Author Archive

Fr Massud ibn Syedullah TSSF

The friary was pleased to welcome Fr Massud ibn Syedullah for a three day visit in June 2007. Fr Massud was in New Zealand to take part in the Third Order Convention held in Wellington. While in this country he conducted workshops and seminars in Howick, Tauranga and Hamilton. A member of our Third Order, Fr Massud has served as Minister Provincial of the TSSF Province of the Americas. He is a parish priest in the Bronx, New York City.

For more than twenty-five years, Fr Massud has used his gifts as musician, educator, and spiritual director to create and lead retreats, conferences, and workshops, nationally and internationally. As Director of Roots & Branches: Programs for Spiritual Growth, he provides a variety of programs for spiritual formation to parishes, dioceses, religious communities, and other institutions of the Church. He also works closely with the Brothers of the Ecumenical Community of Taizé, France, leading conferences and workshops in the music, worship, and the scripture study style of that community. He has a strong interest in the relationships between Christianity and Islam and in developing further understanding between the two religions.

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Te Hurihanga Opened

On a wonderful afternoon on Friday 27th April 2007 the community of Te Ara Hou gathered to welcome the Hon Mark Burton, Minister of Justice together with many other dignitaries to offically open the Te Hurihanga Youth Justice facility.

The photo shows some of the Te Ara Hou community at the welcome.

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Ceremony and Karakia to break the ground to begin building Te Hurihanga

On 3rd October 2006 (the Transitus of St Francis) the friars took part in the ceremony to break the ground to begin the construction of the buildings which will make up Te Hurihanga – the Youth Justice house next to the Friary.

The afternoon began with a p?whiri where Ng?ti Haua and te iwi o Te Ara Hou welcomed senior members of the Ministry of Justice and the members of Youth Horizons Trust, accompanied by the Bishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, their spouses and Personal Assistants meeting in Hamilton at the time, and many other local supporters. Strong support was vocalized and pledged during the speeches,

The combined group the moved to the site of the front door of the new building and karakia accompanied the turning of the first sod by Kaumatua Andrew Thompson of Ng?ti Haua and Archbishop David Moxon, Bishop of Waikato. Further expressions of support came from a number of speakers.

A group of local residents objecting to the project staged a protest at the front entrance to Te Ara Hou and the Waikato Times showed a photo on the front page of Br Kentigern captioned as Peacemaker (a very Franciscan role).

Of course we then moved to the cuppa!

For assistance with the translation of M?ori words we use the Ngata Dictionary

Photo courtesy of Waikato Times

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SPCA Service at Cathedral for St Francis Day

Animals and owners count their blessings

09 October 2006 – by Yvonne Tahana (Waikato Times)

Adrienne Corfu’s dog wore a red scarf to the SPCA annual blessing of the animal service – but it was a fashion choice that didn’t go down well with some of the well-hooved canines.

Ms Corfu is an SPCA committee member and took along her black labrador to St Peters Cathedral yesterday.
“I think they thought she was a bit of a show-off.”
Budgies, rabbits, poodles and schnauzers were among the 40 animals blessed.
It served as an opportunity to recognise the love and companionship animals give in homes.
But it was also a chance to raise awareness about animal abuse and neglect.
In the Waikato, the organisation received up to 30 complaints a week, she said.
“That’s anything from dragging a dog behind a car to not feeding a horse or donkey which means they can’t walk any longer.
“It’s just a reminder that animals are living breathing beings with feelings”.

Br Andrew Philip at the Annual Pets’ Service

(Photo and articles by courtesy of the Waikato Times)