by PETER GRACE
The appointment of Pa Mikaere Ryan, MHM as parish priest of Te Whānau Tapu parish may create history.
The need for Pa Tony Brown to convalesce led Bishop Patrick Dunn of Auckland to ask Pa Ryan to take over the parish. Te Whanau parish at Te Unga Waka Marae, Epsom, is the first “personal parish” in Auckland diocese.
In his letter to Pa Ryan, Bishop Dunn wrote: “I am conscious that with this letter we are probably making history in New Zealand. I suspect you will be the most senior priest ever to be appointed as parish priest!”
Pa Peter Michael Ryan told NZ Catholic that he was born on June 29, 1928, the Feast of St Peter and Paul. “That’s why I got the name Peter, but my dad said there’s got to be a Michael in the Ryan family.”
When he came to New Zealand, he came at the same time as another priest named Peter. So he told the superior to call him Mick. “My dad called me Mick and my mother called me Peter, so I was used to it.”
Pa Brown became unwell several years ago. In his letter to Pa Ryan, Bishop Dunn said he believed it is important that Pa Ryan take full responsibility as parish priest for the time being, forming a parish council and other committees needed. Pa Ryan said he keeps better health now than 10 years ago. This appointment did not significantly change his workload, but largely formalised what he was doing anyway.
“I am saying Mass every day at Te Unga Waka. I promised [the people] that a couple of years ago, when Pa Tony got sick. “And also … I am doing their Mass at Hato Petera College, because Pa Tony was doing it, and I just followed.”
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