Archive for the ‘News’ Category

 

 

QUIET DAY

 

 

Saturday 10th April 2010

 

10:00 am – 4:00pm

 

 

Led by Br Clark Berge SSF

Minister General of the First Order Brothers

 

Friary of the Divine Compassion

Te Ara Hou Village

100 Morrinsville Road

Hillcrest

Hamilton

 

Bring your own lunch

Hot and cold drinks provided

Koha welcome

 

The day will conclude with Evening Prayer at 3:30pm

followed by an Afternoon Tea to which people are

openly invited.

Sunday 14th February 2010

This week began with Brian preaching at both the 8:00 am and 9:45am Eucharists at St Peter’s Cathedral Church. We had lunch together as a community at a restaurant in town for a couple of small friary celebrations. In the afternoon and evening Brian, Simone and Joseph travelled to Auckland and back, for the Requiem for Archbishop Jabez.

Monday 15th February 2010

In the morning the Village Forum held a regular meeting in the friary. Simone was on duty at Manaaki Mai overnight.

Tuesday 16th February 2010 (Shrove Tuesday)

Damian Kenneth participated in the Anglican Action Council meeting. Brian Simone and Joseph attended the annual barbecue which Bishop Denis Browne (Catholic Bishop of Hamilton) hosts for Religious in the Diocese.

Wednesday 17th February 2010 (Ash Wednesday)

The brothers attended the combined Anglican/Roman Catholic Ash Wednesday service, held this year in St Peter’s Cathedral Church. Bishop Denis was the preacher.

Thursday 18th February 2010

Joseph returned to Stroud after his stay here.

Br Joseph is with us at the Friary in Hamilton for a couple of weeks for a time of familiarisation. He is usually based at the Hermitage of St Bernadine at Stroud NSW. Joseph hails from Western Australia, a former Royal Australian Navy chef and a member of the Vietnam Veterans’ Motorcycle Club of Australia. We certainly enjoy having him with us albeit for a short stay.

Brother Colin ssf  … Haere Ra Koro

 In 1970 four Brothers from four nations and three different SSF Provinces were chosen to pioneer our Franciscan First Order presence in Aotearoa New Zealand. One of them was a large Solomon Islander – Brother Colin – from Malaita. They were first at St Francis House, Greys Avenue, Auckland and then at St Mary’s Vicarage, Glen Innes.

 Colin was one of the first Solomon Islanders to come to test his vocation as a friar at what is now known as Haruro (formerly Jegerata) near Popondetta in Papua New Guinea. The other two were Michael Davis, who died in 1989 and Comins Romano who returned to Haruro this year from the Solomons for the celebration in July of our being 50 years in Papua New Guina. Both were from the island of Ulawa. These three Solomon Island Brothers had come to join SSF before there was a friary in the Solomons. Colin had previously resided and worked at Pawa boys’ secondary school on Ugi Island. Now we have to record that he has died in the general hospital in Honiara after a long illness, aged 73. He was professed in 1969.

 Colin had become the “patriarch” of our Brothers in the Solomons, being wise and faithful, though a little too fond of bettlenut. Many people sought his advice and encouragement. Having an infectious sense of humour he could tell many good stories and was a gentle mimic. He played the guitar and had a good bass voice. He was a reader but often admitting that “this book is too big for my head”. His sermons were powerfully delivered. He hated nonsense and pretence. And having a keen understanding of justice he founded and managed a school for girls at Fouala-a whom he felt were deprived of educational opportunities compared with boys. This was his main work in the second half of his Franciscan life. He was ordained priest at a late age at the hands of the then Bishop of Malaita.

 May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

 

The social services village Te Ara Hou (The New Way) celebrated its 10^th anniversary this month with a party attended by local dignitaries, agency workers, clients, residents and people from the neighbourhood.

 In pre-European times the land was a village, Mangaonua, resourcing the local tribes with food from the stream and crops. After the land wars it became a sizeable farm which was later subdivided. The present site became a residence for the Society for the Intellectually Handicapped, Christopher Park. From there it became Chanel Park the headquarters for the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.

 In 1999 the land and buildings were purchased by the Hamilton City Council in order to facilitate the founding a social work village. To this end they retained ownership of part of the land and on-sold the buildings to a Trust set up for the purpose of operating and promoting the Village and to promote social services generally in the Waikato region. The remainder of the land was purchased by the Anglican Diocese of Waikato in order to preserve the potential of a village concept.

 Te Ara Hou (The New Way) is an innovative village where we work together to respond holistically to meet people’s needs: a community of agencies collaborating for the benefit of all. The village honours the partnership inherent in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

 The friary moved to Te Ara Hou in December 2001 and is an integral part of the village. The friary offers spiritual resources and encouragement for the staff of the various agencies on site; daily chapel offices and eucharist; hospitality to guests and visitors; and a place of peace, quiet and refreshment in the midst of an often hectic and confusing setting.

