Kia tau te rangimārie ki a koutou
Early last year it was announced that Bishop Paul Martin, the then Bishop of Christchurch had been appointed as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington. I welcomed this news with great gratitude knowing that when I am required by Canon law to hand in my resignation to the Pope, we would not have a long wait for a new Archbishop to be appointed because Archbishop Paul had already been nominated by the Pope to be my successor.
Not long after that announcement was made, I sent a letter to all the parishes requesting that Paul’s name be included in the Eucharistic Prayer. I said that you had been used to praying for Pope Francis for the last nine years and for me as Auxiliary Bishop and then Archbishop for the last 28 years and asked you to add Paul’s name. We thank you for your constant prayer for me and now for Paul, please continue your prayers for us.
I am delighted to tell you via this newsletter that Archbishop Paul is now living in Wellington permanently. Bishop Michael Gielen has been appointed as the new Bishop of Christchurch and Paul has joined us. I know that you will welcome Paul and look for opportunities to welcome him into the parishes and schools of the Archdiocese.
Over twenty years ago Pope Saint John Paul II wrote a Document The Bishop, Servant of the Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World. The very first words of that Document (Pastores Gregis) are “The shepherds of the Lord’s flock know that they can count on a special divine grace as they carry out their ministry as Bishops.” Paul and I know that we have your prayerful support, and we thank you for that. We could not fulfil our mission as your Bishops without your prayers. Thank you.
Another part of that document says: ”the ideal figure of the Bishop, on which the Church continues to count, is that of the pastor who, configured to Christ by his holiness of life, expends himself generously for the Church entrusted to him….” When you do pray for us, please remember that you are asking that we be “Good Pastors,” that we “expend ourselves generously” and “bear in our hearts concern for all the Churches throughout the world.”
With blessing to you all.
Nā māua noa. Nā
+ John, +Paul