July 2014
Palmerston North
Peter Green
Change was in the air at 16 March meeting of parishioners from the three Napier parishes of St Patrick’s, St Thomas More and St Mary’s.
Called by the Steering Committee set up to establish a single Napier parish, the meeting was held at St Thomas More Church and was attended by around 300 parishioners. The main purpose of the meeting was communication, firstly to let parishioners know the reasons behind the need to establish a single parish, and secondly to ask them to let the committee know their thoughts and concerns.
After an address by committee chairman, David Marshall, explaining the circumstances behind Bishop Charles’ request to form a single parish and progress to date towards this objective, parishioners were invited to take the floor and voice their opinions to the committee.
Opinions were generally positive, asking that parishioners be kept informed of progress and urging the committee to acknowledge the needs of the individual communities within the overall structure of the new parish.
At the close of the meeting a survey form was distributed inviting written comments. These have now been returned and responses are being collated.
The steering committee is planning towards Easter Sunday 2015 as the official start date for the new parish – a very appropriate date for new beginnings and new life.