Fr Steve Hancy
Tributes to Pa
The Catholic Parish of Whanganui mourns the death of Pa Steve Hancy.
We remember his gentleness and quiet faith as he served the Palmerston North Diocese loyally here and in Hawera, St Mary's Taradale, Ohakune, Waipukurau and Patea/Waverley. A tribute to Pa from Fr Brian Carmine is printed in this bulletin while other tributes are shown on the parish website. Please feel free to contribute your own memory or tribute to the parish office if you wish to share it. The Miha Maori Mass on 18 June at 9.30am will be an opportunity for us to pray collectively for Pa since his requiem was celebrated at his home marae in Mohaka last Wednesday.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------I acknowledge the passing of Pa Steve and offer my condolences to his immediate family, his extended family and the family throughout the world, New Zealand and Whanganui.
Pa Steve was a quiet man. He never put his flag up, to gain praise. He was like a lightening technician at a theatre, important but not always visible. Pa Steve worked behind the scenes.
Us Europeans and others did not always understand where, why, when, but Pa knew where to be at the right time, right place, not expecting recognition but showing his Catholic faith. So I salute him, and thank him for the sacrifices he accepted in his ministry and thank all those who assisted him in his ministry here and throughout the world. I will miss him dearly. He will be certainly be missed. I will pray for him, and the other priests in this community will also offer masses for him and his family. Sorry I can not join you in person, but I am with you in spirit.
God bless, Fr Brian.
----------------------------------------------------------------------St John Vianney told us a lot about the priesthood, he was the cure of Ars who was greatly loved by his congregation. They were greatly concerned about a neigbouring priest that they asked him to admonish this. He did so, but not the way they expected. The cure visited the priest, knelt down before him, and asked his blessing. He later explained to his congregation, telling them that the priest was anointed by God, his anointed hands brough Christ down on the altar at the moment of Consecretion, those hands held the Sacred Host, they forgave sinners in Jesus' name, the cure was in awa of that priests sacred office. So did Pa Hancy, we loved him for his humble way, his down to earth sermons, his common touch.. like the cure he lobed his people and they loved him. Pa Hancy battled ill health, he gave of his priesthood until he could give no more. We will miss you Pa Hancy, thank you for the time you spent with us, you now are gone to meet with the High Priest, who will surely say... well done, good and faithful servant. Ted Downs
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Thank you Pa for sharing your companionship and gentle caring nature with us all.
You will be missed. God bless Arohanui. Merle
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Fr Marcus Francis
I am a diocesan priest ordained on 24 February 2001. I grew up in Taradale, Napier where I went to Reignier School and St John's College, Hastings. After that I went to Canterbury University to study law and history and was admitted to the bar in 1993. After a short OE I returned to study for the priesthood. My priestly ministry has been for the most part in Palmerston North and Feilding although I had a four year stint in Rome to study Canon Law. I love the Church and the priesthood so to be a priest in a place of such faith and tradition as Whanganui is tremendous.
Fr Adonis Rancho
Fr. Adonis Rancho is better known as Fr. Don Don. He is the Assistant Priest of the Catholic Parish of Whanganui.
He was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Tagum, in the Philippines on the 27th of May 2003.
Fr. Don Don dedicated his first five years of ministry to his home country.
He is currently “On Loan” to the Diocese of Palmerston North. He arrived in New Zealand in late year 2009 and was assigned to the following parishes:
• Assistant Priest in St. Patrick’s Church, Napier
• Parish Priest in St. Joseph’s Church, Waipukurau; St. Mary’s Church, Taradale;
St. Francis Xavier, Marton, and St. Joseph’s Church, New Plymouth
Fr. Don Don continues to do his ministry in the pastoral area of Whanganui; celebrating the sacraments, visiting the sick, schools and families. He assists the parish priest as they both continue to fulfil their mission of helping parishioners to grow and strengthen their faith to God.
Father John Roberts
Father John was ordained in 1978 and has served in a number of parishes in the Diocese.
He has been a member of the National and Diocesan Liturgy Commissions.
He first came to Wanganui in 1959 to attend secondary school, and returned in 1992 as Parish Priest of the newly built Holy Family Parish.
He returned again to serve in St. Mary's and St. Anne's Parishes.
He is currently the Priest in solidum of The Catholic Parish of Whanganui, with particular responsibility for rest homes and hosptial care.
