Palmerston North
Gwen Mardle
11 November 2011
When Bishop Peter Cullinane installed Fr Vince Onesi as the new parish priest of St Peter Chanel on Sunday October 2, he told the congregation, ‘I do not need to tell you that Fr Vince will do a good job; he is already doing a good job.’
Parishioners in the Hastings West parish are delighted to have one of their own spiritual sons at the helm of their ship. Fr Vince was born and grew up in Tonga. After several years working at sea he began his training for the priesthood at Good Shepherd College, Auckland.
Fr Vince has been working in the Heretaunga Pastoral Area since he was ordained at St Peter Chanel on December 13, 2008. Accepting his new role as parish priest, Fr Vince echoed the words of Pope Benedict when he said, ‘This is not my parish. This is not your parish. It is our parish. We are co-workers.’
Kia kaha, Fr Vince. Aroha-nui.