'Voyage of Discovery' begins a voyage
This beautiful artwork ‘Voyage of Discovery’ was created in pastel by Michael Pervan and gifted by him to the Passionist Family Group Movement of Aotearoa.
This artwork truly represents what PFG’s in New Zealand are all about.
Voyage of Discovery
Maori travelled to Aotearoa New Zealand from Hawaiiki in canoes (te waka). Today, different tribes trace their geneology back to the canoe in which their ancestors travelled.
In this pastel, the occupants of the canoe represent Passionist Family Group members. They are from many cultures and they undertake various roles. Some are rowing, some steering, and some watching to see what is happening in the distance. Some are searching the waters close by. Some nurture children and some care for the sick and elderly. Together, they make up “a tribe”, a Christian family.
New Zealand is a country of thermal activity. The glow of red showing through the Passionist logo represents the fire in our hearts. The logo shaped in the cloud reminds us that although there is no longer a resident Passionist community in New Zealand, there remains a strong Passionist presence and influence.
Many times since the beginning of the Passionist Family Group Movement in our country, we have had to adapt and develop new roles and ways of doing things. We have taken the Movement to other areas throughout the North and South islands and to other Christian churches. Always, the Passionist charism and support is here to guide us. |
The Directors have chosen this pastel to be the emblem representing the 20 year anniversary of Passionist Family Groups in New Zealand, and for it over the next few years to make a journey or voyage all around New Zealand. It will travel to each parish with Passionist Family Groups as they celebrate their 20th anniversary of starting family groups. As the artwork goes to each of the six dioceses in New Zealand it will be blessed by the Bishop for the diocese.
The voyage began at Paeroa on Sunday 15 June 2008 (see separate article on this website) when Clive and Frances Bleaken, PFGM Directors for Hamilton and Auckland Dioceses, presented it to Paeroa parish. Paeroa is where the PFGM ‘bushfire’ began on 27 June 1988, and spread rapidly through the country over the following few years.
Unfortunately Paeroa did not get to retain the ‘Voyage of Discovery’ for long, as East Coast Bays parish in Auckland’s North Shore joined a week later on the 2nd of July 1988. On the afternoon of Sunday 7 July Paeroa parish coordinators Maggie and Charlie Gribble brought the artwork to the Bishop’s house in Auckland for it to be blessed by Bishop Pat Dunn.
Bishop Pat blesses the artwork
The artwork then began the next part of its voyage when it was handed over to Kathy and Mark Williams parish coordinators for East Coast Bays in readiness for their 20th anniversary celebrations on Sunday 27 July (see the separate article on this website covering the East Coast Bays celebrations).
Maggie and Charlie Gribble pass the work on to Mark and Kathy Williams (and daughter Ashleigh)
Blessing ceremony gathering
Next will travel to Palmerston North when it will be handed over to Paul and Linda Darbyshire; PFGM Directors for Wellington and Palmerston North Dioceses.
On Sunday September 20th Paul and Linda Darbyshire picked up ‘The Voyage of Discovery’ from Clive and Frances Bleaken in Hamilton. The artworks accompanied them on our holiday right to the top of NZ, Cape Reinga, and arrived in Palmerston North on Friday 26th September.
Barbara Vine, Helen Codlin, Rose Comber and Linda Darbyshire met with Bishop Peter Cullinane at the Bishops Office on Wednesday 1st. October to have the artworks Blessed.
Blessing Ceremoney Gathering
Barbara and Helen returned to Wanganui eager to display the artworks at their 20th Birthday Celebrations on 4th / 5th October.
At the Wanganui celebrations the work was displayed along with an explanation of its origin and its journey through the country to visit each parish as they celebrate 20 years of Passionist Family Groups.
After their Birthday weekend Barbara entrusted the artwork to Fr John Roberts who was heading north for a meeting. As he was not passing through Hamilton he said he would drop it off at either Ngaurawahia or Huntly. After his return he eventually reported that he had left it at Huntly but unfortunately there was no one at home and so he left it on the back porch by a door which, as it turned out, was seldom used by the people of Huntly. When Barbara notified Clive and Frances that it was at Huntly there was general consternation when no one there had any knowledge of it. When told of the delivery to a porch they walked around the building and found it unharmed along with another undiscovered delivery. The Lord was watching over us and the artwork.
The ‘Voyage of Discovery’ will travel to Melville, Hamilton Cathedral and Manurewa in 2009, and then get very busy in 2010 when a number of parishes around the country celebrate their 20 year anniversaries.
20 Years of Passionist Family Groups In New Plymouth
On the evening of Saturday June 18th people arrived at the hall underneath St Joseph’s Church in New Plymouth to find the room alive with red, white and blue balloons and streamers. The tables were set and banners on the walls.
The room was soon a buzz of conversation and laughter as family group members met with their own family groups and other parishioners. There were some parishioners who had not been part of family groups before, and even some new immigrants who had responded to the warm welcome that had been offered at Masses the week before.
The youth of the parish had made our birthday celebration their activity for the week and they were there in force. It was great to have the company of dozens of positive teenagers as well as some young children.
We had the privilege of the company of our own two priests, Father Craig and Father Vijay and Bishop Peter and the newly installed Bishop Charles. All of whom were great company and seemed to enjoy connecting with parishioners.
An absolutely sumptuous pot luck tea was laid out on two long tables in the supper room. After the bishop said grace we all feasted. While we sat at our tables eating, we were serenaded by Valentino playing the guitar and singing.. Many of our number really enjoyed joining in with the well known songs Valentino was singing.
After dessert Kevin Kerr kept us busy and entertained with one of his famous quizzes. There was a lot of hilarity as family group teams and the youth teams wracked their brains for answers to questions on a wide range of topics.
Since Marjorie McMahon and Alice Hinton were also celebrating their birthdays, they cut the cake for the family group movement. It was particularly fitting that Marjorie and Alice cut the cake as Marjorie, who now lives in Cambridge, was the original parish co-ordinator along with her husband, Des. Alice was new to the family groups as she was visiting with the parish youth.
The evening was testament to the bonds and connections that the Passionist Family Groups have forged in the parish and to the spirit and enthusiasm that is still very much alive after 20 years.
Majorie McMahon and Alice Hinton cut the PFG Birthday cake. Clare Grant, the current Parish Co, in the background.
20th Anniversary of Passionist Family Group Movement in St Peter and Paul, Lower Hutt
St Peter and Paul, Lower Hutt, were one of the early parishes in New Zealand to adopt the Passionist Family Group Movement. It is still going strong and in July 2010 celebrated 20 years of building community within the parish.
   
