Matthew Crawford was ordained by Bishop Patrick Dunn at Whangarei on Saturday September 4. Marists, family and friends travelled extensively to join him for this the culmination of his ten years of seminary formation and to pray for him and wish him well as he begins his ministry as a Marist priest.
As well as those Marists from New Zealand who travelled the length of the country to be there, it was a pleasure to once again welcome Kevin Redmond and Tony Kennedy from Australia to the occasion.
Before joining the Society of Mary, Matt worked for a number of years and travelled extensively and lots of Matt’s friends, who joined him for the occasion, men and women, who have kept in contact over the years.
Matt’s first Mass, the following day was the normal first Sunday of the month Mass in Maori. It’s not easy to celebrate your first Mass and to do so in something other than your first language asked a lot, however Matt took to the challenge and celebrated it well.