Tears flowed as the bishop led the procession in St Joseph's Cathedral for the final time last Sunday.

80-year old Akava Toki (pictured) was one whose eyes glistened with tears of thankfulness and sadness as he embraced the bishop.

For the past 13 years Donoghue has been a beacon of spiritual comfort and steady guidance for Toki and the Raratongan community.

"I'm going to miss him - me aravei maua" says Akava Toki.

"To maua pirianga e tangata akamaroiroi aia iaku, akamaroiroi i te pure, to tatou pure no tatou." ("Our hope is that he will bless me, bless the prayer, our prayer for us.")

Another person said "We also say meitaki ma'ata to Bishop Paul for the support he will continue to give, for shepherding the faithful for 13 years by encouragement and teaching us through the faith on our journey towards Christ. We appreciate what we have learned.

"It is my prayer that he will continue to empower our people, especially our Catholic community."

New bishop installed

But the occasion wasn't just about Donoghue retiring..

As he retired, Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado MSP was installed as Rarotonga's new bishop.

Getalado spoke of his "big gratitude" to Donoghue for his leadership in the diocese and for the priests who have dedicated their Christian lives.

Parishioners wish their new leader well.

"This is an exciting day, not only for the diocese but for the people of the Cook Islands both here and in Aotearoa New Zealand to welcome and support Bishop Reynaldo. We wish him all the best."

Getalado was presented with a beautifully carved tokotoko representing the special staff used by shepherds to protect and manage their flocks.

Carver Vainekiki Tomokino said he was honoured to carve the third tokotoko for a Cook Islands' bishop.

"I'm so happy they asked me to carve this tokotoko, it is very special for an important event, and I've done two others in the past" he said.

Following the service, parishioners gathered to eat together.

Representatives from each parish on Rarotonga and the Pa Enua as well as the Church's ethnic groups voiced their appreciation in welcome addresses.

Farewell

Donoghue will conduct his final church service in Rarotonga on Sunday, July 14 at St Joseph's Cathedral.

Source

• Cook Islands News

He had been ill with cancer for some time.

Pope John Paul II appointed O'Connell to be the bishop of Rarotonga in November 1996.

He was ordained bishop on February 22 in St Joseph's Cathedral, Avarua.

His predecessor, Robin Leamy, was the consecrating bishop.

Archbishop of Wellington Cardinal Thomas Williams and Bishop of Tonga John Foliaki assisted him.

O'Connell was born in 1935. He was professed in the Society of Mary in 1956 and ordained a priest in July 1960.

Before becoming the bishop of Rarotonga, O'Connell pursued varied ministries that included secondary school teaching in New Zealand and the Pacific, in priestly formation and in leadership in the Society of Mary.

He taught at Chanel College in Samoa from 1966 to 1969.

He returned there as Rector from 1976 until 1982.

For two years he was involved in priestly formation at the Society of Mary Seminary in Greenmeadows.

From 1985 until his episcopal appointment he was part of the leadership team in the New Zealand Province of the Society of Mary.

He was at various times during this period councillor, vicar provincial and provincial bursar.

In 1991 O'Connell was elected provincial of the New Zealand province, a post he held until his episcopal appointment.

After he resigned as the bishop of Rarotonga in 2011, O'Connell lived in retirement in Auckland and assisted Bishop Patrick Dunn.

A vigil mass will be celebrated at Christ the King Church, Owairaka, 260 Richardson Rd, Auckland at 7.00pm on Thursday 8th August.

Bishop Paul Donoghue, the present bishop of Rarotonga, will be the principal celebrant.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated in the same church at 11.30am on Friday 9th August. Bishop Denis Browne will be the principal celebrant.

Burial will be at St Patrick's Church Cemetery, Panmure.

Source
Supplied

This is the second time in 8 years that the College has been damaged by fire.

Approximately two thirds of the College teaching space and most of the resources have been destroyed.

