Fr Matthew White ordained at Wellington cathedral

This was the first ordination to the presbyterate at the cathedral since the restoration work was completed last year.

In his homily, Archbishop Paul Martin SM said that the “call of the diocesan priest is to immerse himself within the life of a particular Church community”.

“The archdiocese is your home, the people of God of the diocese are your community and family,” Archbishop Martin said.

“You are there for them, and they are there to be with you.

“A priest cannot live in isolation if he is to be truly a man of God, because we are to be a community of faith. I hope you will find the support and care from the people of the archdiocese that you will need if you are to be truly an effective priest, and that they will find in you a priest who loves his people.”

Among those present in a packed cathedral were clergy, seminarians, family members, friends, teaching colleagues, parishioners from Wairarapa and Ōtari (where he had served as a seminarian), as well as members of his home parish of Te Ngākau Tapu, Porirua, and members of the Launch Out community, of which he was a graduate.

The stole and chasuble bestowed on then-Deacon White during the Mass were made by women from the Catholic Parish of the Wairarapa. The Māori pattern represented his work with Māori, and the parish of Te Ngākau Tapu.

Before the concluding rite, Fr White spoke and paid tribute to his family members present and past, and to all those who guided his formation towards priesthood and helped him towards his day of ordination, especially Archbishop Martin.

Fr White finished with a request: “Please pray for me. But also pray for your own priests. Pray that priests conform themselves to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, their hearts and minds are one with Christ and so bring his love to the ends of the earth.”

Fr White’s Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated the following day at the Catholic Parish of Wairarapa, Waihinga Centre, Martinborough. 

FULL STORY

Celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Orders | Archdiocese of Wellington (By Annette Scullion/WelCom)