WelCom June/July 2024
Charles Ropitini
By invitation of Principal Dame Georgina Kingi, Bishop John Adams recently made his first visit to St Joseph’s Māori Girls College in Taradale, Napier, to celebrate the Feast of St Matthias the Apostle, and to renew relationships between the college and the Diocese of Palmerston North.
Bishop John was accompanied by diocesan manager Liam Greer with Chris Reilly, Manaaki Tibble and Korty Wilson. Kaumātua Hawira Hape formally welcomed Bishop John and his guests on behalf of the Sisters and the college in the college chapel. Following the formalities Bishop John led Miha in te reo Māori.
The homily for the day was drawn from Acts 1:15-26 in which St Matthias was chosen to replace Judas as an Apostle. Bishop John relayed how the Apostles saw the qualities of leadership in St Matthias as a light that shines among others. He continued to the kaupapa of the college in growing strong Māori leaders who stand on foundations of love. The example given was college old girl Dame Whina Cooper, whose leadership skills were noticed and nurtured by Dutch priest Pā Charles Kreymborg, who facilitated her marriage to Richard Gilbert.
At that moment there was clever pivot to the Gospel of the day by differentiating the love fostered in marriage to the love fostered with God, and how human love between spouses is only a fraction of our love for God. Dame Whina went on to be one of the most unifying of Māori leaders in her generation, and much of what underpinned her leadership style was a strong foundation of love for God.
Bishop John ended his homily by returning to the love of marriage and the family, and the hope that he may support St Joseph’s Māori Girls College to remain as a place for the daughters of the current girls to continue in the legacy of strong leaders among Māori.
Following Miha, Bishop John joined Miss Kingi and the Sisters for lunch, where further speeches of thanks were given with a strong commitment made to support the growth of the college.
Bishop John will return to the college in July for the re-opening of the Boarding House, currently under renovation.
