CENTENARY MASS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20982, 10 March 1938, Page 13

CENTENARY MASS

BRILLIANT SCENE AT HOKIANGA DRAMA OF LANDING RE-ENACTED By Telegraph—Press Association KOHUKOItU, March 9 High on the bluff overlooking the camp, at Totara Point, Hokianga, where thousands of natives and pakehas assembled for the celebration of the Centenary of the Catholic Church in the north, candles were lighted this morning on the missionary altar of Bishop Pompallier. The mist lay all round, and the dawn was just breaking over the hills, revealing a scene of splendour, but there, at the. altar, a Maori missioher was celebrating Mass. It was the opening scene of the day when the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Panico landed at the Point, re-enacting the drama of a century ago, when the first Catholic mission, led by Bishop Pompallier, landed at the same spot, ahd the first Mass hi New Zealand was said. All through the night koreros had been in progress, tile elders of the various tribes, extending from the North Cape to Auckland, speaking at length on the past heroes and past days of the mission. Now all was activity about the cooking pits, and jn the dining marquee was bustle and activity as the Ngapuhi hosts prepared for the day. Pakeha arid Maori arrived during the early hours, huge city transport passenger buses traversing the one way country roads, bringing visitors to the most inaccessible part of the northland. The traffic problems were numerous, but full preparations were made by the Transport Department, and the least possible difficulty was experienced by visitors from the south. The long journey was well worth while; the exquisite setting of the bush-clad hills and the sunlit waters of the Hokianga Maori camp presented an enlivening site, and the scene at the greeting of Archbishop Panico, was rich in Maori and religious ceremonial, in colourful combination. Traditional Welcome When all was clear a signal was given from the camp, and the official party, headed by His Excellency, left Rawene, and as soon as the launch was discernible the Maoris assembled in strength on the hallowed hills of the Point, and the wailing cries of tlie Wahines heralded the party with the traditional Haeremai Ra, welcome, all repeated continuously. The scene of the landing had all the elements of romance. As the feet of the Apostolic Delegate touched the soil, four southern chiefs and four wahines, advanced to greet his Excellency, Maori custom not being fully observed. There were no hakas, no rubbing of noses, but the pui pui and mat clad warriors and women, with gesture and symbolic posture, waving meres and taihas, added a picturesque note as the Apostolic Party, in purple and full canonicals, advanced up the hill, led by fearsome looking guards. The assemblage of Maori women still waving green twigs, still crying Haeremai Ra, parted, and between two lines his Excellency, smiling and bowing reached the crown of the hill, where the memorial was erected that was to be the scene of the Mass. Here the native greeting ended, and the Church ceremony began. Met by the cross bearers and priests, the Archbishop was led to the vesting tent, behind the altar. Shortly after the procession emerged again, and the scene was now centred round the altar, where Bishop Brodie, the first Hew Zealand born bishop celebrated the Centenary Mass. To colour the ancient ritual was added a unique note, a Maori choir of 240 children from the Napier and Northland Convents singing unaccompanied the Gregorian Mass. It was a most impressive spectacle. Extending far into the meeting-ground, and across the hill, the huge assemblage knelt reverently and joined in the responses. Now came a further ceremc-iy. From the altar at the conclusion of the Mass his Excellency was led to the plinth, which was unveiled amid a tremendous ovation. Then tire voice of the new representative of the Pope was heard in a short address, dealing with the significance of the occasion. This was also dealt with in the now revealed bilingual inscription:— “In grateful acknowledgement to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost for the blessing of the Catholic Faith brought to New Zealand by the Right Rev. John Baptist Pompallier, Vicar Apostolic of Western Oceania and of his offering of the first Mass in the land on this site, in the house of Thomas and Mary Poynton, January thirteenth, 1838.” Maoris Welcome Prelate Gathered about the plinth that commemorated the landing and first Mass of Bishop Pompallier on New Zealand soil, the descendants of the first Maori converts to the Catholic Church today presented to His Excellency Archbishop Panico and illuminated bilingual address, telling of their memory of the missionary Bishop and their gratitude for the faith he had brought. Couched In the picturesque language of the race, it gave a welcome to the Apostolic Delegate, who came down following the steps of Bishop Pompallier. “My Lord. Bishop Pompallier brought you hither from far away beyond the sea. Welcome, ye part of that Rock which, holds the Anchor of St. Peter in the Sea of Rome. Welcome to you and to all the distinguished prelates of distant countries. You have been brought hither by three mighty seas—• Ngarunui, Ngaruroa and Ngarupaewhenua. These were the three mighty waves that brought Bishop Pompallier across the sea of Kiwa to this land Te Ika Maru, in the year 1838. Welcome to you, Holy Sons of the Church to this historic spot, mo Totara. From here Bishop Pompallier commenced his noble work, spreading th: Faith among our people. Bishop Pompallier made peace on this land. We who are descendants of our elders, who first embraced the Faith, and are assembled here, to are grateful to Bishop Pompallier for guiding us.” In his address, Archbishop Panico also recalled the memorable journey of Bishop Pompallier, and his great work among the Maoris throughout New

Zealand. He expressed pleasure that the Maoris gathered to-day should retain the Faith the missionaries had brought. The Final Scenes Two Maori youths introduced a note in the farewell givfeh by Northland Maoris at Totara Point, this afternoon while thousands of Maoris and pakehas lined the bank of the river these two concealed themselves alongside the delegates launch and when the craft was in midstream suddenly emerged. Archbishop Panico had just risen to wave a smiling farewell to the hosts of the day when, with fearsome gesture and the chant of a haka he Was confronted by the two Maoris. He apparently enjoyed the happy tribute and raised his hand in salutation. It was promptly seized and shaken and then two daring braves dived from the narrow stage and struck out for the shore. During the afternoon his Excellencyhad been entertained by various tribal groups who had in turn presented, through their chiefs and elders, an oratorical tribute interpolated with Maori songs, pois and hakas. Tribal representatives from as far south as Hawkfe’s Bay joined in the gesture of friendship and one, Waimarama Pukara, on behalf of the Maori Marist Missions, paid a compliment claiming Airchbishop Panico as a fellow-chief. He had, said Pukara, built his name in the hearts of the Maori people by his graciousness that afternoon. As a further gesture of esteem the Archbishop was presented with a chieftain’s shoulder mat which he wore on His departure. Down at the landing stage practically the whole encampment, together with hundreds of visitors, crowded the bluffs overlooking the river and the farewell scene waS enacted amid the wailing paos of Maori women and the singing of “Haere Ra” by both the Maori and English pupils of St. JoseplT’s Convent, Napier, and the cheers of all. His Excellency spent the night at Kaikohe and to-morrow will .visit the Waitaruke Native Convent, Wliangaroa, returning to Auckland later ih the week and sailing for Australia on Monday next. Though the major guests of honour had departed the end of the hui had not yet come. To-night the Rev. Father Owen Dudley, Superior of the Catholic Missionary Society, Londoh, delivered through an interpreter his famous address “Why I Became a Catholic,” and there were further tribal koreros. For days still the Maoris will live in camp clearing up after the hui. That will be no easy task, but it will be lighter than that experienced during the last few days. Tlie Ngapuhi Tribe has been most hospitable and the guests have been treated regally, particularly in the matter of food. Tremendous supplies of comestibles have been consumed. and yesterday’s luncheon menu comprised 12 bullocks, nine pigs arid 900 fowls, in addition to many tons of kumaras and potatoes. Fruit salads, trifles, watermelons, Cake and bread also figured on the menu.