Seminarian Simone Halamako Masanga is on a pastoral year at The Catholic Parish of Whanganui – Te Parihi Katorika ki Whanganui. Photo: Sue Seconi

Sue Seconi

As Fr Marcus Francis introduced fifth-year seminarian Simone Halamako Masanga to parishioners at The Catholic Parish of Whanganui – Te Parihi Katorika ki Whanganui, at Sunday Mass on 28 January, they welcomed Simone with spontaneous and warm clapping.

Simone is based in Whanganui on a pastoral year. He says he is looking forward to being in the parish and getting to know everyone. ‘It will be a time of learning and discovery for me,’ he said.

Simone was born in Tonga and came to New Zealand in 2013. He stayed with his parents in Hastings while he ‘up-skilled’ his English. Then it was off to the seminary in Auckland where has just gained his degree in theology.

Published in WelCom March 2018