaining high Holy Spirit seminary, Bomana, Brother qualifications from Trinity College, is to have a strategy available that has Geoffrey discerned the call to become a London. been well consulted on throughout the Catholic priest, and was later ordained She took her first vows with the diocese, as to where Sunday Mass will by the Bishop of Lae, Bishop Henry van Mercy Order in 1930, choosing the name be celebrated in the future. Lieshout. Eulalie after a Spanish saint martyred This will enable the Bishop to be He was pastor for the next 17 years in the year 304. able to implement a plan rather than at St Michael’s parish, Eriku, where he She taught at Cobden Primary School, just having to react to circumstances. cared for street kids, taught religious Villa Maria and St Mary’s Christchurch, Amongst other things the document education, and was on the board of in Greymouth, Darfield, and in Timaru proposes a new structure for our governors at the National Polytechnic taught New Zealand’s pre-eminent parishes through parish amalgamations. classical pianist Michael Houstoun. She Institute. A long-time member of 150 submissions received from recalled 9 year old Michael as being a bit SIGNIS the world Catholic Association parishes and individuals have been of Communication, the Catholic Bishops of a mischief who was not into theory looked at by a group appointed by the conference appointed him national or discipline. Michael remembered her secretary of the Commission for Social birthdays and regularly visited her. Bishop. The group was impressed by the Communication of PNG and SI. He was Sister Eulalie had many hobbies, work and commitment of individuals editor of the Catholic Reporter, which taught herself to play the guitar, and and parish councils, taking into was inserted into the secular Wantok until a few years ago was very active account the effect of the earthquakes in Weekly newspaper, and established crocheting, knitting and painting table Christchurch and its surrounds. Shortly Catholic Radio FM 103.7. cloths. it will report back to the Bishop. “The diocese of Lae is very grateful “Eulalie was a very organised and tidy for the gift of Fr Geoff,” said Bishop person, quite assertive, and was not shy Advertise your event on the Diocesan website Christian Blouin CMM, Bishop of Lae. in demanding changes,” said John. under ‘events’ www.chch.catholic.org.nz free. “His name will live with us forever.” May her soul rest in peace. Also on Facebook. Sr Leone O’Neill RSM provides input at ministries gathering. Ian and Suzanne Bell are delighted to have Rory PaterDominicson & OrrDominic as the Orr Catholic as the Ca representativetholic representatives of Bell, Lamb and Trotter Funeral Directors Limited, assisting them to A productive ministries meeting and luncheon was held for provide a caring, professional service that is a unique and fitting tribute, those in the existing St Mary’s and Cathedral parishes at St reflecting your loved one’s life, personality, beliefs and culture. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral. Administrator Fr Bernard Carney SM, Custodian Max Broadbent and Sr Leone O’Neill RSM provided input. 4 INFORM SEPTEMBER 2011 Pastoral Planning Office workers in the Vineyard of the Lord: Some Townsville: ‘There is only one pastor of insights on Lay Ministry”, on developing the church and he is Jesus Christ, the a spirituality for those involved in the Good Shepherd. All that priests do as service in the Church. There was time to pastors is serve Christ’s own pastoring discuss and share in groups the practical of the church.’” By the way, what an implications of this, and how each one extraordinary vocation, said Bishop can live this out in the context of the Peter. Church called to communion. “My first thanks goes to my parents Fr Michael Pui, parish priest of who in August of 1960 brought me Kaiapoi, met Dr Donna by chance when to St Matthew’s Parish in Bryndwr, Dr Donna Orsuto answers a question from Srs in Rome for the Canonisation of Blessed Christchurch for my baptism,” Bishop Sylvia and Clare of the Beatitudes Catholic Mary McKillop, through some lay Kiwis Charles said.