What a wonderful gathering we shared at our first-ever Hui Whānau held in Te Whanganui-a-Tara on 13 and 14 October.
The Trustees were delighted that over sixty members of our Mercy whānau were able to participate in the gathering, each bringing their own experience of Mercy to date and their hopes for Mercy to come.
We wanted to create a shared moment of whanaungatanga, to understand our place in the emerging church and to encourage bold thinking about new opportunities for Mercy in Aotearoa New Zealand. The hui delivered on all three, and then some.
As Trustees, directors and staff met and mingled, the sense of being a family of Mercy grew notably stronger. Our coming together was considerably enhanced by the mihi whakatau, the dinner, karakia and waiata, Mercy moments, Mercy quiz and Manuel’s reflections on Mercy values through a te ao Māori lens.
From Susan, Archbishop Gabor and Manuel we heard about the impact of synodality and increasing lay governance on how the mission of the church is inspired and led, as reflected in the structure and role of organisations like Whānau Mercy Ministries. We are in the forefront of a new way of being church and bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to a world hungry for mercy and longing for hope.
Charlotte, James, Bill and Phil led us more deeply into our foundational commitments to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and care for our common home. Both shape our identity and sense of purpose and both need our careful, knowledgeable and sustained attention. Judy helped us open our minds and hearts to new horizons of mercy, envisaging new ways of bringing Catherine McAuley’s spirit of enterprising Christianity to the needs and challenges of our own time and place.
The Trustees are deeply grateful for all those who made our first Hui Whānau so successful and memorable. As Catherine would say: “A good beginning is of great importance” – so thank you to the organisers, presenters and all participants for ensuring a very good beginning indeed.
Gerald Scanlan
Whānau Mercy Ministries Trust
