Fr Charles Girard sm, editor of the 1367 letters & documents, which have been 16 years in the making.

On Thursday 16 April, the SM Province together with the French Ambassador in NZ, the Marist General Administration and Academics and friends gathered at Archives NZ in Mulgrave St, Wellington, for the launch of Lettres Reçues d’Oceanie, 1836-1854. This ten volume collection, plus an anthology, edited by Fr Charles Girard sm contains the extant letters from early SM Missionaries in Oceania, transcribed in the original French

Henare Walmsley, Wellington lawyer and Hato Paora Old Boy began the proceedings by summoning all with the putatara and a Mihi. John Craddock sm the Master of Ceremonies, welcomed all. The French Ambassador, Mr Michel Le Gras, Fr Hubert Bonnet-Eymard from the General Administration, Rome, Fr Charles Girard, USA, Fr Brian Cummings, NZ Provincial, Archbishop John Dew and Cardinal Williams came forward. The great work was greeted by speeches in English and French from Professors Hugh Laracy (Auckland) and Peter Tremewan (Canterbury) on behalf of the academic community of New Zealand.

Tongan Fr Mikaele Paunga sm of the Pacific Regional Seminary and Fijian Fr. Milio Vakasirovoka represented the Oceania Province and Fr Tony Kennedy the Australian Province. The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Balvo, came to celebrate the occasion too.

From Solomon Islands was Fr Cor Hooymayers sm.

The Marist Provincial invited 50 overseas guests, dignitaries, academics and Marists directly involved in archives and the launch to a dinner afterwards in the large room at Emmaus at which many gifts were presented to those who had travelled from afar and who were participating in the Launch and Symposium. Some of these gifts were of Solomons origin.

The following day a Symposium was held at Victoria University of Wellington’s Rutherford House, Pipitea Campus. Academic Staff from Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Canterbury Universities and the Australian National University, Marists, scholars and Archivists from around the Pacific, reflected on the legacy of the Letters, their context and the early missionaries. Fr Girard was of the opinion that among those early men were several saints and some wonderfully colourful men as well. A tenth volume, which is an index, is to follow. English translations are available for some of the letters primarily through the Marist Studies website, maintained by Fr Merv Duffy sm.

A committee of Jessie Munro, Ken Scadden, Brian O’Connell sm, two representatives of the French Embassy, assisted by Brother Gerard Hogg, Marist Archivist, and John Craddock sm, the Chairman and MC, shouldered the huge load of hosting the successful and enjoyable Launch and Symposium.

Fr Pat Brophy sm, Archbishop John Dew, Ms Kitty McKinley of Challenge 2000.

The Ambassador of France, M. Michel Legras, recognized this project as of immense importance and contributed generously to ensure that the occasion was festive. We are most grateful to him.

Fr Cor Hooymayers sm presented beautiful inlaid ebony crosses from the Solomons to the Ambassador and to Fr Charles as tokens of appreciation, adding that the letters tell “the unvarnished truth” and so are valuable.

Fr Hubert Bonnet-Eymard sm was the organizer behind the publication by Kartharla, Paris ensuring that the books arrived in New Zealand before the Launch! They arrived just 48 hours beforehand!

Henare Walmsley calls all with the putatara

Fr Mika Paunga sm

Fr Hubert toasts the Launch with the ambassador

Dame Lyndsay Freer

In Wellington NZ, on 16th April, 2009, a precious Taonga was unveiled. Ten volumes of books, containing over 1350 letters and essays written between 1836-1854 by French Marist Missionaries in Oceania to Reverend Father Jean-Claude Colin, Superior General of the Society of Mary (Marist), transcribed meticulously from the originals and arranged for use by scholars by Fr Charles Girard sm, were launched at Archives New Zealand.

The Opus is described by Dr. Hugh Laracy of the University of Auckland, as “the single most important foundational contribution to Pacific History since J.C. Beaglehole’s magisterial editions Captain James Cook’s Journals, 1955-67.” The texts are printed most attractively by Karthala, Paris. It was “an effective and festive occasion,” enhanced by the thoughtful generosity and hospitality of the Ambassador of France, M. Michel Legras.

