Kia ora! Greetings!
My name is Stephen Palmer. I am the new editor for Kotahi Ano, the parish newsletter. I feel honoured and humbled that Father Joe Grayland asked me to take on this role while he is away overseas. I am part of a wonderful communications team that will help deliver you Kotahi Ano to a very high standard. Having said this, I’m still coming to grips with the technical aspects of my role, so please be understanding if there are some initial ‘teething’ problems! Please pray for me that everything goes smoothly. And thanks to Donna Brown and Claire Jacobs for all your support.
Just to give some background about myself, I was born in Waimate, raised in Stratford, and am currently living in Palmerston North, where I have been since 1985. I am employed at Massey University as a tutor and writing consultant. I grew up in a Catholic family and I have vivid memories of Mum and Dad taking my brothers and me to church every Sunday, that is, to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Stratford. Catholicism has always been close to my heart, and a big part of my Catholic experience may be expressed as community.
So, what is community? Using a very specific and practical example, community is the Wednesday Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes followed by a gathering with fellow parishioners over a cuppa and a scone. It is getting to know members of the parish community by their names, as unique individuals, because
No man is an island,
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
John Donne was onto something here (but please read ‘man’ as the more inclusive ‘person’). We are social beings. Every person grows and flourishes within the presence of others, in the form of a rich, warm, welcoming presence in imitation of the early Christian communities of Jerusalem, Antioch and Corinth, among others. We break bread together as Jesus did with his disciples. And each one of us has infinite value: we are made in the image and likeness of God. It’s not about what we do for a living or how old or young or able-bodied we are. We share our lives with each other and we tell our stories. And in a deeper way we support each other through the challenges of life. Everyone is welcome to Mass, but let’s see that building of community as a recognition that we are the body of Christ: Hi …! How are you? How is your family? How is your garden? Gosh the the weather is cold! You’ll notice I’ve left a space. You fill in the space with the name of a person, and come build a community, one by one, with each new person you meet.
God bless each and every one of you
Steve
