January 28, 2015
Maori Mass falling silent
Christchurch Bishop Barry Jones is warning the Catholic Church has a critical shortage of priests able to celebrate the Mass in Maori.
He told the recent New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference the Church came to New Zealand to evangelise Maori, and it is important that link not be lost.
Some communities have had the Maori mass going back to Bishop Pompallier in the 1830s.
Bishop Jones says while about eight priests in the North Island can celebrate Mass in Maori, he is the only one who can do so in Christchurch.
Tui Cadigan, the chair of the Church runanga, says while priests are supposed to do the basic signing of the cross in Maori, it is often not done if the priest can‘t see any Maori in the congregation.
She says there is a need for more Maori priests, which is why the runanga holds its meetings in the Catholic Maori colleges, Hato Petera and Hato Paora, in the hope of attracting young men to priesthood.
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