Cathedral parish pastoral appointments for 2024
We have received the welcome news of the appointment of Fr Patrick Bridgman as Administrator of the Cathedral Parish from 1 February 2024. Fr Patrick, together with Debbie Matheson, our Lay Pastoral Leader form the new Pastoral Leadership Team of the Cathedral Parish. Fr Viator Muyuni has also been named as Priest in Residence at Viard House while he completes his Doctorate.
A Bishop of a Diocese is himself always the Parish Priest of the Cathedral. He delegates the pastoral care of the parish to the Administrator and the Pastoral Team. Hence Fr Patrick’s title is Administrator of the Cathedral Parish. Though recently the term Parish Priest has been used in our parish it was done so for ease of understanding.
We are very grateful to Fr Ron, who has for several years been Moderator of the Cathedral Parish. He has been incredibly generous in his ministry assisting the pastoral work among us and sharing his priestly wisdom. From 2024 he has been appointed to Holy Cross Seminary in Auckland to take up the role of Senior Priest in Residence.
We also thank Fr Joy Thottankara who has been our Assistant Priest this year. Fr Joy has been appointed as Parish Priest of Otari parish, working alongside Fr Tikoua Kautu, Assistant Priest. We look forward to working with him again next year, in a different way. Fr Joy is going home to India for a holiday from 26th December.
There will be a parish opportunity to offer our thanks and farewell to both Fathers Ron and Joy after our 10.30am Sunday Mass at St Thomas More Church on 17th December. From this weekend there will be farewell cards in the entrance at all Masses for you to pen a personal note, or you may send one into the parish office and we will add to the card.
