Our Bishop

Message from the Bishop—23 April 2025

Dear Friends,

 

Pope Francis has died and many deserved tributes are being made about him as a disciple of Christ who made an impact on our world with the message of the love of God for all. 

 

My own small, additional reflection is to observe that it seemed natural to speak about “Francis” without any sense that not calling him “Pope Francis” was being disrespectful, and with confidence that everyone in the conversation knew exactly to whom reference was being made. Francis was humble, open-hearted and always “for others” so that I and others felt we knew him though not having met him, and that he was our friend and fellow disciple rather than the humanly-speaking most powerful church leader on our planet. Our Archbishops have made a Primatial Statement of Condolences here. 

 

This Friday at 12.05pm at St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Manchester Street, Christchurch, Bishop Michael Gielen will preside at a Requiem Mass for Pope Francis. Teresa and I plan to be present at this service in order to honour Francis and to support our Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ. A special food collection will take place at the Mass for the St Vincent de Paul Society, in memory of Pope Francis and in support of the poor. 

 

Our experience of services from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, including services at St. Bartholomew’s, Kaiapoi and the Transitional Cathedral, prompts me to thank everyone – clergy, laity, musicians, actors, etc – who put a great deal of time, energy and sheer hard work into ensuring that services across our Diocese through these special, holy days were well prepared, apt for the occasion and focused on the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you!

 

I also draw your attention to a Primatial Statement by our Archbishops on Holy Week and Easter here. Included in that statement is this pertinent message:

“In a world that can feel chaotic and led by power-driven leadership, Easter cuts through with a radically different message: a God who empties himself in love, whose power is shown in humility and grace. This story of redemption, of death overcome by life, could not be more relevant today. While some may claim to declare their own version of “Liberation Day,” Easter has always been, and will always be, the true day of liberation.”

 

Simultaneously with the ministry offered across the Diocese in our ministry units, many young people, their leaders and camp parents were at Easter Camp at Spencer Park, engaging with plenary speakers, seminar leaders and various activities in miserable weather conditions. I thank all those involved for your commitment, resilience and good humour. It was a privilege to visit the Camp on Good Friday afternoon.

 

Inevitably Easter attracts media interest, some of which reiterates familiar doubts about the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. Thus, readers of The Press on Saturday were treated to the continuing convictions of New Zealand’s most controversial theologian, Sir Lloyd Geering. For contrasting media coverage, readers here may be interested in interviews with Wellington Anglican church leaders, Dean Katie Lawrence and Bishop Ana Fletcher.

 

Finally, in good news at Easter, I am delighted to share the news that the new building at All Saints’, Burwood, in the Parish of Shirley, has achieved building compliance and the first services were held in it over this past weekend. This build which enlarges the worship space available for one of our largest congregations has been years in the making and I congratulate the Reverend Dr Carolyn Robertson, the Shirley vestry and the many people within the parish and in the design and construction teams on achieving this success.

 

We have received news that Bishop ‘Afa Vaka, former Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Polynesia, based in Tonga, has died. Anglican Taonga shares his life story and news of his death.

 

This ANZAC Day (Friday 25 April), Christ Church Cathedral will be illuminated in red to commemorate New Zealand’s fallen during service. The Dawn Service, held in the Square itself, at 6.15am, will be an excellent opportunity to see the Cathedral in this poignant “poppy” shade of red. I remind readers that all are also welcome to a service later that morning, in the Transitional Cathedral, at 10am.  

 

Last Wednesday I said this about Gaza’s Al Ahli Hospital: “This includes a further attack this week on Gaza’s Al Ahli Hospital (a Baptist owned, Anglican run hospital)”. The hospital is not owned by the Baptists. It was opened in 1882 by CMS. In 1954 it was bought by the Baptist Church but then returned to CMS in 1979 and has been Anglican-owned and operated ever since.  

 

This coming Sunday, 27 April is Easter 2. The Gospel reading is John 20:19-31. There are two major themes in this passage. Jesus confirms that belief in him is possible without direct sight of him in his risen form. Jesus commissions his disciples: they are now sent into the world with the Good News as he himself has been sent by the Father. Many generations later, we are believers in Jesus Christ, with faith founded on the witness of Scripture to his resurrection, and his mission in the world continues through us upon whom he has breathed the Holy Spirit.

 

Arohanui,

+Peter.