Father Bernard Espiritu has been the New Zealand National Director for the Pontifical Mission Societies since 2012. His ministry has been across several continents, most recently in North America. He was born in the Philippines, and following ordination with the Society of the Divine Word (SVD - Societas Verbi Divini) was appointed on missionary assignment in south Brazil for seven years. Following that he worked for 16 years in Australia and the last six in North America.

Bishop Charles Drennan, Secretary of the NZCBC, said "the Bishops are grateful that Fr Bernard had agreed to have his appointment renewed." He noted that Fr Bernard has built up good relationships with parishes and some schools, was known as an engaging preacher, and came from a Religious Order dedicated to the mahi or work of mission."

Bishop Drennan further commented that the Bishops had asked Fr Bernard to "pay specific attention to the ethnic communities newer to New Zealand ensuring that they are aware of the work of MissioNZ and exploring new ways to encourage involvement and contributions from these communities."

MissioNZ is the New Zealand office providing for the Pontifical Missions Societies ie Propagation of the Faith, St Peter the Apostle and Holy Childhood / Children Helping Children. It is connected with the New Zealand Bishop's Conference and Bishop Owen Dolan is the accredited Episcopal Vicar. The office is Wellington-based and is affiliated with 120 National Directors of PMS worldwide. Supplied NZCBC

The main office of the Pontifical Mission Society of the Propagation of the Faith in Rome decides where the Mission Collection should go says Fr Bernard Espiritu, National Director of Missionz.

This year, says Fr Espiritu, New Zealand has been requested for "support to go to the missionary work of Fr Alpha Mazenga SVD, a Divine Word Missionary, who works with street kids in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and the work of Fr Eugene Docoy and other Divine Word Missionaries who work with him in the rubbish tip and with the street kids of Cebu City in the Philippines."

"We also would like to help a community in Kiribati. The community would like to renovate their maneaba. It is a traditional meeting place of people especially the youth and children. It is used for various activities including their catechism and other faith formation activities," says Fr Espiritu.

Missionz is the New Zealand national office of the worldwide Pontifical Mission Societies. The three societies are:

• Propagation of the Faith - supporting Bishops in Missionary Dioceses
• St Peter the Apostle - to fund seminarians and religious in mission territories
• Holy Childhood - to support health and religious formation needs of mission children

The objective of Missionz is to promote awareness of the mission of the Catholic Church - to present the good news of Jesus Christ to all peoples, and to generate spiritual, material and financial support for those working in mission and third world territories.

The Pontifical Mission Societies have the common aim of assisting the Holy Father in spreading missionary awareness among priests, religious, adults and children; encouraging aid to the poor, and gathering financial support for different projects in third world countries. The funds collected during the year by the Pontifical Mission Societies are sent directly to mission dioceses in need, as decided at Council in Rome each May.

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference
• Image: The Guardian

"At last, a very experienced and qualified priest with missionary experience has been appointed," he says.

He is Father Bernard Espiritu.

Espiritu is a Filipino missionary who belongs to the Australian province of the Societas Verbi Divini (SVD).

He was ordained in 1981 and first served as a missionary in Brazil from 1983 to 1990. His second mission was in Melbourne from 1991 to 2006. Espiritu's most recent appointment was in New Jersey, USA for five years.

He has also served in the United Nations as a member of Vivat International, an organized network of religious orders whose work, expertise and experience have direct bearing on issues related to social justice, development, peace and ecology.

Shannahan has completed five and a half years in what he says has been a fulfilling mission. He says that after "48 years of full time involvement in pastoral leadership across New Zealand I have reached the age when I need to ease into semi-retirement."

Espiritu took up his job on 31 May. On Thursday afternoon there was a gathering in Wellington to farewell Fr Paul and welcome Fr Bernard

It is connected with the New Zealand Bishop's Conference and Bishop Owen Dolan is the accredited Episcopal Vicar.

Source:

• CBCP News
• MissioNZ