Among the 75 people present, were academics from universities and archives in Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. Present too were many historians with high-level national reputations. Representatives expressed their appreciation of the immense value of these documents. Present also were His Excellency, M.Michel Legras, Ambassador of France and principal patron, Cardinal Thomas Williams, Archbishop John Dew of Wellington, Archbishop Charles Balvo, the Apostolic Nuncio, Fr Brian Cummings, NZ Provincial of the Society of Mary, Fr Hubert Bonnet-Eymard, Assistant General, Society of Mary, Rome and coordinator of the Publication; and Fr Charles Girard, USA, editor and transcriber of the Letters. Afterwards, the Provincial of the Society of Mary hosted a celebration dinner for 50 guests at Emmaus, the location of Marist Archives, 78 Hobson St.

The next day, a symposium was held in Rutherford House, Victoria University of Wellington, during which Fr Charles Girard sm spoke on the origins of the publication and answered questions. The key address, delivered by Professor of Linguistics of the Australian National University, Darrell Tryon, was supported by three doctoral and senior students already working from the texts. Their enthusiasm and appreciation was enormous. For two years, Fr Charles, while completing the publication, had permitted the texts to be available electronically on request.

After an excellent working lunch, there was distinction into the two language streams of French and English. In the final hour, the symposium resumed as one with the focus on the translation and availability of the documents on line at Marist Studies maintained by Fr Mervin Duffy sm of Good Shepherd College, Auckland. After each presentation, selected representatives made excellent responses, expressing gratitude for the input. To complete the day, the ambassador hosted a most pleasant reception for 60 guests at his residence, where speeches and gifts were presented.

The presence of many international speakers indicate a Pacific-wide awareness and appreciation of Lettres Recues. It was the Ambassador’s generosity which enabled many of these to be present. All at the launch and symposium, both contributors and audience, expressed delight in the occasion, finding it stimulating and insightful. Fr Cor Hooymayers sm from Solomon Islands, in presenting beautiful artifacts to the principal participators, spoke of the letters containing “the unvarnished truth”. Others inferred that this French Marist missionary view is possibly a balancing perspective on Pacific social and political history, but certainly a valuable contribution. The event was hailed as a huge success and worthy of those who wrote and preserved this treasure for our contemporary use.

The committee of Mlles Lenaic Delboulle and Marleen Van Roosmalen from the French Embassy; Jessie Munro, author; Ken Scadden, Marist Archives; Fr. Brian O’Connell sm, editor, and Fr. John Craddock sm (chair) were satisfied with the outcome of their efforts. There was much cordiality and the debriefing held at the Residence on the following Monday was a good opportunity for reflecting on the events, their reception and promotion. It is expected that public appreciation for Lettres Recues will grow as the documents become more available and translations of them are continued.

Lettres Recues d’Oceanie is certainly regarded by those present at its Wellington Launch and Symposium as a true treasure, a taonga, that went from the Pacific to Europe 150 years ago, and which is now being returned in refreshed form enabling it to be used for the better understanding of our place and presence in Oceania.

Clergy present at the Opening Mass of the Symposium, Cathedral

At public meetings in Christchurch and in Wellington, The Honourable Feleti Sevele gave tribute to the Society of Mary for his education both in Tonga and NZ, especially at St Bede’s College. He expressed his appreciation of the strong friendships with Kiwis which provide foundation for formal relationships with NZ.

Fr Peter Healey sm, gifted graphic artist, recently held a public exhibition of his works in Wellington and sold a good number of his pieces. In showing one piece to Michael Galovic shortly afterwards, that renowned iconographer thought that Peter’s works are seriously undervalued. Michael also exhibited some new icons at the Cathedral in Wellington and is planning another in Auckland next year.

Marists have been saddened with the deaths of Brothers Mark Creighton, Andrew Cody and Lawrence Cole. Each of these brothers of the Society of Mary gave their lives to the Church as Marists, serving in manual tasks. Mark gave years as a skilled printer at Futuna Retreat Centre and later at the Mission Vineyards. Andrew served at Greenmeadows and in colleges and Lawrence, after being at the Seminary, served for 25 years at St Bede’s College as a groundsman, also taking a lead in the support for the Unborn.

May Mary embrace each of them.