As part of the 2017 Diocesan Synod outcomes, one of the recommendations was to assess whether change was needed in the provision of pastoral care for our ethnic communities. From 2020-2022 the Office of the Vicar General conducted a formal review on the diversity of our Archdiocese through analysing Government statistics, and coordinating surveys and interviews with members of our ethnic communities which have been compiled into a report. A couple of interesting findings were that our Archdiocese is growing in diversity and that our migrant communities are mostly young.
On Saturday 6 August, members of our ethnic communities and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council which includes Bishop Paul, Cardinal John Church Mission and Ecology, Justice and Peace Commission, gathered to discuss the findings of the review and to develop future actions together which included supporting more regular gatherings such as this one. They also shared kai with each group bringing a dish from their culture.
Thank you to the representatives from the Fijian, Tokelauan, Filipino, Indonesian, Samoan, Zimbabwe, Syro-Malabar, Myanmar and representatives from the Spanish speaking communities within our Archdiocese who were also awarded Certificates by Cardinal John for their contributions to the review. We would also like to acknowledge the Zimbabwe community for leading the opening prayer, the Tokelauan community for leading the prayer before meals and the Samoan community for their Closing Prayer.
Thanks to the Samoan community, Te Awakairangi for their manaakitanga and for the support and aroha of the Parish of Te Awakairangi with their parish priest Patrick Bridgman.
Photo: Each community shared the word for “caring” in their language.
