Overseas

Articles & Books By Our Community Members

Anton - together with his wife Ruth, who sadly died in late 2021 - has been a member of 

Rongopai for many years.  Anton  belongs to Ngāti Hikairo ki Kāwhia. He has 3 sons, a daughter, and their partners and mokopuna. He  is a hugely creative spirit and has composed many pieces of liturgical music over the years, plays the piano for pleasure and for worship and also writes.

Bruce has been part of the Rongopai community (or its precursors) for around 30 years. Over that time he has served in most of the leadership roles and at present his main role in the liturgy is that of Gatherer and Sender. Bruce has a life-long interest in liturgy and this has been expressed, challenged and rewarded through his involvement with this congregation. As part of the Service group that  provides continuity for Rongopai, Bruce has seen the community grow and change to become a very bonded group with a deep spirituality.

As well as a member of Rongopai Chris is also a homilist to the community. He has a passion for social justice with a special focus on health and accommodation. Chris was recently appointed a Knight Companion Of the New Zealand Order Of Merit for services to health and the community.  

Fran is a long time member of Rongopai. She is also a music minister, a reader and a member of the Service group team.  

Jenny is a long-time member of Rongopai.  She has lectured extensively in a wide range of education topics.  Her historical research has focused on the professional lives of academic women, Catholic Sisters, international scholars and Catholic education.  She is a  wife, mother, grandmother, gardener and musician. Jenny has a PhD in education.

Jo is a foundation member of the Rongopai community.   She has an MA in Anthropology from the University of Auckland and an MA in Liturgics from Notre Dame University, Indiana, USA.  Jo has extensive experience in liturgical planning and ministry. She is also a civil marriage and funeral celebrant. She has taught liturgics and liturgical theology at university level and in local parish ministry training. She also has a passion for social justice.

John has been a member of the Rongopai Eucharistic community for many years.  He has worked for much of his life as a kidney specialist in Auckland City.  John has a passion for ecological justice.   

Mary has been a member of the Rongopai Eucharistic community for 22 years.  Mary is a new grandmother, a writer and spiritual companion with a background in ecology - MSc British Columbia, BSc Toronto - theology (PhD Otago,MTS Vancouver), justice, peace and spirituality. Mary is regularly a homilist at Rongopai. 

Neil has been a member of Rongopai for many years, is often the ordained presider and has a passion for combining social and pastoral engagement with academic research.  He is a diocesan priest with many years of pastoral and liturgical experience in parishes and chaplaincies in New Zealand and the South Pacific.  Neil has an STL from the Urbaniana, Rome, an MA in Social Anthropology from the University of Auckland, and a PhD in Theology from Otago University, New Zealand. Neil is also former Chair of Tui Motu.

Pat is a foundation members of Rongopai.  Pat's passion for social justice shows up in a active involvment in a number areas eg eduction, health, housing - where Māori and Pasifika disavantage is huge.  He has also worked in Treaty settlement, iwi business development and Māori broadcasting.

Peter is a Dominican priest and has been a strong supporter and member of Rongopai for many years since its beginnings at St Ben's.  He is known for his political activism and speaking out for truth and justice.  Peter now lives in Melbourne.

Robin is a longstanding member of the Rongapai Community.  Robin is a Professor and Head of the School of Environment  at the University Of Auckland.  His interests broadly lie within social and cultural geography with a large focus on the links between place and wellbeing.