 The present village is a model of co-operation and a tribute to the foresight of those who worked so hard for the vision they held.

 Congratulations Te Ara Hou!

50th Anniversary Celebration in Papua New Guinea

The 50th Anniversary of the arrival of the First Order Franciscan Brothers in Papua New Guinea was celebrated at the Haruro Friary, near Popondetta. Franciscan Brothers and Sisters came from many parts of the world. It was a great day of Papuan-New Guinea celebration: well planned and organised by our PNG Brothers.

 A large number of Orokaiva dancers in traditional dress with their drums: singing and dancing led the procession for the Eucharist. Throughout the service there were points at which there was dancing by representative groups of Franciscan Brothers, Sisters of the Visitation, Melanesian Brothers, theological college students and the local Sunday school — all done so reverently.

 The President of the Eucharist was the Bishop of Popondetta, Joseph Kopapa. I was privileged to be the preacher. We tried not only to recall the past with thanksgiving, but to be aware of the challenges of the present, and the need to take risks in faith and hope for the future, seeing religious orders as beacons of light.

 At the end of the service the dancers led us all to a shrine in the garden where deceased brothers are recalled, especially two Papuans, Philip and Timothy Joseph and American Brother Justus, who was the Principal of Newton College. A plaque was unveiled and blessed by Brother Clark Berge. The Minister General of the Third Order, Rev Dorothy Brooker was present as this also marked the beginning of the Third Order.

 Feasting and dancing with drama followed. Nearly a thousand people were present. Much food; pigs, poultry and vegetables, had been cooked through the night. Speeches were given by people of the wider community. Oliver Ambo, the deputy Governor and son of late Bishop George Ambo, spoke of behalf of the Government and Bishop Joseph Kopapa on behalf of the church.

 Gifts were exchanged and Brother Lawrence Hauje spoke for the province. The proceedings concluded with evening prayer led by Bishop Tevita Talanoa. It had been an exhilarating and exhausting day and one long to be remembered.

 This event was commemorating not only what is happening in PNG but also throughout the South Pacific. From PNG the First and Third Orders of SSF have spread to the Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand and beyond to Asia. One of the reasons Bishop Philip Strong invited the Society to come was his firm belief that there would be vocations to the Franciscan way of the Religious Life among Melanesians. This visit showed me that there was not only an increase in the number of Brothers but also in maturity. There are now thirty brothers in PNG, all of whom are local people and a larger number in the Solomon Islands. We can give thanks to God.

 Br Brian SSF.

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

Fr Massud ibn Syedullah TSSF

The friary was pleased to welcome Fr Massud ibn Syedullah for a three day visit in June 2007. Fr Massud was in New Zealand to take part in the Third Order Convention held in Wellington. While in this country he conducted workshops and seminars in Howick, Tauranga and Hamilton. A member of our Third Order, Fr Massud has served as Minister Provincial of the TSSF Province of the Americas. He is a parish priest in the Bronx, New York City.

For more than twenty-five years, Fr Massud has used his gifts as musician, educator, and spiritual director to create and lead retreats, conferences, and workshops, nationally and internationally. As Director of Roots & Branches: Programs for Spiritual Growth, he provides a variety of programs for spiritual formation to parishes, dioceses, religious communities, and other institutions of the Church. He also works closely with the Brothers of the Ecumenical Community of Taizé, France, leading conferences and workshops in the music, worship, and the scripture study style of that community. He has a strong interest in the relationships between Christianity and Islam and in developing further understanding between the two religions.

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Te Hurihanga Opened

On a wonderful afternoon on Friday 27th April 2007 the community of Te Ara Hou gathered to welcome the Hon Mark Burton, Minister of Justice together with many other dignitaries to offically open the Te Hurihanga Youth Justice facility.

The photo shows some of the Te Ara Hou community at the welcome.

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Ceremony and Karakia to break the ground to begin building Te Hurihanga

On 3rd October 2006 (the Transitus of St Francis) the friars took part in the ceremony to break the ground to begin the construction of the buildings which will make up Te Hurihanga – the Youth Justice house next to the Friary.

The afternoon began with a p?whiri where Ng?ti Haua and te iwi o Te Ara Hou welcomed senior members of the Ministry of Justice and the members of Youth Horizons Trust, accompanied by the Bishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, their spouses and Personal Assistants meeting in Hamilton at the time, and many other local supporters. Strong support was vocalized and pledged during the speeches,

The combined group the moved to the site of the front door of the new building and karakia accompanied the turning of the first sod by Kaumatua Andrew Thompson of Ng?ti Haua and Archbishop David Moxon, Bishop of Waikato. Further expressions of support came from a number of speakers.

