Conference focused on ministry to indigenous Catholics opens

Delegates from the United States, Canada, Australia and the Vatican joined New Zealanders in Auckland on Monday for the opening day of the International Conference on Catholic Indigenous.

The second gathering of its type, following the first hosting in the US in 2023, the event is focused on enhancing ministry to indigenous Catholics across the four nations.

Auckland University’s Tūtahi Tonu marae was the venue of the pōwhiri on Monday afternoon, with delegates welcomed to the whenua (land) of Ngāti Whātua.

Loraine Elliott, who with Bishop Steve Lowe is serving as the event’s co-hosts, said the opening day on Monday set the stage for a week of genuine dialogue and exchange.

“Our Catholic faith is what binds us, and you could hear that in the kaupapa (values) that came through. Indigenous people are a very spiritual people, and we could see that being woven in the stories they shared,” Mrs Elliott said.

On each day of the conference, delegates from one of the four nations will lead the programme. It will allow indigenous people, and those entrusted with the pastoral care of indigenous people, to reflect on their own context.

Bishop Lowe said he looks forward to hearing from other countries’ delegates how they seek to – and succeed in – bringing together indigenous culture and Catholic culture.

Bishop Pierre-Olivier Tremblay OMI, Bishop of Hearst-Moosonee in Ontario, Canada, said the gathering – with a focus on conversation, listening and dialogue – offers a remedy to something that can be lacking in the world today.

“It seems that at this moment in time, there is a lot of fragmentation and polarisation,” he said. “More and more, we need concrete signs and experiences of coming together, of listening – really listening – of opening ourselves up to others.

“We, as a Church, can be a humble but significant sign that we can work together in this path towards unity and communion.”

Archbishop Gábor Pintér, the Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand and the Pacific, shared with delegates the greetings and blessing of Pope Leo XIV, adding that many Vatican offices are also following proceedings with interest.

A representative of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is attending the conference to underscore the Holy See’s interest in matters relevant to indigenous Catholic ministry.

The event runs until March 6, with the Cathedral of St Patrick and St Joseph hosting the closing Mass on Friday.