Fyfe is a layperson with extensive experience in human resource management and organisational development.

The New Zealand Catholic bishops and the heads of all religious congregations have called for the terms of reference for the Commission to be as broad as possible to ensure the Church is included.

But the Government has yet to confirm the Terms of Reference for the Commission or explain how it will operate.

The group is called Te Ropu Tautoko. It represents all the dioceses, congregations and institutions of the Catholic Church in New Zealand.

Their representative bodies - the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference - Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa (NZCBC) and the Congregational Leaders' Conference Aotearoa New Zealand (CLCANZ) have appointed the following to be members of Te Ropu Tautoko:

• Bishop Charles Drennan from the Diocese of Palmerston North
• Sr Katrina Fabish from the Sisters of Mercy
• Deacon Danny Karatea-Goddard from the NZCBC Secretariat
• Fr David Kennerley from the Society of Mary
• Br David McDonald from the Marist Brothers
• Sr Jane O'Carroll from the Marist Sisters

"Our aim is quite simple - to support the Royal Commission, " said Fyfe in a statement released on 23 October.

"This group collectively represents senior leadership of the Church and more members may be added when we have greater clarity around the needs and expertise required to support the Royal Commission.

"In creating the Tautoko, the NZCBC and the CLCANZ recognise that our pilgrim Church, like the Government, is seeking a collective approach to understanding, reviewing and addressing the learnings of the past."

Fyfe said the way lessons are learned today and for the future is by examining, understanding, acknowledging and addressing what has occurred.

"We will collectively work towards healing. To do that, we must support the Royal Commission with the information they need."

Te Ropu Tautoko terms of reference states:

"We participate in the processes of the Commission as a wounded whanau. Because of, not in spite of, our own brokenness in regard to abuse, we offer our lessons.

"These [lessons] come from a place of deep humility. All we have to offer is our own experiences and the call to justice, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, Hehu Karaiti."

Source

• Communications Advisor NZ Catholic Bishops/Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa
• Image: nzbar.org.nz

She was an outstanding leader who served the SMSM sisters at the highest level.

"Patricia was a Marist woman, a woman of the Church, and a woman of the world" said the sisters' present leader Sr Georgeanne Marie Donovan.

"Her concerns for others were not limited to where she came from or where she had been. She had a heart big enough to embrace the world."

"She never ceased to be interested in or concerned about others - be they from SMSM world, from the wider Marist world, from her family and friends, or from the countries, cultures, and beliefs other than her own."

Patricia was born in Lepea, Samoa. She attended St. Mary's school in Savalalo

Later she went to New Zealand from where she entered the SMSM noviciate in Heretaunga, in 1959.

After she made her religious profession in December 1962 Patricia stayed on in the noviciate as a staff member for four years.

She then returned to Samoa and went to St. Mary's College to complete her School Certificate and University Entrance studies.

She was then appointed to teach at Marista College at Moamoa.

In the second half of 1970's, Patricia got a scholarship to study at Macquarie University in Sydney where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Returning to Samoa, Patricia was appointed Regional Superior there. Not long after that appointment, she was sent to the USA to do a course on Religious Formation.

This prepared her for her next assignment which was to be the novice director for the SMSM noviciate in Heretaunga.

In 1987 Patricia was elected Superior General of the SMSMs for a period of seven years.

She was the first Pasifika person to be elected as Superior General of her congregation.

After the first term of 7 years, Patricia was re-elected Superior General for another 7 years. This was the first time that a superior general had been elected for two consecutive terms.

Patricia was well known in Rome and her hospitality made her very popular with all the Pasifika visitors and students who studied in Rome.

In her role as superior general, she had affiliation with many organisations, groups, and institutions in both the Vatican and in other parts of the world.

After 14 years of leadership, Patricia stayed on in Europe. She worked in Algiers in Africa, teaching English at the University.

After some time she returned to Lyon in France and helped with the community at Ste-Foy-les-Lyon.

It was about this time that she was diagnosed with cancer. But, after successful treatment, she continued to help look after the elderly sisters in Lyon.

Patricia was doing so well that a few years ago she was asked to take on another leadership role as regional superior for the Euro-Africa Region. She readily accepted it but, the cancer returned and Sr. Pat became very ill.

Source

• maristes-france.org
• sobserver.ws
• Image: samoaobserver

She was elected at the sisters general chapter being held in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Sister Jo will replace Sister Maureen McBride who is also a New Zealander.

The the Mission Sisters came to New Zealand in 1864, three years after the foundation of the Congregation, by Euphrasie Barbier.

They now work in 23 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Pacific.

Their newest missionary insertions are South Sudan, Laos, Orissa in India, Thai-Myanmar borders, Kazakhstan and Taiwan. Our priorities in mission are among the poor and marginalised, especially women and children.
Source

• Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission
• RNDM Collections