NZ Catholic Newspaper

Organ restorer Ron provides recital bonus

Sue Seconi — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 22:54:33 +0000

by SUE SECONI
WANGANUI — A March 23 pipe organ recital by renowned organist, historian and composer Ron Newton proved not only an extraordinary treat, but a reflective occasion for the audience.
St Mary’s parish musical director Joan Whelan seized the chance to invite him while he was in Wanganui restoring the organ for the completion of the million dollar earthquake strengthening programme of the Jane Winstone Ryman Health Care Chapel — which used to be
the Sacred Heart College Chapel.

Benemerenti medal recipent Joan Whelan and Ron Newton.

Mr Newton, who is from Oamaru, praised the tone of the St Mary’s
Church organ, crafted in London by J. C. Bishop’s organ builders more than 150 years ago.
“These instruments were built as sweet and gentle accompaniments to
church choirs. This organ is quite distinct because it has a good variety of loud and soft stops,” he explained.
Even though the organ was shifted to its present site in Guyton St from the original church in main street, Victoria Ave, when it was demolished, he noted the organ still contains some of its beautiful original pipe work.
Playing from the console on the floor of the church, his programme started with Bach’s popular pieces titled Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring and Sheep May Safely Graze.
“From all the world’s greatest musicians, Bach wrote the most for the pipe organ. The rest were composed by organ players themselves,” he said.
Currently curator of the New Zealand Organ Museum at the Oamaru Railway Station and the director of the New Zealand Organ Manufactory, Mr Newton’s repertoire also included works from New Zealand composers John Barnett and Douglas Lilburn. Of particular delight during the 90 minute concert was his own composition, The Milner March.
It was written in dedication to Frank Milner, headmaster of Waitaki Boy’s High and noted educationalist of his day, when Douglas Lilburn was a student.
Even though Douglas Lilburn was born in Turakina just south of Wanganui, his natural musical giftedness showed up at Oamaru College.
Mr Lilburn was awarded the Order of Merit in 1988 and is referred to as the “grandfather” of New Zealand music.
Mr Newton services and tunes nearly a third of all pipe organs in the country, from the Bay of Islands to Dunedin. His PhD thesis centred on early pipe organ building in New Zealand and proved a
valuable record following the Christchurch earthquake — which damaged a number of organs in the city.
Money raised from his recitals are always split three ways — a third each to the church where he played, his own expenses, and to a charity nominated by the parish. St Mary’s parish priest Fr
Brian Carmine directed that the profits go to the Monday morning friendship meal.

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Three decades of service in Wanganui

Sue Seconi — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 21:29:31 +0000

by SUE SECONI
WANGANUI — All morning Masses across Wanganui were cancelled on
Sunday, March 30, enabling the whole Catholic community to gather for the 9am Mass to thank Esther and Tom Teasdale for what they have given to the life of St Mary’s, St Anne’s and Holy Family parishes.
Thirty-two years ago, Mrs Teasdale started work as housemaid for the
eight Society of Mary priests who lived in community in the Campbell St Presbytery.
“When a vacancy occurred in the parish office, I was offered the position,”she said.

“My last day, being last Friday [March 28], was a lovely occasion with Holy Family and St Mary’s parish staff and close friends going out to dinner,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the packed church, Gerald Lynch said that during her years as parish secretary, Mrs Teasdale has seen three popes, three diocesan bishops and nine parish priests — which gives grounds for canonisation!
“St Mary’s is one of the oldest parishes in the country, and her contribution equates to 20 per cent . . . of being part of the fabric and culture of the parish life,” he said.
Mrs Teasdale saw the building of the Te Rau Oriwa Marae and St Joseph’s Hall complex, St Mary’s parish turning 150 years old, Cullinane College being formed from the closing of St Augustine’s and Sacred Heart, St Mary’s historical presbytery being demolished
and the multi-purpose “link-building” between the marae and church constructed.
She saw her role as a ministry and not a job.
Often the first contact person for the Catholic church, Mrs Teasdale dealt with the mixtures of personalities and the variety of inquiries with respect, hospitality and prudent silence. Her
warmth and faith were central to her work ethic.
Mr Teasdale was acknowledged for his handyman “can-do” abilities in attending to the maintenance of the vast grounds and plant on this so called “Catholic block” in the cultural heart of Wanganui.
The popular couple were praised and complimented for their generosity.
With their collective knowledge from their years of experience, they will be sorely missed.
In 2001, when the Society of Mary withdrew from Wanganui and the river, Mr and Mrs Teasdale received a papal blessing.
Retirement will bring much-needed time out, jobs in and around their home and time with family and fast growing grandchildren.

