Honouring the Past, Retracing History: The First Champagnat Marist Educators’ Pilgrimage in Aotearoa

On this sacred day of the Annunciation, we have a special story to share - a story of faith, mission, and connection.

The Marists have had a deep and enduring presence in the Pacific, dating back to 1838 when the first Marist Brother, Michel Colombon, joined Bishop Pompallier on his mission to spread the Catholic faith. Arriving in Aotearoa New Zealand, they brought with them a spirit of service and dedication, and in the lush greenery of Hokianga, history was made.

For the first time, our Marist family in Aotearoa New Zealand embarked on a meaningful pilgrimage, bringing together Champagnat Marist Educators from across the country. This journey offered them the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of those early pioneers who laid the foundations of the Catholic Marist mission in this land.

From 16 to 18 March, the pilgrimage took them through significant historical sites - Kororāreka (Russell), Kaikohe, Motuti, and Tōtara Point in North Aotearoa. As they traveled, a group of dedicated educators and Marist leaders immersed themselves in the sacred stories of the past, deepening their connection to the mission that continues to inspire.

Among them were Regina Smuga from St Paul’s, Jeanavieve Pome’e from Marcellin, James Cullen from the Marist Learning Centre, Chris Goodwin from Campion, Pepe Pereira from Chanel, Clare Lay from Verdon, and Amy Aukusitino from Champagnat Marist in Auckland. They were joined by Br Bryan Stanaway, Br Barry Burns, and Daniel Dungey, each bringing their own experiences and reflections to this meaningful journey.

Together, they retraced the steps of those who first carried the Marist mission to these shores, strengthening their understanding of its legacy and reaffirming their commitment to its future.

Daniel Dungey, Partnership Coordinator, Aotearoa-NZ, Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati, reports.

Hikoi/Shared Journey

Sunday 16 March

Travel Day – Kororāreka /Russell – Kaikohe

Our Auckland based pilgrims met at Onslow Ave at 7.45am where the St Paul’s College van, courtesy of Keith Simento and his community, awaited under the patronage of Mary and our driver, James Cullen. An equally early start was being made across the Motu (island) as pilgrims from Invercargill, Christchurch, Masterton and Gisborne gathered enroute to Kerikeri. At midday we came together as one, in person, following a zoom connection earlier in the week.

As we made our way to Paihia for lunch we acknowledged the historic site of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. At a leisurely pace we boarded the passenger ferry to our nation’s first capital (original name Okiato) in Kororāreka /Russell, witnessed our first legal pub, The Duke, then entered the grounds of Christ Church (Anglican), the oldest surviving church in New Zealand built in 1835.

The group at the Bishop Pompallier historic printery.

Cornelia Schmidt, Visitor Services Coordinator of Pompallier Mission secured our group an additional ‘after hours’ tour from 4.30pm-5.30pm to explore the historic printery established by Bishop Pompallier and his team of Marist Missionaries in 1841-1842.

Our pilgrims captured the rich tradition of storytelling associated with this extraordinary place where close to 40,000 leather-bound religious books in te reo Māori were produced. Acknowledgement was made of the challenges and hurt of our pioneering Marist Brother, Br Michel Colombon commissioned by Fr Marcellin Champagnat to Aotearoa New Zealand, and those that followed in the ‘first wave’ of Marist Missionaries from France.

Twin Coast Adventures, Kaikohe was our accommodation base, and we were welcomed with open arms onsite by our local Kaikohe Marist Brothers Community members, Brs Samisoni and Martin. Connections and stories flowed either side of a scrumptious meal of burgers prepared by our local brothers.

Gathered around the same table remains as symbolic in 1817 as it does in 2025.

