E te amorangi, e taku hoa pirihi, Pā Tīpene, moe mai ki te Ariki.
E te whānau whakapono o te Rohe Pīhopa o te Papaioea, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou.

It is with sadness that I inform you that Pā Steve Hancy died on Saturday aged just 63. As many of you know Pā Steve had been receiving treatment for cancer and also suffered from diabetes. The cause of death however was heart failure. He had in fact been making good progress after treatment for cancer.

I extend our aroha and prayers to his whānau and friends, and all those who knew him well including the many communities he has ministered to as a priest. I am deeply aware that we are losing our only active diocesan priest of the tangata whenua in our Rohe Pīhopa or Diocese.  (I take the opportunity to acknowledge with gratitude the presence of Pa Karaitiana Kingi SM in the northern reaches of our Diocese and ask for God’s continued blessing of peace upon Pā Felix Ngapere.)

Pā Steve’s whānau have decided to take his body back to Mohaka marae south of Wairoa.

While our hearts are sorry – kei te tangi te ngākau – that a requiem Mass of farewell will not happen in Whanganui we respect his family’s desire to have Steve home as soon as possible.

The miha on the Marae will take place on Wednesday at 9.00 a.m. Pā Arthur Toothill SM will preside and I will be there to concelebrate, tautoko, and join in the karakia. All welcome.

Fr Marcus Francis will in due course arrange for a Memorial Mass at St Mary’s Whanganui.

Thanks everyone for the messages of condolence.

Hoatu ki ā ia te okiokinga pūmautanga.

+Charles