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Parish and school celebrate 100 years

Michael Otto — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 03:22:02 +0000

by COLLEEN LINNELL
DUNEDIN — St Mary’s Parish and school in Kaikorai celebrated 100 years in good southern style over Labour Weekend.
The sun shone for the gala on Saturday, October 20, which was part of the celebration of the centenary of the opening of the church and the establishment of the school.
But the weather hadn’t looked promising 24 hours earlier. Horizontal rain and hail reminded some parishioners to put their statues outside and say more than a couple of Hail Marys for an improvement — which proved effective.
The celebrations were attended by 160 people, including ex-pupils, staff and former parishioners who had registered.
There was lots of talk on the Friday night when Adrian Kubala officially opened the festivities in the hall. Photo displays on the wall were studied and old friendships renewed.
The history book titled 100 Years on the Hill, published to mark the centenary, was very well received.

Sr Mary Winifrede, OP, and Natalia Atherton cut the centennial cake with Colleen LInnell, centenary committee secretary, at left, and Colleen O'Shea, committee treasurer, right

At the gala, Sr Mary Winifrede, OP, who had started school in April, 1918 as Vera Morris, and Natalia Atherton, one of the youngest of the current pupils, cut the centenary cake, which was decorated with the old St Mary’s logo.
The centennial dinner was held at Forbury Park, at which Fr Brian Dougherty said grace. Later the guests were addressed by Bishop Colin Campbell, Fr Dan Cummings, Tom Lynch and Richard Duffy, the current school principal. A slide show of old photos and old silent movies showing the building of a wall in Taieri Rd in 1950, First Communion in 1950, concreting the playground in 1956, the jubilee picnic at Mt Allen in 1975 and the Outram rodeo in 1975 — featuring Fr Dan Cummings — had lots of people transfixed.
Many people thought it was wonderful to see Fr Loughnan and Sr Di Ricci and many of their departed parents and also themselves as very young children — there was lots of nostalgia.
On December 8, 1912, the new Catholic Church in Taieri Rd was blessed and opened and dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and in February, 1913, the school of St Mary’s was opened. The Dominican nuns came up from the cathedral on the cable car and taught classes in the back of the church. They used the sacristy and porch and later, on fine days, used what had been the stables — renamed St Anne’s Pavilion — so that the children could enjoy the sunshine. It would be that way for 16 years before a school was built in 1929.
On the Sunday morning at the centenary celebrations, Bishop Campbell, along with St Mary’s parish priest Fr Cipriano Fernandes and concelebrating priests Frs Kevin Toomey, Brian Dougherty and Dan Cummings, celebrated the centenary Mass, with the little church full to capacity and the overflow having a video link to the hall.
The schoolchildren, the parish music group and the Tongan choir all added their voices and music to this occasion. The final hymn was Hail Queen of Heaven, which was a fitting tribute to the past.
Lastly, there was a cuppa in the hall for a last goodbye, and promises of keeping in touch put the seal on a wonderful weekend.

