From 29–31 October, Fr John Le, SVD (former Parish Priest of Te Awakairangi) and Fr Sony Marsilin, CP (Parish Priest of Star of the Sea Parish) participated in the Landing the Waka Induction Seminar held at the Pā Maria Spirituality Centre in Wellington. This seminar is designed to orient newly arrived international clergy to the unique pastoral and cultural landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Over three days, Fr John and Fr Sony engaged deeply with the history of New Zealand, the Catholic Church in Aotearoa and the Archdiocese of Wellington (ADW), and the principles of doing ministry in a bicultural and multicultural context. They were introduced to Te Reo Māori and Te Ao Māori, learned prayers and songs in te reo, explored the principles of Integrity in Ministry, and reflected on clergy self-care.
Accompanying them on this journey were Fr Gerry Burns, Vicar General of ADW, and Maya Bernardo, Landing the Waka Coordinator. A guided walk through Wellington’s CBD enriched the experience, with visits to Parliament, the War Memorial, and the National Archives offering tangible insights into New Zealand’s civic and historical identity.
