anglicantaonga

Telling the stories of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, NZ and Polynesia

Waikato gets alongside Pasifika

Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley joins senior girls from Waikato Dio in their annual mission trip to Polynesia.

Jayson Rhodes  |  14 Jul 2014  |

The relationship between the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki and the Diocese of Polynesia has been lived out in Suva through worship, teaching and paint brushes.  

Senior pupils from Waikato Diocesan School for Girls had their annual mission trip to St Christopher’s last week and Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley met different diocesan communities in Fiji.

The two dioceses have a relationship that has developed, in part, through the sharing of a bishop. In 1968 Bishop John Holland was translated from Waikato to Polynesia, where he served as bishop until 1975.

During last week's visit, Bishop Helen-Ann visited schools and kindergartens supported by Waikato and Taranaki.

She gave a lecture on discipleship to clergy and lay ministers at the cathedral in Suva and took part in worship.

There was also the chance to visit St John’s Theological College in Suva and the nearby House of Sarah, which provides a counseling service for women.

There has been a strong relationship between Waikato Diocesan School for Girls and St Christopher’s for 15 years. The project adopted by senior girls this year was to paint the girls’ dormitory. Another highlight was to take the children to a movie and McDonalds.

The chaplain at Waikato Diocesan School, the Rev Jill Clark-Olson, says the aim of the mission trip is to offer practical help and to join in the daily life and prayerful presence of the sisters at St Christopher’s.

Bishop Helen-Ann says she appreciates the rich conversations that filled each day and the experience each person from Waikato had on the visit.  

“This was a chance for us to live out, side by side, the relationship between the two dioceses.

"We hold each other in prayer from afar and were able to stand next to each other in prayer. That is a privilege for which we give thanks to God.”

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