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Meditation seen as positive for school life

Michael Otto — Tue, 01 May 2012 05:23:10 +0000

by PETER GRACE
AUCKLAND — Fr Peter Murphy of St Mary’s Parish, Papakura, may be the Johnny Appleseed of meditation.
It seems that wherever Fr Murphy goes, meditation grows. And some of the best practitioners may be children.
Fr Murphy told NZ Catholic that when he was at the parish of St Paul and St Malachy in Massey, west Auckland, he taught meditation to children as young as 4 years of age.
“It was a bit of a struggle, particularly to get it going,” he said, “because you know what kids are like. . . .
“We just perservered, and now it’s just part of the life of the school.”
Fr Murphy said the director of religious studies (DRS) at St Paul’s School, Pauline Oliver, had commented on how much it had contributed to the life of the school.”
Papakura doesn’t have a pre-school, he said, so the children practising there are aged from 5 to 12. The whole school meditated each Friday. A bell is rung over the intercom, “and the whole school shuts down, and they meditate for five minutes”.
St Mary’s DRS, Patricia Gribble, said the benefits of meditation for the children were apparent. “They actually go into that meditative state,” she said. And those benefits continue. Children pray a lot better, she said, and she thinks it also makes for calmer children.
“If we have a whole school Mass we actually have a reflecting time after Communion, and Father strikes the sounding bowl three times, and the children recognise it as soon as they hear that sound.” They adopt the appropriate posture at once.
Fr Murphy said that before it started in the school, he met the principal and the director of religious studies (DRS) and staff, and then introduced it gradually.
“I would do a class each week.”
An initial worry for the teachers was about how to integrate it with the other prayers taught in the school? “But it really serves as a foundation for prayer, because of the silence. Because if prayer doesn’t come out of the silence, then it’s just chatter,” said Fr Murphy.
Last year when he was overseas on sabbatical for several months, two grandmothers in the parish came in and substituted for him in helping with meditation. And they are still doing it, he said. “They take a class each week, and they just love it.”
Fr Murphy said one little girl was worried about the mantra, “Maranatha”, “and before I could reply, one little girl said, ‘Jesus will help you’. I think that’s what wins teachers over. The enthusiasm of the children wins teachers over.”
Also, the children who teachers think will never be still can surprise them.
“One mother found her 8-year-old in his room and asked him what he was doing, and he said, ‘I am meditating’. And she said, ‘I’ll go down and ask Fr Peter to teach me, and he said, ‘I can teach you, Mum’.”

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Positive start for new St Mary’s principal

Michael Otto — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:14:26 +0000

by MICHAEL OTTO
AUCKLAND — The new principal of St Mary’s College, Ponsonby, Jane Holloway, told a formal welcome to the school that there is nothing more important to society than the education of young women.
Mrs Holloway was echoing the words of the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley.
A former principal of St Catherine’s College, Kilbirnie, in Wellington for nine years, Mrs Holloway told parents at the St Mary’s welcome that, “I need you to love your daughters, to support them, to help them grow, to set boundaries, to visualise and be passionate about the fine young women they will become”.
She told students she needed them to “get involved, to ask questions, to work for justice, to work for peace, to think, to be stimulated by teaching, to be passionate about your learning”.
At the welcome in October were 34 students, staff, board members and Mercy sisters from St Catherine’s who “handed over” Mrs Holloway.
She said it had been very hard to leave St Catherine’s because it had been such a significant part of her life and had helped form her.
Before leaving St Catherine’s she was farewelled in a moving ceremony, but told those present the time had come for her to move on.
Mrs Holloway is president of the Australian Mercy Secondary Schools Association and secretary of the National Association of Principals of Catholic Secondary Schools. Her previous appointments include being assistant principal at St Patrick’s College, Kilbirnie.
She told NZ Catholic her vision for religious education at St Mary’s is “that religious education does not become bogged down in the academic, but that academic learning, that is so necessary, complements the development of values and a strong awareness of social justice that helps shape society”.
“It is vital that students, and, in particular teenagers, have a forum in which they can discuss, challenge and understand their faith to form a strong foundation for the development of their Catholic character in the future.”
Mrs Holloway is married and has two children aged 15 and 10. Her family plans to relocate from Wellington to Auckland in early 2012.

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