DOMINICAN LAITY Newsletter #14 December 2010 Dear members of the New Zealand Dominican family NEW ZEALAND: THE FIRST DOMINICAN As Christmas nears, it is apt to recall that the very first Christmas Mass in New Zealand was said by a Frenchman and a Dominican, Fr Anton Villefeix OP, who travelled as chaplain aboard the St Jean Baptiste, captained by Jean François Marie de Surville, in 1769. Of de Surville’s expedition (at the same time as Cook’s, although they did not meet), the history says: In the evening of the 17th December, the St Jean Baptiste anchored in a bay which de Surville had baptised “La Baie de Lauriston”,” in honour of Lauriston, Governor of French India. Captain James Cook had already named this bay Doubtless Bay, although he had simply sailed by and not anchored at this point. To de Surville’s relief, friendly relations were established between the Māori and the French at Doubtless Bay. De Surville was able to replenish the ship’s supplies, and commence care for his numerous sick crew members. Unfortunately, Doubtless Bay, or “La Baie de Lauriston” was not particularly sheltered as a harbour, and de Surville was obliged to consider seeking a more secure spot. However, as the sick crew members were returning to the “St Jean Baptiste” after a day on shore, on the 27th December, a strong wind lifted, forcing their boat back. At the same time, the “St Jean Baptiste” found itself in difficulty, and its anchors were not holding. The French
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