WelCom February 2022
On Sunday 23 January the people of Te Whaea Tapu o Kāpiti – Our Lady of Kāpiti farewelled their much-loved and respected priest Fr Michael McCabe. After 14 years leading the parish Fr Michael has been appointed to Marlborough’s Our Lady of the Sea Parish.
Fr Michael celebrated Mass assisted by Pā Phil Cody sm from Whānua Maria, Ōtaki. The Mass, attended by hundreds, began with a karanga led by Pauline Takiwa and ended with local kaumatua Rakauoteora Te Maipi (Koro Don) blessing a seven-tonne rock marking the ‘Michael McCabe Reserve’. The moving celebrations honoured the gift that Michael is and the way that he has built not only a church but a community.
In his homily, Michael spoke of how, as an apprentice gardener during the 1970s, he was offered a job with Blenheim Parks and Reserves but after six months living with the Marist community at Futuna in Wellington, he answered the call to priesthood. Now, 50 years later he will finally take up his post in Blenheim.
Maureen Borkin, Pastoral Council chairperson, spoke of Michael’s servant leadership and ended with the quote, ‘“Many times what most people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens”. Michael, in you we’ve had both.’ John O’Sullivan, chair of the Development Committee responsible for building the new church told the gathering, ‘The church building, magnificent as it is, is just a symbol of what Michael has achieved. The real victory is that you are all here today.’
In his reply Michael thanked the parish for their love and support then Koro Don spoke on behalf of the four local iwi and thanked Michael for the aroha he has given to the church, the iwi and the rohe. Michael called the L’Arche Community forward to respond by singing Edelweiss.
The generous brunch that followed, catering for 800 people indoors and outdoors, was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. It was the first opportunity for many to socialise with fellow parishioners on a wider scale for some time,
and the food provided by generous local sponsors and parish groups was superb.
Over $4000 was collected after Mass for Fr Michael’s retirement fund, which he is donating to Caritas’ relief fund to support Tonga.
The Mass can be viewed on YouTube via the parish website.