Some 50 priests gathered at St Joseph’s Church, Te Puna, on August 30 to celebrate the
golden jubilee of Fr David Gledhill, SM. The occasion was also a pilgrimage of mercy for the priests of Hamilton diocese, who passed
through the designated Holy Door of Mercy at the church.
Other religious were also able to attend the day which one priest described as “enjoyable,
prayerful, relaxed, hospitable, convivial, effectively simple (and simply effective)”.
The day began with Reconciliation. Visiting Marist priests were able to hear the confessions
of priests of Hamilton diocese.
Fr Gledhill, who has spent many years working in Maori pastoral care and who is the
superior at Whaia te Whaea in Rotorua, was the presider at the Eucharist, at which Bishop
Stephen Lowe preached.
Msgr Trevor Murray prepared the liturgy.
Afterwards, there was a jubilee luncheon at Te Puna Hall.
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