Kapiti Coast parishioners share stories and kai

Parishes

15 May 2010

More than 150 parishioners from Our Lady of Fatima, Waikanae, and St Patrick’s, Paraparaumu, were welcomed back to the cradle of the Catholic faith on the Kapiti Coast, at Pukekaraka Marae early in the morning of Saturday, March 13. They came to find out more about each other and about what is involved in becoming a pastoral area.

The day began with a powhiri on to the marae and then all moved to the church where Msgr Gerard Burns presided at a Mass concelebrated by all the parish priests on the coast – Frs Paul Darroch, Barry O’Connor, Owen Sinclair and Michael McCabe. The church resounded to the opening hymn ‘Come, O come and fill this temple’ led by a music group from Waikanae and Paraparaumu. A feature of the Mass was the inclusion of a number of Maori hymns and karanga.

After a shared lunch and time to talk among ourselves, we moved back into the church to hear from the members of Sacred Heart Parish, Petone, about their journey as the first parish in the archdiocese to have a lay pastoral leader. Sharron Cole, Cushla Quigan, Msgr Charles Cooper and Odette Hoera all spoke movingly from their personal experience.
The photos show some of the 150 people enjoying the fellowship, the sharing and the challenge of becoming more involved in shaping our church.

Images: Top: Richard Ward, chair, St Patrick’s Parish Council, with son Nathaniel and friend. Right: Msgr Charles Cooper of Eastbourne and Pauline Takiwa of Paraparaumu. Left: Marguerite Osborne of Paraparaumu and Henare Walmsley of Te Kahu o Te Rangi, Wellington.