On the first weekend of July 2010, PFG members took a leading part in all Parish Masses. Members were Greeters, Leaders, Readers, Eucharistic Ministers and took up the Offertory. The regular music was supplemented with power point presentations that had been used at previous Formation Days, including the song” Shoulders”, which was accompanied by a collection of photos from the last 20years. At the start of each Mass, the new PFG parish Banner was presented and hung on the front of the lectern.
Throughout the month of July, the PFG painting was also on display in the church, and there was a special display in the Foyer featuring the PFG Logo and “the Aims and Goals of the Movement”. Each Family Group also displayed photos in the Foyer.
A Parish Dance was hosted by PFG on the last weekend of July in Lower Hutt’s Horticultural Hall. It was open to all parishioners and was attended by about 200 people. Many people contributed to the success of the evening. Live music was provided by the band “No Strings Attached”, which comprised several musicians from the parish. A celebration cake was made and iced by parishioners and many people helped on the day with the setting up, door duties and cleaning up afterwards. A commemorative booklet was produced in which there was an article from each Family Group as well as letters of congratulations from the Parish Council and our National PFG Leadership. Sponsorship in the booklet was obtained, to help keep the cost of the function to parishioners, down.
20 Years of Passionist Family Groups at St Mary's in Taradale
St Mary’s in Taradale celebrated our 20th Birthday of the PFGM in our Parish on the weekend of 27/28th August.
   
At St Mary’s the ‘Voyage of Discovery’ painting was hung in the Parish Centre foyer for all to view.
On Saturday the 27th August, we had a Combined Family Group Pot Luck meal at the Parish Centre (photos attached), and on the Sunday morning we had a special PFG Mass at 9am where Preston and Jenny Epplett spoke.
   
Following the Mass we had a celebratory morning tea for the whole parish. We had a good attendance and everyone seem to really enjoy the 20th anniversary celebrations.
20 Years of Passionist Family Groups at St Peter Chanel Parish Hastings West
On Sunday 13th November 2011 our five Passionist Family Groups celebrated our 20 years Anniversary. We commenced with a thanksgiving Mass celebrated by our Parish Priest Fr. Vince Onesi. A member from each family group processed in with their family group banner and the lectors and ministers of the Eucharist for the day were all P.F.G. members.
 
Linda Darbyshire, our Lower North Island director, spoke at mass and was able to stay on for the rest of the day's celebration. Also present were Shona Roberts our Heretaunga Pastoral coordinator, her husband Graeme, our Parish secretary Debbie Lucy, our first P.F.G coordinators Helena and Patrick McEntee, and a number of past family group members. Mass was followed by a very enjoyable shared lunch at our Parish Hall.
 
Helena and Patrick cut our birthday cake and Patrick gave a short summary of the development of Passionist Family Groups in our Parish. Today is a different scene from our set-up day at St Mary's School, 20 years ago, with Fr. Brian and Lynn Hill present. There were lots of families with young children who have now moved on and other families have taken their place in our now multicultural parish. It was a most enjoyable gathering of young and old, and many stories of past P.F.G. activities were recounted. Thanks to Linda Darbyshire for her presence and encouragement.
May God bless you all.
Jo and Allan Brady St Peter Chanel Parish Co-ordinator |
