Tears flowed as the bishop led the procession in St Joseph's Cathedral for the final time last Sunday.

80-year old Akava Toki (pictured) was one whose eyes glistened with tears of thankfulness and sadness as he embraced the bishop.

For the past 13 years Donoghue has been a beacon of spiritual comfort and steady guidance for Toki and the Raratongan community.

"I'm going to miss him - me aravei maua" says Akava Toki.

"To maua pirianga e tangata akamaroiroi aia iaku, akamaroiroi i te pure, to tatou pure no tatou." ("Our hope is that he will bless me, bless the prayer, our prayer for us.")

Another person said "We also say meitaki ma'ata to Bishop Paul for the support he will continue to give, for shepherding the faithful for 13 years by encouragement and teaching us through the faith on our journey towards Christ. We appreciate what we have learned.

"It is my prayer that he will continue to empower our people, especially our Catholic community."

New bishop installed

But the occasion wasn't just about Donoghue retiring..

As he retired, Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado MSP was installed as Rarotonga's new bishop.

Getalado spoke of his "big gratitude" to Donoghue for his leadership in the diocese and for the priests who have dedicated their Christian lives.

Parishioners wish their new leader well.

"This is an exciting day, not only for the diocese but for the people of the Cook Islands both here and in Aotearoa New Zealand to welcome and support Bishop Reynaldo. We wish him all the best."

Getalado was presented with a beautifully carved tokotoko representing the special staff used by shepherds to protect and manage their flocks.

Carver Vainekiki Tomokino said he was honoured to carve the third tokotoko for a Cook Islands' bishop.

"I'm so happy they asked me to carve this tokotoko, it is very special for an important event, and I've done two others in the past" he said.

Following the service, parishioners gathered to eat together.

Representatives from each parish on Rarotonga and the Pa Enua as well as the Church's ethnic groups voiced their appreciation in welcome addresses.

Farewell

Donoghue will conduct his final church service in Rarotonga on Sunday, July 14 at St Joseph's Cathedral.

Source

• Cook Islands News

As a coadjutor bishop, Getalado takes over responsibility for the diocese when the current Cook Islands bishop Paul Donoghue SM retires.

Getalado, who is from the Philippines, has worked in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand in the Waitaruke and Otara parishes as well as the Solomon Islands (Bougainville) and Tuvalu.

When he served in Otara he came into contact with Pasifika people, including Cook Islanders, for the first time.

Why appoint a Filipino to the Cook Islands?

Just why a Filipino priest has been appointed to replace New Zealand-born Donoghue is a question on many people's lips. Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens, after all.

Donoghue says the answer lies in the makeup of the Church which is constantly changing throughout the world.

Nor have the Cook Islands always had New Zealand-born bishops, he notes.

He says the Cook Islands' first three bishops (1894-1971) were from France, Belgium and the Netherlands respectively.

The next five bishops were chosen from New Zealand. The problem is that these days New Zealand-born and -trained priests are in the minority, he says.

Today, the New Zealand clergy is made up of many priests from Asia and the Pacific, Donoghue explains.

"It must be close to half.

"Three-quarters of the seminarians are from Asia. That means if a new bishop is appointed from New Zealand, it is likely to be one of Asian origin" Donoghue says.

Joy in preparation

Preparations are well underway for Getalado's ordination.

Hospitality sounds boundless, with both the Catholic diocese of the Cook Islands and the Filipino Community there rolling up their sleeves.

We are "one in supporting his pastoral mission" says Grace Scheel, president of the Filipino Community.

"We hope that his presence will mean a deeper relationship between the Catholic Church and the faithful."

Getalado's vision

Getalado says as a young priest he was prepared to work in challenging places that were tough physically. Now he is in his 60s, he would like to develop the spirituality of the people he is working with.

Given that finding new bishop replacements is becoming difficult, Donoghue sums up his last dream as the Cook Islands' retiring bishop in six words:

"You now have your new shepherd."

Source

• Cook Islands News