A group of local residents objecting to the project staged a protest at the front entrance to Te Ara Hou and the Waikato Times showed a photo on the front page of Br Kentigern captioned as Peacemaker (a very Franciscan role).

Of course we then moved to the cuppa!

For assistance with the translation of M?ori words we use the Ngata Dictionary

Photo courtesy of Waikato Times

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SPCA Service at Cathedral for St Francis Day

Animals and owners count their blessings

09 October 2006 – by Yvonne Tahana (Waikato Times)

Adrienne Corfu’s dog wore a red scarf to the SPCA annual blessing of the animal service – but it was a fashion choice that didn’t go down well with some of the well-hooved canines.

Ms Corfu is an SPCA committee member and took along her black labrador to St Peters Cathedral yesterday.
“I think they thought she was a bit of a show-off.”
Budgies, rabbits, poodles and schnauzers were among the 40 animals blessed.
It served as an opportunity to recognise the love and companionship animals give in homes.
But it was also a chance to raise awareness about animal abuse and neglect.
In the Waikato, the organisation received up to 30 complaints a week, she said.
“That’s anything from dragging a dog behind a car to not feeding a horse or donkey which means they can’t walk any longer.
“It’s just a reminder that animals are living breathing beings with feelings”.

Br Andrew Philip at the Annual Pets’ Service

(Photo and articles by courtesy of the Waikato Times)

 

After living in the centre of a construction site for the past several months the brothers were pleased to be present at the opening of Te Hurihanga, our nearest neighbour in the Te Ara Hou village.

The formal proceedings began on Monday 23^rd April with the naming and prayers led by kaumatua and tohunga from Ngati Haua followed by speeches and breakfast prepared by Te Ropu Takarangi (a part of Anglican Action).

On Friday 27^th April the Minister of Justice together with Judge Caroline Henwood (the initiator and driving force for the project) opened the new facility with a large crowd of supporters and well-wishers.

The facility will take young male offenders (14-17yrs) in an intensive two-year programme to integrate them into positive community relationships. The first six to eight months will see the young men as neighbours to the friary, and the brothers see themselves very much as supportive neighbours to them. This pilot project is the first of its kind in New Zealand.

The Te Ara Hou site was specifically chosen because of the supportive environment such a Christian social services village can offer. We wish the Te Hurihanga project every blessing.

For several months the brothers of the Province have been seriously reviewing our presence in New Zealand. A variety of reasons has reduced our numbers here to the point where we are now two; Brian and Damian Kenneth.

The Provincial Chapter meeting at Brisbane, 16^th – 18^th April 2007 reports that “both Brian and Damian Kenneth are happy to continue living in the friary as a praying presence, and in fact are already doing so. Chapter affirms them in this and assures them of the support of this Province and that their presence in Hamilton is greatly valued”.

One of the factors in this decision of the Chapter was the impressive volume of support from many facets of the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand for the ministry of the friary. For this support we are truly grateful.

We will be supported in community by our two Companion Brothers, Matua David and Doug Pratt together with the community of Te Ara Hou Village and the visit of other brothers from the Province from time to time. There will obviously need to be some variation to our ministries with the reduction in our numbers and a need to be prudent in the assignments we accept.

It is our fervent prayer that by maintaining our presence in New Zealand that we can provide the opportunity for young men called by God to the Franciscan religious life. The prayers and support of all our followers is essential and we ask you for a special effort in this regard as we move into a new phase of our being here.

Please celebrate with us the affirmation and support of our presence in Hamilton.

Provincial Chapter in 2004 elected Kentigern John as our friary Guardian for a three year term. He has now completed that term and as we write is on his way back to the United Kingdom. This was his second term in New Zealand; he had previously spent two years here while we were at Vaughan Park and when we moved to Hamilton.

During this term he was a caring and much appreciated Guardian. His involvement in voluntary ministry at Anglican Action and the University Chaplaincy is highly regarded. At Anglican Action he supervised the Community Counseling Service; a gold-coin operation using senior counseling students from Wintec, Te Whiuwhiu and the Bible College.  He was a volunteer at the Men’s Night Shelter in the city, involved in inner-city ministry, and a part of the team setting up the ministry at 1190. Kentigern has had a huge impact on the native trees and shrubs planted around the friary during his time with us.

We are most grateful for his willingness to come to the other side of the world to help us with our friary and we wish him well on his return to the UK and the ministry he will take there.

Like the kotuku who comes in a passing visit we have been much blessed by his time with us.