Dear Parishioners,
This year is an important and challenging year for the parishes of the Wellington South Pastoral Area (Brooklyn, Island Bay, Mt Victoria and Newtown) as we work towards becoming a new amalgamated parish in February 2016.
The Wellington South Pastoral Area covers the area from the coast to the harbour. On our journey towards establishing the new parish we are using the imagery of a boat. We are building our hull by developing our vision for the new parish. Then we will fit out our ‘boat’ by setting up a new parish council and address various pastoral and administrative aspects before launching our ‘boat’ in February 2016.
I am reminded of other imagery that may be helpful through a story told by Fr Gerard Whiteford about olive trees growing throughout the countryside of Greece. The life cycle of the olive tree is fascinating. For the first seven years the tree is unproductive, it bears no fruit or the little it produces is worthless.
From years seven to about thirty-five there is a constant increase in the tree’s productivity. Then from the years thirty-five to one hundred and fifty it reaches maturity and full production. An olive tree may continue to produce fruit for another hundred years, sometimes more. A feature in the planting of the olive grove is the spacing. Enough space is left between trees to enable a replacement tree to be planted. The picture is then of two well established trees providing protection for the growing tree, which in time will be the replacement tree for the older of the two – like in two hundred years time!
With the amalgamation of parishes Archbishop John has invited us to embrace something new and Fr Gerard wonders whether the olive tree is a symbol for us to reflect on. We are being invited to plant something new for our mokopuna, our grandchildren. Our primary consideration is for them. Our natural instinct is to consider ourselves and protect our own interests. That is fully understandable. However, we are also being called beyond ourselves at this time, perhaps even to relinquish ‘what has been’ for many years, that ‘what might be’ has the opportunity to be nurtured.
St Paul, writing to the fledgling Church in Corinth wrote,
“I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God made things grow. Neither the planter, nor the waterer matters: only God who makes things grow.”
– 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
Wishing you many blessings this year as we move into a future full of hope.
Fr David