Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. The great enterprise continues! The Congregation has opened a new Mission in New Zealand in the Diocese of Hamilton. Fr. Jaya Prakash Reddy Soma, CMF of the Province of Bangalore recounts his first experiences in the area:

“I am indeed very happy to brief about the new mission. I arrived New Zealand on 28th August 2018. It was a wonderful moment to land in this strange and amazing beautiful land of the Mighty Kiwi. I thank God for this great opportunity to work as a missionary in an unknown land, to work as an assistant Parish Priest in the Parish of All Saints by the Sea at 17 Gloucester Rd, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga.

During these past two weeks, I was introduced to place, people, and other activities of the church – youth, children, respective in-charge of the missions. I whole heartily thank the General Government and my Provincial and the Provincial Council members for choosing me to be an instrument, a missionary in this wonderful land. I am pretty sure that the land needs missionaries to revive the lives of the people and to lead them in the spiritual realm of the Lord.

I begin my missionary work by celebrating Holy Eucharist on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I hope and believe that the Lord and our Blessed Mother will strengthen and guide me in all my endeavors.”

Since September 2018, Frs. Thomas Thanniyanickal and Prakash Reddy, are working in the diocese of Hamilton in New Zealand. Both of them are appointed as assistants in the diocesan parishes. While Fr. Thomas Thanniyanickal is the Parochial Vicar of the Kaimai Collegial Area with residence at Morrinsville, Fr. Prakash Reddy is the Assistant Parish Priest at All Saints by the Sea, Papamoa Coast. Initially we will be collaborating in the ministries and missions of the diocese in order to get accustomed to the people and place and later on establish our own Claretian Mission.