Father Becker, Veteran Maori Missionary, Dead

Northern Advocate, 17 November 1941, Page 4

Father Becker, Veteran Maori Missionary, Dead

OBITUARY

ISpecial to “Northern Advocate"] WELLINGTON, This Day Well-known throughout Northland, the death has occurred of the veteran cf the Roman Catholic missions to the Maoris, the Rev. Father John Baptist Becker, of the Mill Hill Fathers, in his 36 th year. He was born in Westphalia, Germany, in 1856 and latef went to England. After being ordained priest he taught in a secondary school and while there saw an appeal by Bishop Luck, of Auckland, for a priest to work among the Maoris. With another missionary priest, he arrived in Auckland in December, 1886. After three years at Ohinemutu he moved to Purakau. Hokianga, to take charge of Maori work in the whole of Northland. In Hokianga District In the course of his long career in the North. Father Becker saw his original district many times subdivided. He was responsible for the building of nearly a dozen native churches and turned his fine Maori scholarship to account by publishing a translation of the New Testament and a number of prayer books and pamphlets. He also instructed many new Mill Hill fathers in the language. In 1915 he moved to Whangape and about 1921 to Rawene. Almost on the eve of his ministerial jubilee in 1932 he had the misfortune to lose his house by fire, together with all his belongings, including fine collections of Maori curios, books and documents. A new house was built for him and he lived in it until February of last year, when age obliged him to retire. He was regarded with great veneration and love by the Maori people of Northland, He was accorded special honour .at the Centenary celebrations at Hokianga in 1938.