News
Lorraine Wilson
At Sunday Mass in St Martin de Porres Church in Lower Hutt, 28 September 2014, Mike Fairfield received the Benemerenti Papal Award for service to the Catholic Church. Mike and his wife Marie were recognised for 42 years enormous effort and support they have given to the Catholic Church.
Mike has been a leader in music ministry at Our Lady of Grace in Heretaunga Upper Hutt, St Mary’s parish in Rotorua, the music team at Our Lady of the Rosary in the Hutt Valley, and has led a group at Ss Peter and Paul in Lower Hutt.
Mike was also General Manager of the Archdiocese Development Fund for 17 years and was involved in fundraising for the seminary. He led Planned Giving campaigns in the Wellington, Palmerston North and Hamilton dioceses.
His methodology was sold to dioceses in Australia. Mike is a great supporter of Catholic schools and was on the St Bernard’s College Lower Hutt Board of Trustees, and coach of many rugby teams.
Letters of recommendation were received and endorsed by Archbishop John Dew who celebrated the Mass. Concelebrating were Frs David Orange, Pat McCullough, Bruce England and Andrew Kim. In his homily Archbishop John acknowledged the important role Mike’s wife Marie played in supporting him and looking after their family. Mike and Marie’s children, grandchildren, siblings, and friends were present and joined in the supper and gathering in the presbytery afterwards.
Benemerenti loosely translates to ‘well done’. Well done Mike and Marie we are proud of you.
Lorraine Wilson is Mike and Marie Fairfield’s daughter.
Ginetta Petersen
Archbishop John presented Blenheim parishioner Mrs Sue Lott with a Papal Honour at a Confirmation Mass at St Mary’s Church Sunday, 20 September 2014.
Sue grew up in Timaru, Tauranga and Wellington and finished her Catholic schooling as a qualified short-hand typist.
While working at Radio New Zealand in Greymouth Sue met her future husband, Arnold, who was putting up a new TV transmitter at the time.
After moving with their young family from Wellington to Blenheim Sue started her work as parish secretary at St Mary’s Parish in 1989. Some 25 years later she finally hung up her computer mouse.
Sue was a major support to the priests and parish chairs. She helped implement the new Planned Giving programme, the parish accounting system, and helped various groups within the parish.
Sue was the hub of the development from the early 1990s when it was decided to upgrade the church and add more buildings in four stages. Often things happened with Sue just getting on with it.
In 1997, when Arnold passed away, his passing left a huge gap in the lives of Sue’s family and the parish. Sue continued on in the office with the support of the whole parish.
When Sue announced her retirement it was only her leaving that showed how much she did for the parish that went unnoticed over the years.
In her free time, Sue enjoys several hobbies including reading, gardening, and walking. Her love of cooking has seen her try out new recipes and give away baking as gifts at Christmas.
She loves to spend time with her children and grandchildren, who are the hub of her life.
Ginetta Petersen is parish secretary St Mary’s, Blenheim.