One was retold when a photo was shared of a girl at St Peter's School who was chosen to try on the new bishop's mitre.

The photo was taken by Waikato Times senior writer Mary Anne Gill who revealed that her son James unknowingly played a round of golf at the Cambridge Golf Club with two high-ranking church officials, the late Bishop Denis Browne and Anglican Bishop David Moxon.

David, Denis and James

James Gill, who went on to represent New Zealand in two Eisenhower Trophy World Amateur Golf Championships, stumbled upon the bishops at the Cambridge Golf Club one Monday.

James, without realising their religious status, asked to join the pair for a game.

The two men, of course dressed in golf attire rather than religious robes, agreed to play several holes.

"When he got home and I asked him who he had played with, he said ‘two guys called Denis and David'" said Mary Anne Gill.

It wasn't until days later that the family realised the two men were none other than Bishop Denis Browne and Anglican Bishop David Moxon.

Composure in check

Gill, reflecting on her son's golf experience, expressed a mix of amusement and relief.

"I asked him if he had sworn or said any blasphemies during the game" she said with a laugh.

"He said no, and Bishop Denis never told me otherwise."

While James has since moved on to play professionally in Europe and represent New Zealand, the memory of that day at Cambridge Golf Club remains a cherished story for the Gill family.

Source

• Waikato Times

Denis Browne was a significant figure in the life of the New Zealand Catholic Church and the wider community.

He was the bishop of Cook Islands and Niue (1977-1983), the tenth Bishop of Auckland (1983-1994), and the second Bishop of Hamilton from 1994 - 2014. He was a priest for 62 years and a bishop for 38 years!

In 1990, Browne was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.

In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the community.

On Monday, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference announced Browne's death on Facebook.

"Bishop Denis, survived by two sisters, has gone home to God last night after a long illness. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for comfort to his remaining siblings," writes the NZCBC.

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference says it will "continue to share fond memories this week, giving thanks and praise to God for his life and service to the Church."

Meanwhile, messages are flooding in from around the world and people are remembering Bishop Browne for his strong faith and human qualities, such as compassion, warmth, gentleness, true humility and leadership.

"Fond memories of a wonderful sense of humour, incredible knowledge and wisdom, hospitality and leadership." - Dianne Porter

"Thank you for your gentle, faithful leadership and wonderful friendship you shared with my parents." - Andrea Hall

"What a sad loss, such a wonderful person." - Norris Hall

"You were so kind to us Patuwai's growing up in the Wopwops." - Riparata Patuwai

"Kia akangarohi ma te hau Bishop Denis Brown. Yes, he's a gentle, humble and a much loved Bishop." - Regina Atatoa

"Heaven has gained a giant in the faith." - James Cuming

"I am blessed to know you." - Marilyn Janet

"What a wonderful soul." - Lyn Rae

"Bishop Denis was truly a servant of our Lord. Quiet, unassuming, attentive to others needs, welcoming nature and deeply close to our Lord. Manifested in his untiring service to God's people."- Catiano Paulo

"Thank us so muj 4 al ur love n service 2 us in da Cook Islands. God bless ur sould wif joy n happiness in Heaven Bishop Denis Browne." [sic]- Lawrencia William

"Such a lovely man." - Roxy Hepi

"I remember him from my time in Auckland as a young Woman,when he was a Parish Priest...a very gentle, humble and warm-hearted soul. May he enjoy the reward of all his faithfulness to God." - Carmel Anne Malone

"I will always remember Bishop Browne's extraordinary kindness at the time of our daughter Sarah's death in 2006. A truly remarkable man." - Dominic O'Sullivan

"Bishop Browne was the nicest person I have ever met. I had some beautiful times with Bishop. He influenced my life beyond imagination. May he rest in peace with the Lord and friend. We will meet again!" - Michael Morris

"A long time ago when he was at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church he used to wash and cleanse both my foot both of them were blessed." - Jess Fernandez

"You had truly been a great and faithful servant of God. Resembling His Merciful Meek & Loving Heart to His people, may the good Lord Jesus grant you now your Eternal Reward in Heaven." - Tiffany Luz Colina

"An amazing servant of God, he lived with compassion." - Kazza Skcot

"A beautiful soul. I was blessed to know you."- Leeann Johnson

On April 23, 2016, Browne along with his colleague and good friend, Archbishop Sir David Moxon were recognised for their outstanding leadership and contributions to the Waikato community.

Both received honorary doctorates.

At the time, Moxin said he was honoured to receive the honorary doctorate alongside Bishop Denis.

"We have been colleagues and friends for a long time in a common cause - the common good and the spiritual health of the wider community," said Moxon.

