Photo: Fr Tom Rouse celebrating Mass in Napier
I didn’t want to create too much of a fuss. There were no individual invitations. Early this year I simply had conversations with Frs Raja Kommareddy svd and Brian Prendeville sm, the parish priests of Te Awakairangi parish in Lower Hutt, where I have lived for the past 12 years, and St Patrick’s, Napier, where I was ordained 50 years ago. They each put out invitations in their separate parish newsletters, one to a mass in St Peter and Paul’s church on May 17, the solemnity of the Ascension, the other to a mass in St Patrick’s church on May 24, the feast of Pentecost. Apart from informing family and friends, I extended invitations to the community who attend daily eucharist here at our chapel in St Columban’s Grove and to the Fiji Catholic community of the greater Wellington area, among whom I say a mass every 3-4 months. My sister, Denise, came over from Perth to accompany me to the mass in Napier.
Each celebration was memorable.
The Fiji Catholic community went to a lot of effort in preparing for the mass at St Peter and Paul’s. They formed a choir and sang a Fijian hymn. We had a talented organist who accompanied the singing throughout the mass. Among the congregation were members of a number of religious congregations who live and work in the parish of Te Awakairangi. There was a neighbour of mine from the days when I was growing up in Napier and a Columban whom I knew as a student and as a fellow missionary in Fiji. He and his wife were present. Among the priests who concelebrated were Frs Raja, Simione Volavola msc, a Fijian priest who is parish priest of Lavin, and Don Hornsey, who lives with me here in Lower Hutt. Don spoke on my behalf after communion.
Fr Tom at the lunch prepared by the Fiji Community
Following the mass there was a lunch put on by the Fiji Catholic community and the local church hospitality group. It was a wonderful occasion. I met up with many people. After the formal meal at the church, a number of the Fiji community, along with Fr Simione, came to my house to continue the celebration with a traditional sharing of yaqona and the telling of stories. I was very grateful to so many people for a wonderful celebration.
A week later I was up in Napier. There I caught up with my sister and together we went to mass. Brian Prendeville, the parish priest, is a very close friend. He and I were in the same class at school from the age of 5 to the age of 15 or so. With him on the altar was Fr Michael Wooller sm, whom I knew in Fiji. Back in the 80s, he was principal of St John’s college, Cawaci, on the island of Ovalau, where I went on occasions to have a break from the tension in Suva following the first military coup in Fiji.
The church was full to the extent that there was only standing space at the back of the church for quite a few people. It was the regular Sunday mass followed by another lunch in the parish hall. At the mass was my cousin and her family. Neighbours with whom I grew up were all there. Old schoolmates, family friends, and many others. I was struggling to remember names. It was a very moving tribute and, again, I was very grateful to those who organised the mass and the meal.
I didn’t want much fuss. But others wanted to make these celebrations occasions on which they could express their gratitude for my years of priesthood. It was an honour.
I wish to conclude by expressing my gratitude to God for the call to priesthood. It has been a joy to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as a member of the missionary Society of St Columban, and to live and work in Fiji among the peoples of the parishes of Ba, Labasa and Raiwaqa. I am grateful to my parents who brought me into the world and taught me to enjoy the simple things of life. I am grateful to the Columbans for allowing me into the formation programme many years ago despite my hearing disability. I am grateful for those with whom I have worked during my years of teaching and to the various communities in Sydney, Wellington and Lower Hutt among whom I have come to share stories and enjoy the company of friends.
Fr Tom Rouse, Regional Counsellor Aotearoa/New Zealand
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