Catholic Bishop-designate ‘very much at home’

Press, 21 May 1987, Page 8

Catholic Bishop-designate ‘very much at home’

Christchurch’s Catholic Bishop-designate, the Rt Rev. Basil Meeking, does not feel he has been “put out to pasture” by coming back to New Zealand after 18 years working in the Vatican.

After a 16,000 km trip direct from Rome via Singapore, a slightly tired but happy Monsignor Meeking was greeted warmly by family, friends, and parishioners on his arrival at Christchurch Airport yesterday morning. He said he felt “right at home” again in spite of his long absence. For the last two years Monsignor Meeking, who is 58, has held one of the third most senior posts in the Vatican Secretariat for Christian Unity in Rome. But he dispelled any suggestion that he might have bteen “put out to pasture” by being sent to take up pastoral duties in New Zealand.

“No, I think it is a great honour to be here. I feel I have come to very rich pastures here and I feel very much at home,” he said. "I am very pleased to be back. I am among friends and I am looking forward to beginning my work.” His brother, Mr lan Meeking, and sister-

in-law, Mrs Colleen Meeking of Christchurch, were the first to greet him. Mr Meeking said it was “quite nice” to have his brother back, although he had been "surprised at the choice” of his brother as the seventh Catholic Bishop of Christchurch. "We did not expect him to come back to New Zealand as he had a good job in Rome,” he said. Several parishioners also greeted Monsignor Meeking warmly as he left the airport. He had earlier been met by a former Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, the Most Rev. Brian Ashby, the diocesan administrator, the Rt Rev. Matthew Duggan, the diocesan chancellor, the Rt Rev. Thomas Power, and several priests. His first official duty will be to attend a meeting tomorrow of the College of Consultors. Later that day, he will begin a five-day retreat in preparation for his episcopal ordination at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on June 3, at 7 p.m. He hoped to visit parishes in the Christchurch diocese, including the West Coast and the Chatham Islands “soon after” he was ordained.