Elder O. Vincent Haleck of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with His Eminence John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington yesterday.
Cardinal Dew was accompanied in the meeting by Sr. Catherine Jones, Chair of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Committee for Interfaith Relations.
Elder Haleck was accompanied by Richard Hunter, Pacific Area director of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Tania Torea, the Church’s director of public affairs for the lower half of New Zealand’s North Island and the South Island.
Hannah Meha and Adam Conte—two members of the Brigham Young University Living Legends cultural performing group, currently on a tour of New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa—also joined the visit.
In a happy coincidence, Cardinal Dew and Ms Meha learned yesterday that their families come from the same town in New Zealand—the Hawke’s Bay community of Waipawa.
The group discussed the importance of faith, marriage, family, education and service to one another, including individuals and communities recovering from natural disasters and in other difficult circumstances.
“We were delighted to meet with Cardinal Dew,” Elder Haleck said.
“He and our other Catholic brothers and sisters are doing a mighty job in defending faith, family and religious freedom here and throughout the world. We are grateful for the opportunities we have, from time to time, to work together in these areas, and to lift the weary and down-trodden in our communities.”
“It is truly a time for people of faith to stand and work together for the benefit of all of God’s children.”
The group also discussed the BYU Living Legends’ recent performances in New Zealand as well as their educational and cultural outreach visit yesterday to Bishop Viard College in Porirua.
The Living Legends performed last night at Porirua’s Te Rauparaha Arena.