Kia ora tātou,

It is with joy that we join with the people and priests of the Diocese of Christchurch in thanksgiving for the appointment of a new Bishop to that Diocese.

Bishop-elect Paul Martin SM is known to a good few of us as he is a son of Hawke’s Bay. We too echo the happiness of his mother, Carmel, of our Hastings parish, and of his siblings and many relatives who live in the area.

Bishop-elect Paul was educated at St Joseph’s School and St John’s College in Hastings. He has been a teacher of English and RE in a number of Colleges, was for a few years on the pastoral staff of Hāto Pāora College, and has been Rector of St Patrick’s College, Wellington. Most recently he has been the Bursar General of the Marists at their Rome headquarters.

I know Bishop-elect Paul as a very capable and affable man. He is a strong leader, kind and does not shy from decision making. Having been immersed so long in the education apostolate, he knows well the pastoral challenges we all face passing on the gift of our faith in contemporary society and culture. I have passed on to Bishop-elect Paul our congratulations from the Diocese of Palmerston North.

Please pray for Bishop-elect Paul as he prepares for his episcopal consecration in the new year.

+Charles

Read more here.

Photo: CathNews.co.nz