Our Hamilton Catholic Principals’ Association had a three-day Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Hiruharama, Whanganui at the beginning of March 2020. Our spiritual leader, and facilitator for this hikoi, was Father David Gledhill sm. Twelve of our Principals from the Hamilton Diocese attended along with Dianne Porter, Religious Education Advisor, from the Diocese.
This pilgrimage was a long time in the planning to coincide with the new Suzanne Aubert school opening in our diocese in 2021. This was to give us an understanding of Suzanne Aubert’s journey and her strong relationships and connections with local Māori. The pilgrimage also immersed our group of Catholic leaders in ‘Te ao Māori’, the Māori world, as we explored the interconnectedness and interrelationship of all living and nonliving things, including spirituality, from a Māori perspective. The sacredness and significance of the Whanganui river played a huge part in this learning as well as the work of early Missionaries along the river, both Catholic and non-Catholic.
We had three Masses and four powhiri as we visited four maraes along the river. One of our Masses was in a historic Anglican church. We really felt at home during this ecumenical experience, at one with our hosts, who came from a variety of faith backgrounds. Our group also visited the local primary school, Te Wainui a Rua, where children from Jerusalem attend. That was potentially a daunting experience for the first time principal having twelve experienced principals turn up at her wee school with fairly short notice - she coped admirably and her students and staff welcomed us with such warmth and manaakitanga.
Sisters from the Home of Compassion also ran a session on Suzanne Aubert and her influence on the Whanganui River. Father wanted to have a strong Maori perspective on the pilgrimage so we could get an understanding of Maori Spirituality in the area, how Catholicism came about on the river and why Suzanne Aubert ended up at Jerusalem.
A very humbling experience for all who attended as we got to appreciate the wairua and the love of the people and the area. This pilgrimage would be highly recommended for our fellow colleagues to embark on. Not only does this give you wonderful opportunities to connect on a different level with people, but it also helps us appreciate the depth and breadth of our Catholic communities and the history of Katorika Māori in the footsteps of Venerable Suzanne Aubert.
