An executive member of the Maori Catholic Council says one way to encourage more tangata whenua into the ministry is to recruit more Maori as deacons.
Danny Karatea-Goddard during his ordination ceremony. Photo: NZ Catholic
Christchurch Bishop Barry Jones is concerned that the Mass in Maori is slowly dying due to a lack of priests who can conduct it in Te Reo and that there are only eight priests of Maori descent.
Danny Karatea-Goddard - an executive member of Te Runanga o Te Hāhi Katorika (the Maori Catholic Council) - is one of only three Maori deacons in the country and said there was room for more.
He said unlike priests, who are celibate and cannot get married, becoming a deacon could be more of an attractive option for Maori who want a ministerial role in the church.
Mr Karatea-Goddard said as a deacon he could carry out most of the functions that a priest does except for leading the Mass.
But, he said, because deacons were allowed to get married, they brought certain values to the church.
He said that could be a more viable option for Maori men who want a leadership role in the church.
