Church behind bars

Tu Tangata, Issue 24, 1 June 1985, Page 43

Church behind bars

by Ressy J.T.K. Marafiaano

The theme is tatou tatou katoa, altogether, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ our saviour. Regardless of race, colour, or creed. What we have learned with our ears and seen with our eyes in the life of Jesus Christ, may we now proclaim to all the world, namely, that we are the sons and daughters of the living God, created in love and destined for life.

On the 10th March 1985 at 2pm. a new Catholic lay chaplain to Paparua prison near Christchurch, South Island, Mr Ray Kamo was commissioned. Mr Kamo had taken part in the morning service at Te Rangimarie marae centre in Glouster St, and the prison chapel in the afternoon.

The appointment of Mr Kamo as chaplain was recognition of the sad fact of the high Maori prison population throughout N.Z. prisons. “Why so many Maoris in prisons,’’ said the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, the most Rev Dennis Hanrahan. During the morning mass the local Maori and pakeha population expressed their support and encouragement for Mr Kamo at Te rangimarie marae. The afternoon service at Paparua prison for inmates saw their new chaplain installed in the job in the same way that new parish priests, brothers, layman. were often commissioned. Mr Kamo’s predecessor, Mrs Iri

Choat was the first Maori woman to be appointed R.C. assisting chaplain in 1982, Mrs Choat is now social coordinator for the welfare of inmates and their families and doing a wonderful job, prisoners call her mum. Mrs Iri Choat also started up the Maori cultural group, she is a dedicated and tireless worker. Elders, laymen, pakehas from around Christchurch were among the 80 people attending the installation in the prison chapel after traditional speeches by the elders. The Bishop spoke in maori and english about Mr Kamo’s ministry work within the institution. Among the visitors and elders were, kaumatua Hohua Tutengahe of Te Waipounamu, Rev Peter Mac Cormack, senior Catholic chaplain Justice Dept, Wellington, Chris Albert, involved with Te Rangimarie centre, Mr Charlie Hood, superintendant Paparua, Addington prisons. Rev Jim Tahere, Maori missionary Te Waipounamu, Rev Father Barry. Jones, Te Rangimarie

Maori mission of Te Waipounamu, Mrs Mary Kamo, women’s chaplain at the women’s prison Christchurch, Mr Hoani Stirling, lecturer maori language Canterbury, Mrs Anne Kamo, aunty of Ray Kamo. Mrs Taniora Croft, Kaiapoi, Mr George Rau from Temuka marae, and Mrs Iri Choat the prisoners mum paparua jail rock house. For 40 inmates attending the gathering it was a joyful Christian fellowship, meeting people from the world of freedom.