Bishop gifts painting to Far North

by NZ CATHOLIC STAFF
The Catholic community in the Hokianga has been given a painting depicting St Mary’s Church in Motuti
and Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier.

Bishop Patrick Dunn presented the watercolour to Pa Henare Tate on January 11, after a Mass at Totara
Point, which is the site of first Mass celebrated on New Zealand soil in 1838.
The remains of Bishop Pompallier are interred in St Mary’s.
The artwork was painted by John Neumann, husband of St Joseph’s Takapuna parish secretary, Morna
Neumann, and was gifted to Bishop Dunn last year.
Auckland diocese pastoral services group leader Pat Lythe said Bishop Dunn, after consultation, decided to give it to Motuti.
Laurie Anderson, main shareholder of the neighbouring land at Totara Point, attended the anniversary
celebration.
“He spoke at the beginning of the Mass saying he actually never came to the Mass before and now he
sees himself as being in partnership with the Church in honouring this sacred spot,” Mrs Lythe recounted.
He had thought the Mass was only for Catholics, Mrs Lythe said.
In his homily, Bishop Dunn noted the significance of water both in Baptism and bringing missionaries
to New Zealand.