Seminarians make south-north pilgrimage

The pilgrimage, to mark the Year for Priests, saw 22 students and four staff - rector Fr Philip Handforth, spiritual director Fr Ruben Elago, MSP, pastoral director Sr Leona Garchow, RSM, and formation director Fr Steve Lowe - make the journey from Mosgiel to Auckland, meeting priests, religious and parishioners.

• Starting at Mosgiel

Starting on February 9 at Holy Cross College in Mosgiel, the site of the former national seminary for diocesan priests, the pilgrims attended a Mass for vocations celebrated by the diocesan bishop at the cathedral in each diocese.

They also received talks on the history of each diocese.

Other highlights included evening prayer with the Carmelites in Christchurch, visits to north Timaru, Blenheim, Papaparaumu and Wanganui parishes, a visit to the statue of Our Lady at Paraparaumu, staying on Patiarero Marae in Jerusalem and a visit to Rangiaowhia in Hamilton diocese.

A special highlight was a visit to Mother Aubert's grave in Wellington and discovering more about her at Jerusalem on the Whanganui River.

At Palmerston North, students and staff met the icon and relic of St John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, which are also travelling throughout New Zealand. At the end of the Year for Priests, the icon will be installed at the Holy Cross Seminary chapel.

In his homily, at the Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bishop Peter Cullinane talked about God's call to service.

"What we all need to know is God does not call those who are already holy, but makes holy those whom he calls," the bishop said.

"Calls to personal leadership and holiness invariably converge - as one cannot be without the other and both cannot be without the living, personal relationship with God."

In Wellington, the students were billeted with priests. In Christchurch and Palmerston North, they were hosted by lay people.

Two students were struck down with illness at the start of the pilgrimage and didn't travel with the group.

Fr Lowe told NZ Catholic there was "wonderful feedback from people, religious, priests and bishops throughout New Zealand and all of them talked about what a joy or boost our visit was".

"Each of the seminarians found a new pride and joy and [a sense of] belonging to their diocese," Fr Lowe said.

"Each Mass for vocations in the cathedrals of New Zealand was different as was each bishop's homily . . . and yet they all revealed another aspect of priesthood."

Fr Lowe said seminarians were inspired to hear of so many witnesses to the Faith, as recounted in the histories of the different dioceses.

The current crop of seminarians contains a number of men relatively new to New Zealand and they had a chance to see the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand, Fr Lowe said. It was also an opportuniity for the Kiwis to discover something of other dioceses.

They also had a chance to make friendships and get to know each other and the staff.

Fr Lowe said the venture raised the profile of the national seminary and prayer for vocations throughout New Zealand.

Said seminary rector Fr Handforth: "The welcome and hospitality we received from the bishops, priests, religious and laity wherever we went has given us a wonderful sense of solidarity with Catholics throughout New Zealand.

"Their support for Holy Cross Seminary is overwhelming."

- Additional reporting by Marjorie Dawson in Palmerston North.