New Zealand Choir Pilgrimage

Even before we call on your name to ask you, O God,

When we seek for the words to glorify you, you hear our prayer;

Unceasing love, O unceasing love, surpassing all we know.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Even with darkness sealing us in, we breathe your name,

And through all the days that follow so fast, we trust in you;

Endless your grace, O endless your grace, beyond all mortal dream.

Both now and forever, and unto ages and ages. Amen.

Kia ora! These words from Stephen Paulus’s anthem Pilgrims’ Hymn (text by Michael Dennis Browne) guided us on our own pilgrimage to New Zealand for the past few weeks, as we shared the community and spirit of St. Bart’s across the sea. Thirty-four travelers came together from around the world (most from San Diego, but others from elsewhere in the US, plus England and Australia) to share an experience of a lifetime, growing our bonds of faith and humanity.

We spent two weeks touring the North Island, beginning in Auckland (toward the northern end) and traveling south through the cities of Rotorua and Napier, down to the capital, Wellington (at the bottom of the North Island). The majesty and beauty of God’s creation was evident along the way, from rolling hills to snow-capped mountains, from redwood forests to geothermal geysers. We learned about the sacred rituals and traditions of the indigenous Māori people and their respect for all of creation, and joined in singing hymns and sharing Eucharist in their language at St. Faith’s Anglican in Rotorua for Sunday service (where a parish cat is the greeter/usher!).

We then spent an extended time doing a choral residency at Wellington Cathedral of St. Paul, including singing Evensong and Eucharist services, as well as an afternoon recital and evening concert in collaboration with the Cathedral Choir. The cathedral’s organ was destroyed in the 2016 earthquake, but the parish persevered and rebuilt—a testament to their commitment to glorifying God through music. After saying goodbye to a handful of travelers, the remainder of the group ventured southward for a weeklong tour of the South Island, including Christchurch and Queenstown, as well as the various landscapes in between. The South Island is the more alpine region and also suffered much of the devastation from the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. We returned home safely over the weekend, and some even managed to get to church on Sunday!

One big takeaway from New Zealand is the country’s commitment to the earth and respect for creation. There is almost no waste: Nearly everything you will find in shops is produced with recyclable materials, entire cities are powered by renewable geothermal power, and there is an ever-present consciousness of care and respect. As The Episcopal Church enters the Season of Creation next month, and as we endeavor to become more ecologically aware, we can learn a lot from the spirit of these people and their commitment to the earth.

My thanks go out to all the New Zealand travelers for joining on this trip, and to the leaders within the group for keeping us safe. While our pilgrimage may be over, our hearts will forever be touched by the people and land of New Zealand, and we look forward to our next opportunity to pilgrimage and share the love of St. Bart’s with the world.

Dr. John-Luke Addison