Monday 17 March

Rawene - Motuti - Totara Point – Kaikohe

St Patrick’s Day begun with a hearty breakfast onsite at our accommodation base in Kaikohe before making our way to Rawene for the 9.30am ferry crossing. As we made our way to St Mary’s Catholic Church in Motuti we were hanging on every word from Br Bryan Stanaway as he shared his ‘local knowledge and wisdom’ for the benefit of us all. Henry Te Waki, local kaumatua (elderly) from Panguru, welcomed us onto this sacred site at Motuti and we experienced the deep connection to our founding story. Bishop Pompallier’s casket was raised as the catholic waiata Mo Maria, composed by Pompallier, was sung by our pilgrims.

Mary’s Catholic Church in Motuti where Bishop Pompallier's casket is kept.

Time stood still. Stories flowed.

Henry Te Waki escorted us to Tamatea Marae where we were greeted by Chris Dixon at the entrance to Raiātea Motuti Resource & Archive Centre (opened 23 April 2022). The hapū-owned and operated two story museum not only cares for local treasures but also doubles as a research centre. Most items in the collection - which include Māori and Polynesian artefacts and objects relating to the history of the Catholic church in New Zealand - were collected by the late Pā Henare Tate over a period of 30 years.

A must for any future hikoi!

A late lunch took place overlooking the Hokianga Harbour at Kohukohu before arriving at Totara Point ‘construction site’. Although apprehensive about interrupting the workers by the plinth we received a big ‘Haere Mai’ from Fr Maliu 'Otutaha, Panguru Parish Priest and his team of stone masons and labourers from the Tongan Catholic Community.

Here we were close to 20,000km away from our Marist Brothers mother house at l’Hermitage witnessing Fr Maliu in the same light as Fr Marcellin with his sleeves rolled up doing the mahi/work!

Fr Maliu’Otutaha and his Tongan Catholic masonry workers were leading a special project to revitalise this sacred site where Bishop Pompallier celebrated the first Catholic mass on 13 January 1838.

The restoration project is to benefit future pilgrims to the first catholic mass site here at Totara Point, Hokianga in Aotearoa New Zealand. To add to the occasion, our group blessed a stone and Jeanavieve Pome’e (DRS, Marcellin College) placed this on our behalf to acknowledge our pioneering Marists, all those who have gone before us, the present and

future of those who not only preserve but enhance our Champagnat Marist Mission on these shores.

In front of the Church.

An inspired group returned by ferry to Rawene and onto Kaikohe to absorb a very full and rich day in the Hokianga. After some personal reflection time, Samoisoni and Martin greeted us with great joy with a BBQ meal along with some locally inspired dishes of sashimi, oka popo and oysters. A special day with special people concluded with personal group sharing of what this hikoi had meant to each and every member. Like the previous evening, gathered around the same table remains as symbolic in 1817 as it does in 2025.

Tuesday 18 March

Reflection – Departure from Kaikohe

Following breakfast Barry lead us in prayer and reflection which captured the essence of our time together in community. A special taonga was presented in the way of ‘Te Wa’ (The Time) a resource prepared for future pilgrims that originated from our own Marist Brothers Hikoi to the Far North in 1988 to commemorate the 150 years of the arrival of Bishop Pompallier and the first Marists, among them our very own, Br Michel Colombon, to establish the Catholic Church in Oceania.

Our collective hope is this resource supports our pilgrims and their communities on their journey of renewal and discovery.

It is with deep thanks and gratitude to everyone involved that enabled us all to set out on and complete a deeply touching Hikoi experience. There were so many special features within this whole experience.

Our pilgrim group were so very open to each experience along the way and searching for deeper understandings:

• Br Bryan Stanaway, in sharing out of his personal and lived experiences touched on such

depths behind the factual details.

• Br Barry Burns, for his pastoral care, prayers and reflections that allowed space for pilgrims to

articulate their experiences.

• Br Samisoni Talia & Br Martin Pattison, for their authentic Marist Hospitality and amazing kai.

Our two mighty men from Kaikohe lifted our social times together into such enjoyable

experiences for us all.

• Above all the Holy Spirit enabled each encounter to have a very special feeling about it, even when we were unsure what to expect. We are all so grateful to having been part of it.

Words and pictures courtesy - Daniel Dungey, Partnership Coordinator, Aotearoa-NZ, Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati