New Zealand: Failed integration of Maoris – Retired Bishop peter Cullinane
The Church in our country is greatly indebted to the Religious Orders to whom the “Māori Mission” was entrusted. These were mainly the Society of Mary, the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion, the Mill Hill Missionaries and the Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions. Their work continues to bear fruit, and any alterations to pastoral practices need to safeguard the right of Māori to continue to experience life and worship in the Church in ways that are natural to them.
Nevertheless, a Māori Mission running in parallel with parishes had serious unintended side-effects: the parishes became European-monocultural, and diocesan priests received little or no training for ministry to Māori. These factors ensured that most Māori would not feel “at home” in our parish church celebrations of Eucharist.
Source: Tui Motu InterIslands Magazine
