Gracious Mary Katarina lived a loving, committed life

Sr Katarina

by Sr COLLEEN EDGECOMBE, RNDM
On May 3 in Little Waihi on the southern edge of Lake Taupo, requiem Mass was celebrated for Sr Mary Katarina, RNDM.
Sr Katarina

Pa Hemi Hekiera, Pa David Gledhill, and Pa Len Danvers were the celebrants.
At the end of Mass, as the casket was being taken from the marae, the whanau gave a stirring haka. Her casket was carried through bush up a steep track to where she was laid to rest with her parents.
Mary Katarina, Theresa Puhiwahine, was born in Waihi Village in 1932. She was one of 14 children and her younger sister, Matilda, still lives in Turangi. Theresa was baptised there in the village church of St Werenfried and received her primary education from the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart at the convent school overlooking the lake.
For her secondary education Theresa went to St Joseph’s Maori Girls’ College in Greenmeadows, Napier, beginning her association with the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions and the college.
In 1950 at the age of 18 she entered the novitiate, where she was given the name Mary Katarina. Her profession ceremony was in Christchurch in 1952.
Her first mission was back to St Joseph’s Maori Girls’ College. Her commitment to the college and her dedication and pride in the school and its pupils is legendary.
Mary Katarina spent several years in Christchurch at two different times and worked with Fr Barry Jones (now Bishop Barry) at Te Rangimarie where she brought life to Christchurch urban Maori. She was involved in work to rehabilitate youth who were involved in gangs. In 1982 she
helped set up the Kohanga Reo at the Te Rangimarie Centre — the first in the South Island. Some time during those years she spent a brief time in the Chatham Islands.
After returning to Greenmeadows for a while she moved to Turangi in 1992 where she worked for 22 years for the community.
She brought out the best in people and worked tirelessly for the poor and needy. When her mother was growing up she and her friends were punished for speaking Maori and Mary Katarina spent her life rediscovering what was lost. As a result she was a valuable resource for people
who wanted to learn Maori prayers and the old songs. She continually challenged her RNDM sisters in their pronunciation of Maori place names.
Mary Katarina was always kind no matter the situation. It is no wonder that one year she received an “Unsung Hero Award” in the Turangi area. She was a fearless advocate for individuals and groups whom she believed were being treated unjustly.
Mary Katarina was a gracious and loving woman who lived an outstanding life of commitment as an RNDM. May she rest in God’s eternal love and peace.

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  1. Jimmy Ropihana Hoko says

    Toku Whaea, tino ataahua.

    hari me to koa taku ngakau, ka panuitia tenei korero.

    ka nui te mihi te tangi, te poroporoaki ki a koe e te whaea o te hahi kotoriki I roto Ngati Turumaakina, no Waihi, ki te taha o tatou moana Taupo nui a Tia.
    Anei ra taua kainga ukaipo.

    Moe mai e kui, te rimu o huia kua ngaro, he potokomanawa, he whakaruruhau o te iwi a Tuwharetoa.

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