WelCom October 2018:
Korty Wilson
On Father’s Day, Sunday 2 September, Bishop Charles Drennan said Mass in the Cathedral in te reo Māori. He extended an invitation to the parishioners of the Palmerston North Diocese to his first Miha Māori. People from as far afield as Te Wairoa were acknowledged for their efforts for travelling the furthest. The ever-angelic voices of the students, kaiako and whānau of St Joseph’s Māori Girls College, with the resounding voice of Charles Ropitini from Pakipaki – a former member of the New Zealand Youth Choir – and parishioners from Dannevirke, Ohakune and Te Awa o Whanganui gracing the Cathedral with their presence.
The Cathedral was packed to the brim with the Wairua Tapu permeating in and out of the pews. The local parishioners being touched and wooed by what they witnessed. Absolutely amazing one mum said to me.
An unending stream of gratitude to the students, staff and parents of the local Catholic Palmerston North schools – St James, St Peter’s and Hato Pāora – for their preparation, attendance and participation leading up to the Miha and on the day.
Miha Māori has been conducted in various parts of the diocese for a number of years, either on the marae or in the whare karakia with each parish community having their own flare. It is the hope of the Cathedral Parish of Palmerston North to work towards their Miha with the help and support of Rangitane te mana whenua and their Māori whānau.
Korty Wilson, Kaiwhakarite Māori Apostolate Coordinator, Diocese of Palmerston North.