The Catholic Church here is very small. But it proved a delightful place to spend Christmas. Fr. Jerry Fitsgerald welcomed me and I helped celebrate the Masses. The little church only seats about 50 or sixty people and it was pretty full for Christmas eve. But they are not used to crowds here in New Zealand and are not surprised to usually be celebrating mass for just ten or twelve people even on weekends. I have to admit that celebrating Christmas at the height of summer was an unusual experience for me. Instead of poinsettias we had Christmas lilies on the altar. But the carols were the same, the stories told were the same, the customs of the feast prevailed and of course the Spirit of Christmas descended on us all.
After Christmas Day Mass I was invited to join the pastor at the home of parishioners. Meet Jim and Junielle and their friends Poppy and Muriel (who had just gotten out of the hospital) and of course Fr. Jerry. Junielle regrets that I took the picture after the huge holiday spread. The table was not bare I assure you. Wonderful bacon wrapped appetizers, a huge ham, new potatoes and carrots and peas and salad - all fresh from summer New Zealand pickings. And then, there was dessert(s). These were so bounteous and so delicious that I had to steal a picture before we dug in.
But I couldn't leave Te Anau without a quick walk along the lake front and the beautiful world surrounding me.
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