Marist Priest Behind Set Up Of Tutu Training Centre Dies

The Marist Brother, who was behind the successful development of Tutu Rural Training Centre on Taveuni Island, will be laid to rest in New Zealand tomorrow.

Father Michael McVerry, passed away on October 21 at the presbytery at Taumarunui, NZ.

It was his last mission there.

Born on September 4, 1943, Father Michael visited the centre in Taveuni in August. It would be his last visit.

Tutu Rural Training Centre director Father Petero Matairatu said: “In 2019, after years of serving in the Oceania Province, first in the Solomon Islands and since 1984 at centre, he returned to NZ due to heart issues that required treatment in NZ periodically.”

In 2021, he was formally transferred to the NZ Province.

“He assisted in the Parish of Dannevirke before joining the Maryknoll Marist community at the Manawatu-Whanganui region of NZ at the beginning of 2022,” he added.

“Father Michael was such a legendary and wonderful human be- ing, decent, generous, honest human being and incredibly witty and perceptive.”

His parents were Joyce and Fred McVerry. He had three siblings, Timothy, Paul and Katie.

He was professed on January 9, 1964 and ordained on June 24, 1968. He was heavily engaged in the

Marriage Encounter programme for Fiji and the South Pacific and still in leadership for the Pacific team upon his sudden demise.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:

• 1969 - May 1969 St Patricks College, Silverstream
• May 1969 - Dec 1969 St Bede’s College, Christchurch
• 1972 - 1975 Marist Training Centre, Tutu, Fiji
• 1975 - 1976 Studies, Berkeley
• 1977 - 1981 Takwa, Malaita, Solomon Islands
• 1982 Marist Training Centre, Waiyevo, Fiji
• Oct 2019 - 2021 Dannevirke parish
• 2022 Maryknoll, Napier
• 1997: Member of the Order of Fiji - for his work in Adult Education
• 2021: Transfer from Oceania to NZ Province

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