WelCom September 2020
Felicity Giltrap
A thanksgiving Mass was held on Sunday 26 July at St Francis of Assisi, Ōhāriu Parish, for Pat Collier and Christina MacIver to celebrate their many years of service to music ministry and long-standing musicianship at Ss Peter and Paul Church, Johnsonville. Between them Pat and Christina have over 90 years of service.
Pat has been an organist at Ss Peter and Paul Church for over 50 years. She has also held many service roles in the parish including running CCD and the Sacramental programme in the 1980s, being the first and only woman to be elected onto the first Ss Peter and Paul parish council in the early days of the parish, along with her tireless work as choir director, piano playing at Wellington Hospital, managing the roster, initiating copyright reporting in the parish and mentoring young musicians in music and liturgy. All this as well as preparing Sunday music each week and playing for numerous weekly Masses.
Alongside Pat, Christina MacIver has been involved in the music ministry for 40 years. Christina says, ‘I just followed the leader’. But with her dedication and love of music, Christina has given many years as a Cantor and soloist for Masses and Liturgies.
During the Mass, Fr Pete Roe thanked Pat and Christina ‘for their extraordinary generosity in giving their time and talents alongside raising their own families, while at times experiencing deep sadness in their own lives’. Fr Pete said, ‘music has been a source of healing for you both and you have shared your lives with us. A love of service, a love of music and singing developed both of you into pearls of tremendous price. It has shaped you both into the generous people you are to us. We thank you!’
Pat and Christina are retiring from serving at Sunday Masses to spend more time with their families and to enjoy their retirement.
Felicity Giltrap is a parishioner of St Francis of Assisi, Ōhāriu.