Forty years between shifts for new St Mary’s priest

St Mary’s Star of the Sea new priest Fr Mark Field has enjoyed meeting the children of children he taught when he was at Campion College 40 years ago. Picture by Liam Clayton

Forty years after teaching religious  studies and geography at Campion College, Father Mark Field has returned to Gisborne as parish priest at St Mary’s Star of the Sea.

Father Mark took up the role in February after acting as parish priest in Morrinsville, Te Aroha and Paeroa.

Born in Hamilton, Father Mark joined the religious order of Marist Brothers, who live together in communities and have taken vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

It was through the Marist Brothers that he was appointed to teach at Campion College after undergoing teacher training in Auckland.

“It’s been quite surreal coming back after 40 years and meeting people  I knew 40 years ago and haven’t seen since,” he said.

“Often it’s the parents of kids I’ve taught. It’s been fascinating.

“I left the Marist Brothers  20 years ago and trained to be a priest.

“I’ve worked in Hamilton, Rotorua and in Tauranga, so I’ve had half my working life as a brother and half as a priest.

“I always had a niggle about becoming a priest and after about 20 years with the brothers I thought  I had to try this out, and I’m glad I did.”

A keen cyclist and walker, Fr Mark is also on the lookout for a new hobby.

“I used to do lead lighting (for stained glass windows). I never had enough time to do it, so I gave all my stuff away, but I think I will have time here to develop a new hobby.”

His appointment, which came after former St Mary’s priest Fr Tovio Iusitino moved to a role in Morrinsville, was one of the first made by the new Catholic Bishop of Hamilton Richard Laurenson.