Pa Mikaere (Peter Michael) Ryan, MHM, died on February 9 at his home in Mt Eden after a long illness. NZ Catholic understands he was 93 years old.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Hato Petera College chapel on Auckland’s North Shore on February 12, with Bishop Michael Gielen as principal celebrant, before Pa Ryan’s body was taken north to Waitāruke in Northland. A requiem Mass was celebrated on February 13 at Sacred Heart Of Jesus/Te Ngākau Tapu o Hehu church, at Waitāruke, with Fr Anthony Trenwith as celebrant. Pa Ryan’s body was interred at Te Puna Roimata, Waitāruke.
Pa Ryan grew up in England and, after his seminary training as a Mill Hill missionary priest, he arrived in New Zealand aboard the Zuider Kruis Dutch emigrant boat in January, 1954. He learned Te Reo Maori and spend a lifetime in the Maori mission.
Among his many achievements was the publication of the “Reed Dictionary of Modern Maori” in 1995, which was reprinted several times.
He received the papal medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in 2019.
May he rest in peace.
Reader Interactions