HE HĪKOI WAIRUA - A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
The physical act of a pilgrimage allows a sacred place to touch the heart and soul of the individual. A pilgrimage is a symbol of the spiritual journey we are on throughout our lives. This coming January we invite you to make a pilgrimage to Hokianga, the cradle of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand.
TE HAERENGA - THE JOURNEY
Ngā Tapuwae Sacred Footsteps is a self-guided pilgrimage which can be undertaken at any time by groups wishing to understand more of their Catholic faith in terms of the history of Church in Aoteroa New Zealand and stories and journey we have taken as Catholics with Maori.
NGĀ TAPUWAE - SACRED FOOTSTEPS
Kupe, the renowned navigator, discovered Te Ika-a-Maui (North Island) and explored these lands over a millennium ago. After Kupe’s return to his homeland, what he named, Te Hokianga nui a Kupe would become the place where his descendants would return and then settle, sowing the seeds of Māori culture in Aotearoa. In 1838, Bishop Pompallier arrived in that same stretch of water and from there, the Catholic Church in Aotearoa began it’s mission.
Bishop Pompallier left France in 1836 with four priests and three brothers of the Society of Mary to lead a pioneering Roman Catholic mission to western Oceania. Totara Point marks the site of the first Mass on NZ soil celebrated by Bishop Pompallier in the house of Mary and Thomas Poynton on 13 January 1838. The house no longer stands but a plinth was erected to commemorate the centenary of the first Mass. Each year a Mass is celebrated at Totara Point on the Sunday nearest to 13 January.
While this event is important, The Nga Tapuwae journey can be taken at any time and is design for this very reason.
OTHER RESOURCES
As with all journeys, the experience depends on the small things and items in the background for planning.
The broad details are available in the infmation bopoklet and the Pilgrim Booklet. Here yoiu will find some resources to help your planning.
Be safe- Have fun!!