WelCom June/July 2022
Te Ara a Maria: Mary’s Way is a hīkoi of the artwork, ‘Ko Hāta Maria, Te Matua Wahine o Te Atua – Holy Mary, Mother of God’, which has been touring Aotearoa following its celebration on the Feast of the Assumption in 2021.
Kaitiaki for the artwork Korty Wilson, who recently accompanied the taonga on the hīkoi throughout the diocese of Palmerston North, will accompany it throughout the Archdiocese of Wellington, from July 3. The artwork will then be permanently displayed at St Mary of the Angels Church, Wellington from August 15.
The project stems from when Bishop Pompallier dedicated New Zealand to ‘Our Lady Assumed into Heaven’ as he celebrated his first Catholic Mass at Totara Point in the Hokianga on January 13, 1838.
In 2020, following requests from parishioners during the first Covid-19 lockdown, the New Zealand bishops discussed plans to renew Aotearoa New Zealand’s dedication to Our Lady, by establishing a national shrine honouring Mary with a suitable artwork. This project became Te Ara a Maria: Mary’s Way and the artwork was undertaken by Damian Walker from Rangiora.
The artwork can be viewed while on tour, but it is advisable to check with the host parish for opening times and compliance with Covid-19 protocols.
Chris Duthie-Jung of the Church Mission team will liaise with parishes about the hīkoi throughout the archdiocese. For more information please contact Chris at: c.duthie-jung@wn.catholic.org.nz or ph: (04) 496-1759.
Te Ara a Maria – Archdiocese of Wellington Hīkoi
| Date | Parish/Church |
|---|---|
| Sun 3 – Wed 6 July | Pukekaraka Marae and St Mary’s Ōtaki (also St Joseph’s Levin) |
| Thu 7 – Sun 10 July | Our Lady of Kāpiti |
| Tue 12 – Thu 14 July | Te Ngākau Tapu (also Porirua and Plimmerton) |
| Fri 15 – Sun 17 July | Our Lady of Hope Tawa and Tītahi Bay (also Ōhāriu) |
| Tue 19 – Thu 21 July | Te Wairua Tapu (also Te Awakairangi) |
| Fri 22 – Sun 24 July | Our Lady of the Valleys (also Upper Hutt) |
| Tue 26 – Thu 28 July | Wairarapa |
| Sat 30 July – Tue 2 August | Our Lady Star of the Sea (Marlborough and Kaikōura) |
| Thu 4 – Fri 5 August | Our Lady of the Bays – Tasman and Golden Bays (also Westport) |
| Sat 6 – Sun 7 August | St Mary’s Nelson / Stoke |
| Tue 9 – Thu 11 August | Wellington South and East |
| Fri 12 – Sun 14 August | Ōtari and Cathedral |
| Mon 15 August | St Mary of the Angels – Feast of the Assumption |