In 2016, when conferring both religious leaders with their doctorates, University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil Quigley said their honour was well-deserved.

"Both David and Denis have worked tirelessly in pursuit of church and community wellness, in the Waikato region in particular, so it's fitting they both receive Honorary Doctorates together."

Funeral details

The NZCBC say details of Browne's Requiem will be confirmed in the coming days.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei,
requiescant in pace.

Sources

• NZ Catholic Bishops Conference - Facebook (Last accessed 7:10pm)
• CathNews
• Wikipedia

"New words, deeper meaning, same Mass."

Initially prepared to go with the flow, after a little while I found the cognitive dissonance became too apparent.

What we got were old words with foreign meanings and a Mass that somehow changed my expression of faith.

‘Thumbs up' then to Bishop Drennan, secretary of the New Zealand Bishop's Conference, for his piece in Wel-com, and collectively to the Conference, for their encouragement of Rome to overcome the clunky, awkward new translation.

Of particular mention, ‘two thumbs up' to Bishop Campbell who, when global liturgical ‘group think' was at its peak, swam publicly against the tide, risked a 'rap over the knuckles' from the then pope and criticised the new translation.

Disappointed, Bishop Campbell not only questioned the outcome of the new translation but also its delivery process and, from memory, he warned the ‘new translation' would not be the endpoint.

Importance of language

Sociolinguistics is the study of language and culture; it views language as intrinsic to communication.

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis of linguistic relativity states the structure of a culture's language determines the behaviour, habits and thinking of that culture.

Thus, language forms a culture through the realities embedded in it.

"Human beings do not live in the objective world alone, nor alone in the world of social activity as ordinarily understood. We are very much at the mercy of the particular language which has become the medium of expression for our society.

"We see, hear and otherwise experience very largely as we do because the language habits of our community predispose certain choices of interpretation." (Benjamin Whorf: Language, Thought, and Reality, p 134.)

Some describe the new translation as beautiful, but it is not the kind of developed world beauty people speak to me about; it doesn't talk about the reality of the cultural setting of antipodean life.

It seems to me the language of the new translation, of exclusivity, archaic vocabulary; "dewfall," "consubstantial," "oblation," and the over-inflated language of prayer; "graciously hear," "graciously grant", "holy and unblemished" and, "and with your spirit," belong to a time long past.

These and other similar phrases may have deep meaning, they may be accurate translations of the Latin, but so what?

Language is a living tradition, it's meant to be readily understood and used, and if the language of the liturgy needs sermons and articles in periodicals to interpret various phrases, haven't we lost the point?

Global and local

I find it sad that a global initiative, which included Bishops Denis Browne and Peter Cullinane, started out to positively address such issues as sexism in liturgical texts but, through no fault of theirs, it got diverted into a mash-up of old and new.

For many, the new translation never really hit the mark and probably never really helped shape us as Catholics in the 21st Century.

So I, for one, welcome Bishop Drennan saying that a better translation of the Mass is possible.

Seemingly under a little pressure to move, I also hear his plea for patience, but I welcome people putting pressure on the bishops for change because it shows interest and involvement in their faith.

A potentially huge task

As the song goes, "Let's start at the very beginning, it's a very good place to start".

I'd note that the global initiative before the new translation, started at the beginning and had input from specialists in pastoral liturgy, languages etc.

It took decades to formulate.

So I wonder if there is a need to go back to the beginning; to as it were, 'recreate the wheel' when the translation that met with almost universal approval, still exists?

• The Sacramentary: Volume One Part 1
  
• The Sacramentary: Volume One Part 2
  
• The Sacramentary: Volume Two Part 1
  
• The Sacramentary: Volume Two Part 2

Thankfully now, with a change in Canon Law, Pope Francis has shifted primary responsibility for liturgical texts to each diocesan bishop. However, Bishop Drennan's comments suggest the New Zealand Bishops, at least, will work as a conference on the new text.

Hopefully, this will make things more simple, but, it may not!

For example, many years prior to the 'new translation', the Christchurch diocese used a different version of the "Our Father", so it was possible then and now more possible for a diocesan bishop to allow e.g. different versions of prayers, and different congregational responses.

Yes, that means there may be different prayers and different responses in dioceses within a country, around the world, and in language groupings.

There are times when I'm sure being a bishop must be a thankless task. However, on this one I think we can be proud of our bishops, for like no others they've knocked on Rome's door expressing our frustrations with the current translation.

To use Pope Francis' expression, they are shepherds living with 'the smell of the sheep'.

• After postgraduate communications study at Victoria University Wellington, Fr John Murphy SM works in new media.