A eulogy for The Most Reverend Denis Browne DD, CNZM, by Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon KNZM, KStJ.6 September 2024. The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Diocese of Hamilton

A summary of this has been included in our Spring Kete Kōrero 2024, Sir David agreed to share the full version with us also.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen.

It is a great privilege for me to be invited by the family to share a eulogy here today at the passing of my old and dear friend Denis George Browne, bishop, a true successor of the apostles. Catholic tributes have flowed in over recent days for Bishop Denis Browne, a bishop after Christ’s own heart. He is described as “well known, and respected" by former colleagues, having served in ordained roles for over six decades. Including The Cook Islands and Niue, Auckland and Hamilton.

At Rotorua’s John Paul College, where there is the Bishop Denis Browne centre, their flags were lowered to half-mast. The principal Justin Harper,

described Bishop Denis as a fervent supporter of all things educational, taking a keen interest in supporting the school. He went on to say we are

thinking of his surviving family and keeping them in our thoughts and prayers for this sad time. It is right to acknowledge Denis’ family. I once

asked him about his catholic family life, given that all his siblings became devout and ordered their lives in sacramental vocational ways. He described his large warm open catholic family home where clergy and religious were often a part of the hearth and home life, and clearly this glow of hospitality shaped the spirituality of the house itself.

Auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Sydney Richard Umbers describes Bishop Denis as a

“good friend to the family…in his last years Bishop Denis deep spirituality shone through in his warm and prayerful hospitality and in his preaching”.

Others have said in the press that he is also remembered as a kind man who let people do their thing and try new things. He spent a lot of time

with his people around the diocese and had a good memory for names and people and places. ‘Living no longer for ourselves but for Christ’, ‘Living the truth in love’, are the mottos of this diocese and Denis incarnated them and embodied them in his vocation here as bishop.

Like all of us, he had his blind spots and favorite things, he loved his golf and horses and loved to entertain at his house . These observations are entirely consistent with my experience of Denis, in every way, for over thirty

years. This included times Here in Hamilton as bishops relating to each other across the river for 17 years, where we compared what was called

bridge street to the bridge we were called to build following the significant 1995 ecumenical encyclical of John Paul the Second, Ut Unum Sint.

We shared many meals in our homes, discussed much at national meetings, or when he visited in Rome when I was working in an ecumenical role there. We talked about the New Zealand Anglican Catholic Commission and his work for the International Commission for English in the

Liturgy. I also saw him in retirement in Auckland. All through the seasons and the years, the grain ran true, the heart wood was always there at the center of his soul. To me his spirituality can be compared to the steady warm glow of the hearth in a home, and undoubtedly influenced by his own early home life. What is remarkable is that this abiding warmth and steadiness always seemed to be the same whoever he was with, inside or beyond the church. This is borne witness by the awarding of the New Zealand 1990 commemoration medal in 1990 and the companion of the New Zealand order of merit for services to the community in 2001. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Waikato for services to the community which he shared with me.

He could also be very clear and firm when he needed to be, but I never heard of him moving from this hearth center of warmth and a steady glow to a fire that burnt or dies. We can attribute some of this spirituality to his formation by the Jesuits at Holy name seminary Christchurch and the Vincentian order at Holy Cross Mosgiel.

As many of you will know, Denis had a dry and ready wit. I can remember on one occasion when we shared a service in the Te Ara Hou social service village here in Hamilton that he had very much helped to bring into being, out of the Chanel Park complex. This created an Anglican and

Catholic hosted city mission. He invited me to co-preside in a catholic written liturgy of the word in the St Peter Chanel Chapel in the village. There

was a rubric with my name beside it which said “reflection”. Being an Anglican I took this to mean ‘lead a period of reflection in silent prayer.” Which it doesn’t mean in catholic rubrics. It means a short reflective homily. So, I introduced a full five minutes of silence. Denis then stood up at the end

and said, he would like to thank Bishop for David for the reflection…. he said “I was deeply moved by what he didn’t actually say, I gained a lot from

NOT hearing him speak to us.. and on and on…”. He often brought the subject up for some years afterwards…. He also referred to us as ‘dad and

dave’ in public…

Denis, you were sent to lead by example in the total ministry and mission of the Church. You were called to be Christ’s shepherd in seeking out and caring for those in need. You were anointed to heal and reconcile, uphold justice and strive for peace. To exercise godly leadership in that part of the Church committed to your care, and to maintain wise discipline within its fellowship. The Church looked to you to promote peace and unity among all God’s people, and to encourage their obedience to God’s word. To keep the Church true to its faith, as found in Scripture and the Creeds, to teach this faith and proclaim it.

You remembered that all this is in God’s hand, and it is done in God’s name to God’s glory. You served humbly and cheerfully. You were not arrogant or overbearing. You had the same mind as Christ Jesus. Denis, you did not allow the burdens and anxieties of your office to blunt your purpose or cloud your vision, but strove always to be pure in heart, to be Christ’s servant, to follow Jesus. The vision of God enlightened your understanding.

God’s continuing call sustained your walk with Christ, and kept you joyful.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant. O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered; Accept our prayers on behalf of the soul of thy servant departed, and grant him an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

E te Pihopa, te pononga tuturu o te Atua,

Haere, haere, haere; haere ki nga ringaringa o te Hepara pai.

Moe mai, moe mai, moe mai i roto i te Rangimarie o Te Atua , no reira, moe mai, moe mai, moe mai.