Death Of Northland Pioneer Priest

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1939, Page 10

Death Of Northland Pioneer Priest

t Special to “Northern Advocats’l AUCKLAND, This Day.

A career of nearly 40 years as a mission priest among the Maoris of the Auckland Province, was closed yesterday by the sudden death of Dean A. Lightheart, formerly Superior in New Zealand of the Mill Hill Fathers.

Born in Holland in 1861, Dean Lightheart, as ,a young man, entered the College of St. Joseph’s Missionary Society at Mill Hill, near London, where he was ordained priest in 1887. Pie was sent first to the society’s mission among negroes at Baltimore, and

six years later w,as transferred, to New Zealand, arriving in 1893.

From his first station at Whapgaroa, he covered a wide region of Northland without assistance, for five years, travelling on horseback. When the staff of missionaries increased he took charge of the station at Ohinemutu, Rotorua, where he was a well known figure for 35 years, ministering to both races.

Advancing age led him to seek a quieter sanctuary at Panguru, Hoki-, anga where he remained for about six years, until a breadown in health compelled him partly to retire.. After periods at Tauranga, and again at Rotorua, he went to live with the Marist Brothers at Tuakau, and acted as their chaplain until his death.