(ANS – Auckland) – Fr Matthew Vadakkevettuvazhiyil, an Indian Salesian missionary in New Zealand, talks about his experience in the "land of the long white cloud", as it is called by its original inhabitants, the Maori.

The Salesians arrived here in 2009. In 2010 the parish of St. Paul at Massey was entrusted to us and in 2013 also the parish of the Immaculate Conception in Avondale. Four Salesians work in these two parishes forming one community.

The majority of our parishioners are the Samoans, Tongans, Indians, Burmese, Filipinos and Africans besides the Europeans along with those born and brought up in New Zealand. These migrants bring with them their strong faith and Catholic traditions and values which they try to live in a new country and culture. Some are refugees and had to go through so much of pain and suffering to reach New Zealand. Yet, they have a great desire to share their faith.

Our parishes are enriched and are sustained by the rich faith that the migrants bring along with them from their homeland. We Salesians encourage them to cherish their traditions, foster their growth in their faith and share it with the wider community.

Each ethnic group is encouraged to organise Catechism classes for their children. It helps them to learn and grow in faith as a community, remain close to their friends, and retain their identity as growing up adults in a new environment.

The preparation of children for the sacraments of initiation is a vital service that we offer in our parishes. While the children have their class, their parents are also instructed in faith. This has helped parents, young families, rediscover their faith and their membership in the Church.

Some come forward to have their civil marriage validated in the Church. It is a wonderful experience to journey with people in their faith journey which is so rich and open to the plan of God. Our parishes foster initial proclamation in different ways. The ‘Catholic Enquiry Evenings’ are excellent avenue to reach out to those who do not know Jesus.

We also actively encourage parishioners to share their faith to all. We have stories of parishioners who begin a conversation around life and faith after an initial exchange of greetings in places like the café. This welcoming, inviting approach from a happy person who has experienced the Risen Lord in his/her life is a very powerful way of stirring up interest in others to know Jesus Christ!

Published 22/02/2016