High tea with bishops a great money-spinner

by JEFF DILLON
The opportunity to chew a crust with a bishop proved a drawcard for a good number of Dunedin Catholics in November.
The Dunedin organising committee for the Nano Nagle Charitable Trust was pleased with the response to their initiative to off er people the opportunity to “High Tea with all the NZ Bishops”.
Holy Cross Centre, Mosgiel, had been chosen as the venue for this semi-annual meeting of the bishops. Such a gathering was seen as a golden opportunity to create an enjoyable fundraiser for the trust.
For some weeks before the event, organisers offered raffle tickets after Masses and tickets to the
high tea — which took place on Sunday November 2 from 4pm to 6pm.
The bishops were welcomed warmly and entered into the spirit of the occasion, mingling freely with about 170 people from many parishes in the diocese.
A good array of food was set off well with fine china and silverware, making for a memorable high tea.
Raffles were drawn, the Nano Nagle Trust taonga was blessed by Archbishop John Dew, and children
from St Peter Chanel School, Green Island, entertained the bishops and guests.
The trust benefited to the tune of more than $6000, which will go towards the aim of the organisation
— providing assistance to families when Catholic education is almost out of reach because of serious fi- nancial hardship.