Marguerite Osborne has been Chairperson to the Wellington Archdiocesan Maori Catholic pastoral advisory group named Te Kahu o te Rangi.

She is the first person on the left in the photograph above.

She accepted this role around 2010 at the invitation of then new Vicar for Maori, Monsignor Gerard Burns.

Monsignor Burns said, "Marguerite has proved an effective chairperson, being firm and ensuring meetings progressed positively. At the same time, she was a concerned and loving leader".

Marguerite was living in and very much part of Our Lady of Kapiti parish. She has kept the flame of inculturation of te reo Maori in the liturgy and Mass alive.

Asked what she saw as challenges to the local church and especially the role of Maori, Marguerite said, "It is vital to involve more people. We need to welcome back family and others who have ‘retired' from church practice at the moment."

Marguerite Osborne returns home to Kamo, Whangarei, for this stage of her life.

"We thank her and are very grateful for all she has given us", said Rangimoeroa Waikari-Panapa, former Kaiawhina Maori. "We wish Marguerite every blessing".

There is a personal parish for Maori (Te Pariha o te Ngakau Tapu in Porirua), and 12 other Catholic Maori communities.

They are supported by the Maori Pastoral Care Team located in the Catholic Centre in Hill Street (but most often out in different parts of the Archdiocese).

Source

• Supplied: Pa Piripi
• wn.catholic.org

Te Ohu Kai Manaaki, the Maori Pastoral Care Team of the Archdiocese of Wellington, organised the Hui.

The bishops nominated the participants as those Church members who are working in Maori pastoral care and Ministry with Maori in their dioceses.

Currently, Te Runanga O Te Hahi Katorika advises the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Council on Maori affairs with representatives from each diocese.

Historically, gatherings of the Marist and the Mill Hill Fathers focused on Maori Pastoral care; and Hui Aranga provides inspiration from its origins in 1946 at Pukekaraka.

The hui proposed a new forum be established to support the increasing numbers of staff and volunteers working in Maori Pastoral Care.

The kaupapa aimed to:

• Invite those in each diocese with special responsibility in Maori Pastoral Care as well as those employed by the dioceses with this responsibility
• Share what each diocese is doing in the area of Maori Pastoral Care, communicate resources and ideas, and discuss challenges

Each diocese presented an overview of Maori Pastoral Care in their diocese including:

• Territory and demographics
• Number of Maori Catholic communities including Mass centres and Eucharist communities
• How Maori Pastoral Care is cared for, by whom and with what resources
• Challenges, issues and needs for Maori Pastoral Care.

There were discussions about future collaboration between dioceses and issues for the next hui.

Participants agreed on the significance of the relationship with Tangata Whenua and the incorporation of Te Reo Maori in each diocese's activities, as well as consideration for a shared database.

At the conclusion, the Tono presented by Turanga Maori, Danny Karatea-Goddard, was accepted by the Maori Apostolate of the Palmerston North Diocese, host for the next Hui.

Photo: National Maori Pastoral Care Hui participants

(l-r) back: Mons Gerard Burns, Danny Karatea-Goddard, Manuel Beazley, Jaana Kahu, Kea Renata, Marcel Wainohu, Charles Ropata, Nick Wilson. Front: Bob Te Miha, Rangireremoana Hau, Rangi Davis, Barbara Te Miha, Fr Gerard Patterson, Korty Wilson, Mynetta Erueti, Melissa Paul.

Source

WelCom June 2019