MM 50 Years Ago

St Peter Chanel

He was the first martyr of Oceania. He shed his blood for the cause of Christ close to our shores and his remains rested for seven years at Russell in the Bay of Islands.

St Peter Chanel was martyred on Futuna Island to the north of New Zealand on 28 April 1841. This day is his feast day and a day of special devotion in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

The blood of martyrs was the seed of Christians as it had been in the early centuries of the Church. Within eighteen months, most of the people of Futuna had become Christians.

Sr Makareta in 2013

History made in Wanganui

On Sunday 14 February, Sr Makareta and Sr Xavier made their final professions as Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth. The ceremony took place at Sacred Heart College, Wanganui. Both of them are past pupils of the Sisters of St Joseph. Sr Makareta was Lorraine Tawaroa, of Kaiwhaiki, Wanganui, and Sr Xavier was Mary McCann, of Hastings.

Sr Makareta is the first Māori Sister of the Archdiocese of Wellington to be professed and she is the first Māori Sister of St Joseph of Nazareth. She is now teaching at Levin. 

April 1971