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Paeroa 20th Anniversary Celebrations - 15 June 2008

The following taken from a letter written to Brian Traynor CP by Charlie and Maggie Gribble (with Charlie’s permission)

Another milestone of the Passionist Family Group Movement was celebrated in Paeroa today. We feel so lucky to have been involved in the celebrations!

We were at the Church by 8.15am for a 10.00amstart---we need a lot of prayers! After a while the people started to arrive….Clive and Frances (Regional Directors), Paul and Ellen Gavin (Regional Co-ordinators) and Rob and Lynn all arrived which we were rapt about. Other original members who now live out of town arrived (Adrienne and Willie Lynch, Mary Logie, people from Whangamata and Waihi. There were people everywhere and some of the locals couldn’t get into their usual seats..can you imagine that!..

Our new Parish Priest, Fr Mark Hoying,is veyy relaxed and accommodating. Clive found him very easy to work with.

We started with singing ‘Welcome to the Family’, the music group consisting of original PFG members, with Maggie doing the overheads.

Fr Mark’s homily on the harvest and the fact that everything is harvested, warts, bumps, imperfections and all, was inspiring as he ‘wove’ it around the family.

At the Prayer of the Faithful we remembered those members who were no longer with us, This became highlighted again when Nella O’Hara and Gwen Maiden brought up the gifts at the offertory, both of whose husbands had been involved in PFGs.

After Communion Fr Mark introduced Clive and Frances, who spoke on the beginnings of PFGs in Paeroa and the growth of the Movement throughput NZ to the present day, an eye opener for a lot of people. The song ‘Standing on the Shoulders’ was played, complete with photos going back 20 years on Power Point..

Then Rob processed in with the painting ‘Voyage of Discovery’. Clive and Frances presented this to Fr Mark, who accepted it on behalf of the Paeroa Parish and the two Paeroa Family Groups in particular. Paul Gavin explained the significance of the painting with the help of a Power Point. It was so very good to have all that happen. People needed to hear and see all of this from someone different and to see it all being encouraged by our Parish Priest.

After Mass we all trooped into the Parish Lounge where a veritable feast was on offer. Today was also our formal ‘Meet and Greet’ with Fr Mark. After a while during which tongues were going for it I can tell you, Maurice called for quiet and welcomed our American Padre, which Fr Mark responded to.

Then I read your email which people really enjoyed—you know how sometimes you get the affirmative nods and other positive murmurings going on, and then I added a bit more as I would, including thanking those who had helped. I then threw it open to all and it was rewarding and uplifting to hear the comments that were made.

One elderly lady who used to live here (I don’t know why she happened to be at Mass here this day) was really struggling for words as she tried to describe what she was feeling and the spirit that she felt surrounded with. That was a special touch.

The Lounge was nicely decorated with a display of photos, logos, memorabilia, and also a great cake with 30 candles. Nella and Janet cut the cake to the strains of “Happy Birthday’.

More talking and eating followed. We also showed a DVD with photos from the early days….caused many a laugh and exclamation---maybe we have all changed just a bit (well you have anyway!)

Willie and Adrienne were amongst the last to go, followed by the Gavins and finally the Bleakens and Hills. What great friends we have all become and we feel so priviledged to know them all.

A bit of a tidy up, and Maggie and I arrived home at 3.30pm..not bad for a Sunday Mass. We both feel bursting with love.

God bless you Brian for the wonderful things you did for us those nearly 30 years ago at that mission and then for the Passionist Family Groups. For your continued hard work and love and concern for the NZ people and more especially for the friendship you give to Maggie and me and our family.

You are a good mate
Keep the Faith
Charlie and Maggie