The fire was reported at 1am on Saturday 19 October. The Cook Islands News reports fire services were unable to respond immediately, because, as happened at the time of the first fire, three aircraft were arriving at the Rarotonga International Airport at the same time, and the fire appliances were required to be on the tarmac.

A second fire was reported at Avatea School in Nikao just after 4 in the afternoon.

Authorities are investigating to find out the cause of the fire, but at this stage there is no indication of how the fire started.

The Cook Islands news reports the government has committed to rebuilding the classrooms in time for the start of the new school year.

The Finance Minister Mark Brown says he will look at bringing in outside help like forensic scientists to determine if the fires were the work of arsonists.

On the 6th Feb 2006 a fire started under a classroom block destroying two thirds of the teaching space at Nukutere College. Within six months the block was rebuilt with financial assistance from NZ Aid, and tremendous local support and other N.Z assistance.

Source

• Radio New Zealand International
• Brother Raymond Kelleher SM
• Image: TVNZ

Before being appointed as the second bishop of Hamilton, in 1994, Bishop Denis was the bishop of Rarotonga from 1977 to 1983, and bishop of Auckland from 1983 to 1994.

Bishops Charles Drennan, Robin Leamy and Len Boyle were among the concelebrants at the mass in the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary which was attended by large numbers of family members, friends and priests and deacons from the Hamilton and Auckland dioceses and from as far away as Australia.

Bishop Denis said, "I was humbled and delighted to share the celebration with so many people who've been instrumental in my vocation thus far, in particular my siblings who've supported me from the beginning."

"It was very special to be able to renew the promises I made at my ordination and for these special people in my life to be witnesses to these."

Of the the six children in the Browne family, the oldest child, Mary, married; three, Michael, Denis and Neville, became priests; two, Margaret and Agnes, became Sisters of Mercy.

Bishop Denis said, "I was ordained a priest the same year as the opening of the Second Vatican Council, since that time I've seen and experienced great change in society and in our Church. What has remained constant has been the love and support of parishes I've worked in and places I've travelled."

In his words of congratulations, personal friend and adviser to the bishop, Sir Peter Trapski, conveyed the gratitude of the Hamilton diocese.

"On behalf of the Hamilton diocese I wish to express our gratitude for your care and compassion over the past 17 years you've been among us. The role of bishop is at times a difficult one, particularly in our modern age where respect is not always a given, but you've shown fortitude and dedication to your vocation and the people that you serve and that is felt and sincerely appreciated," said Sir Peter.

Bishop Denis also received a letter of congratulations from the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI for the double anniversaries.

Source

• NZCBC
• Image: NZCBC

The people of the Diocese joined bishops, clergy and religious from across the Pacific; friends and family from New Zealand and elsewhere to see Paul Donoghue ordained Bishop.

Bishop O'Connell, the retiring bishop, was Principal Consecrator. He was assisted by co-consecrators: the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo and Bishop Denis Browne of Hamilton, New Zealand, himself a former Bishop of the Cook Islands.

The traditional white Sunday best was seen everywhere together with an array of hats that could have could have outshone Ascot. A beautiful ei (flower garland) had been made for every visitor and those who were not adorned with a hat had flowers in their hair.

The ceremony itself was a combination of Roman rite, Cook Islands style and human love and warmth. Bishop Stu and his organising committee had everything well prepared. The Papal Bull was read in Latin and English.

After the ceremony Bishop Paul was carried in a sede gestatoria - a tradition seen only in Rome and the Cook Islands. Bishop Paul sat on top of his chair and was carried from the Cathedral of St Joseph towards the grounds of St Joseph's School where the kaikai followed.

Looking relaxed Bishop Paul sat watching the performances, feasting, laughing and genuinely happy that the day and his welcome had been so successful.

Source and more pictures: www.sm.org.nz

The autobiography covers Bishop Robin's formative years in Wellington, his many years of ministry as priest and bishop in Christchurch and the South Pacific, and his time serving in Auckland and as a member of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. Bishop Leamy retired in 2009. He continues to assist Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn in a range of episcopal duties.

Sources

Society of Mary New Zealand

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Image: Marist Father's Australia