Hamilton Bishop Stephen Lowe has announced clergy moves in his diocese for the latter half of 2018.Fr Robert Sharplin was appointed in Ngakuru effective June 24.
Fr Rico Enriquez will move to Tauranga Moana as assistant parish priest while Fr Danny Fraser-Jones and Fr Jobin Vanniamparambil were appointed parish priest andassistant priest, respectively, of Melville. Their appointments will be effective on July 30.
Fr Fernando Alombro was appointed parochial vicar of the South Waikato Collegial Area and priest in residence in Matamata/Tokoroa. Fr Darren McFarlane becomes cathedral administrator in Hamilton as well as Hillcrest parish priest and responsible for priestly care of Hui Te Rangiora.
Fr Stuart Young and Fr Jaya Prakash were appointed Papamoa Coast parish priest and assistant parish priest, respectively. They will both be priests in residence in
Mount Manganui.
Fr Thomas Thanniyanickal will be parochial vicar of Kaimai Collegial Area and priest in residence in Morrinsville. The appointments of these priests will take effect on September
1.
Fr Gerard Boyce will fill in the position of parish priest of Whakatane/Matata on November 3 (after he has completed a sabbatical).The parish will have supply priests until then.
From September 1, Fr Richard Laurenson will remain parish priest of Fairfield and Te Rapa parishes and continue in his tribunal work.
Writing in the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary newsletter on June 17, Fr Laurenson stated that Fr McFarlane would reside at Hillcrest and Fr Joseph George would remain
living at Fairfield with Fr Laurenson; Fr George would work at the cathedral and at Hillcrest.
“All the priests in the city will continue to work together as best as we can to help each other out and coordinate our activities,” Fr Laurenson continued.
“With this announcement I believe Bishop [Lowe] is underscoring his commitment to and desire for a four parish city, (Hamilton North, West, East and South) with a pastor
dedicated to each area. In his letter to me he said ‘Thank you for your pastoral care in the Cathedral and Hillcrest parishes. You have juggled your responsibilities in four parishes
and with the marriage tribunal and chancellor roles incredibly well. Can I personally thank you for your support and guidance for me’.”
Fr Laurenson also noted that the bishop told him he does not want him to “crash and burn, which is always a possibility when the workload is so heavy”.
“He went on to quote Pope Francis, about a priestly virtue of closeness, something we all desire to have with our people. The Pope said, and bishop and I agree, that it is not good when people regularly say ‘Father, I know you are very busy . . . can you . . .’.
“Unfortunately the necessity of caring for these four parishes over the last three
years has meant that I am indeed very busy. I have felt that I have not been able to be close to you. Hopefully the changes bishop has instigated will allow that to
change.”
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