Visitors from Tokoroa, Palmerston North, Whanganui, Auckland, and even from the South Island, together with Te Tai Tokerau/Northland and Hokianga locals, gathered on Sunday, January 10, at Totara Point on the Hokianga river to celebrate, with Auckland Auxiliary Bishop Michael Gielen and four diocesan priests, the 183rd anniversary of the first Catholic Mass celebrated on Aotearoa New Zealand soil — by Bishop Pompallier at that very place in 1838.

In his homily, Bishop Gielen asked the congregation: “Why have you come here?” Was it to acknowledge that historical event and its impact on Te Hahi Katorika/ Catholic faith in Aotearoa? Was it to be refreshed, nourished, and renewed, having gone through the “Covid year”? Or maybe, it was not those present who had decided to come just by themselves, but rather Te Wairua Tapu / the Spirit — who, just as the Spirit had led Jesus to the Jordan River, had also called each person present to this sacred and significant place, to the Hokianga Moana, where “it had all started”.

Bishop Gielen invited those gathered to draw from these “living waters” — literally (“take some and have it in your waka, have it with you the whole year, like I shall”, he said) and spiritually (“as a reminder that these waters were the first which refreshed, nourished and gave us life”). The Spirit/Wairua Tapu has not stopped, the Spirit wants to strengthen, comfort and awhi his people, especially in these “Covid times”, when people might feel afraid, nervous or anxious.

And so, — Bishop Gielen continued — it is not a coincidence that Bishop Patrick Dunn is calling Catholics in his diocese to a “new mission”: to live and proclaim, with a particular zeal and passion, the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone they meet, starting with actions and ending with words. These are the priorities: to be eager and committed “missionary disciples”; to strengthen and awhi the spirituality of young people; to care and give hope to the poor. Bishop Gielen said that if the Catholics “leave space”, other faiths will claim it, and so it is important to be strong and passionate in spreading the Good News, starting with people’s own families. While he acknowledged with joy the young people present at the Mass at Totara Point, (in particular some brought there thanks to the Mother of Divine Mercy youth group in Auckland), he had also promised to bring a “bus-load of youth from Auckland” next year, because “they need to know, to experience, to learn from this place”. And finally, when talking about the poor – it is not “just” the hungry — he said — but those suffering from any form of addictions, those without a job or in broken-life situations, whom we are called to love and care for.

Asking everyone to ponder once again the reason for being there, Bishop Gielen reiterated that it is because all present had been led by Te Wairua Tapu/the Spirit. Just as God had expressed his delight in his Son by sending his Spirit upon him during his baptism in the Jordan, by the virtue of people’s own baptisms, they are also being strengthened and nourished by the same Spirit, and “God’s favour rests on us” as people who are called to do his mahi/work. In this year, when the nation will be re-consecrated to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven, Catholics are invited to follow her example and answer simply: Fiat/ Aie/Yes. Choose me.

After the Mass, Bishop Gielen blessed the centennial plinth with the Hokianga waters, and joined the local whanau and guests for traditional kai and fellowship.

Wiga Autet is RE coordinator for Te Tai Tokerau, Auckland diocese.

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More than 300 tangata whenua (locals) and manuhiri (guests) gathered at Totara Point in Hokianga on Sunday, January 12, to participate in a Mass commemorating the great and unique taonga (treasure) that a French-born Catholic bishop, Jean-Baptiste Pompallier, had brought with him to Hokianga and to Aotearoa 182 years ago — the gift of the sacraments and of the life-nourishing Eucharist, in particular.

Hamilton Bishop Stephen Lowe celebrated the anniversary Mass, with seven priests concelebrating (some from a close-by Panguru, some from far away Wellington).

In his homily, Bishop Lowe had borrowed the familiar and strongly significant image of the Hokianga living waters — with the tide coming in and going out from the harbour — as a symbol of “breaking waters” bringing forth a new life.

He spoke of baptism, not as a “one-moment event”, but as the living waters of an awa (river) that flows in us, constantly redefining who we really are; of growing “into” one’s name — “becoming who we are called to be”; of our
lives as a continuous “coming to birth in many ways and moments”.

Bishop Lowe said: “Just as the harbour needs to die/empty itself so that, with the new tide coming in, a new life is brought forth — so it is with our lives. The more we die to ourselves; the more Christ might fill us anew and make us who we are called to be as his people.”

Referring to the taonga of the Eucharist in every Catholic miha (Mass), Bishop Lowe had these words for everyone: “It is equally — if not more — important that each one of us is like a midwife — bringing to birth that life of Christ in ourselves, to bring it forth to our world. Our world needs to
hear the Word of Jesus Christ.

And that is only going to happen if the waters of our baptism are broken and we become more fully disciples of Jesus Christ and his witnesses in the world.”

The tradition to gather, remember and worship on that exact spot, where Bishop Pompallier had celebrated the first Mass in 1838, has been observed
annually, and the attendance has been growing steadily over the years, both in terms of the individuals participating and the regions being represented.

This was stressed by Sr Magdalen Sheahan, DOLC, — one of the kaitiaki (guardians) of the place, when she said to Bishop Lowe: “Just because Bishop Pat now has an assistant, it doesn’t mean you don’t come back here again. This is a national event!” The sister was referring to Bishop-elect Michael Gielen.

Indeed, Hokianga has been known as the “cradle of the Hahi Katorika” (Catholic faith) with the local Māori seen as first katorika and devoted kaitiaki, however, Bishop Pompallier had brought this precious and life giving taonga for the whole of Aotearoa/ New Zealand.

After the Mass, people walked up the hill to the centennial plinth, where everyone was invited to remember in prayer those who had missioned to this land, those who made a significant impact on individuals’ personal journey of faith, and finally — to pray for those present, that they might become “people of abundance and life who take Jesus to the world”.

Bishop Lowe then sprinkled the plinth with the holy water and imparted a solemn blessing on all present.

Traditional Māori hospitality and fellowship followed, where old bonds were rekindled, and new friendships formed under the bright blue sky and on the banks of — “filled with a new tide and life” — the Hokianga Harbour.

— Wiga Autet is faith formation coordinator, Te Tai Tokerau.

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Pilgrims and parishioners, including many children, from Omanaia, Whirinaki, Pakanae, Motukaraka, Motuti and Kerikeri were led by Joan Daniels in reciting the Holy Rosary while approaching the statue of Our Lady.

A welcome to the land was given by Jack Korewha, who is “hosting” the statue of Our Lady on his property, with a heartfelt karanga by Irene Hancy and Jill
Hessell.

Under splendid sun and blue sky (a gift from Our Lady!) the mihi by Mike Korewha, Charlie Walters and Alan Hessell and a few himene (hymns) followed to acknowledge local whanau, those participating and those present only in spirit, but whose hospitality, devotion and generosity of heart have been always there.

Then came the time for praying the Angelus together and by alternating Te Reo and English, bi-cultural origins and identity were affirmed. While everyone easily joined in singing Mō Maria, a slightly less known himene Hail, Holy Queen (from the movie Sister Act) was skilfully and joyfully led (thanks to a voice recording) by a group of 30+ schoolchildren from Hato Hohepa Catholic school in Waitaruke.

There was time to share the history and key facts about the statue of Our Lady, which went from 19th century France to Hawkes Bay and later to the Far North. The statue was restored and re-installed in 2015.

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