AUCKLAND Some Tongan Catholics in New Zealand have lost family members in the Princess Ashika ferry tragedy. The ferry sank off Tonga on August 5 with the loss of more than 90 lives. Two bodies have been recovered and 54 people were rescued.

Aucklands Tongan Catholic chaplain Fr Sateki Raass told NZ Catholic he knows of Tongan Catholics in Auckland who have taken out loans to fly back to Tonga hoping their relatives would be found.

Those loans are at high interest rates, placing families already struggling in the recession under further financial strain, Fr Raass said.

The people who have had relatives die, we are continually praying for them, he said.

At a Mass in Mangere days after the sinking, quite a few people attended who had relatives trapped in the ferry, Fr Raass added.

A Mass for the combined Tongan community at St Benedicts Church, Newton, on August 16 remembered the dead and their families as a special intention.

A memorial Mass was celebrated for victims and their families at St Andrews Church, Newlands, on August 16, Wellington Tongan chaplain Fr Mateo Kivalu said.

Fr Kivalu also celebrated Mass in Blenheim in a parishioners home following the tragedy.
New Zealands bishops sent their condolences to the people of Tonga through their Catholic leader, Bishop Soane Patita Paini Mafi.

I assured Bishop Mafi and the people of Tonga that they have our sympathy and prayerful support, said Bishop Denis Browne of Hamilton, president of the New Zealand bishops conference.

I also mentioned that we will be doing our best to support the many Tongan people in New Zealand.

Prayers for the victims and their families are being said throughout New Zealand in parishes and schools.