On Sunday 19 January the Dominican whanau gathered with those from Kaitaia at St Joseph’s Parish to remember the 250th anniversary of what we believe to be the first Mass to be celebrated in New Zealand waters by Fr Paul -Antoine Leonard de Villefeix OP on board the sloop Ste. Jean-Baptiste on Christmas Day 25 December 1769. The tangata whenua welcomed us with a powhiri.  The Mass was celebrated by Fr Anthony Walsh OP, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Friars, Australia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. In the homily Fr Alex Vickers asked those gathered to consider what the phrase “Here am I Lord” means for us in today’s world.   The text below shares what I recall of Alex’s homily. Fr Alex reminded us that each of us are called in our own unique way to witness to God’s power.  His homily reminded us that we were gathered to celebrate 250 years since a Mass was celebrated in the shores of Doubtless Bay.  We are told in NZ history that the first Christian service was conducted by Samuel Marsden 44 years later.  His statement “We’re Dominicans, we like to be first” provoked a few laughs.   For a fact we do not know that Fr Paul-Antoine said Mass on land but he is a Catholic chaplain on a Catholic ship.  The ship was anchored in Doubtless Bay for about 2 weeks.   One of those days they were anchored was Christmas Day.  Tell me that a Catholic Chaplain on
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