Tui Motu is a magazine and it's also a community with staff, volunteers, subscribers and contributors sharing their service, hospitality and friendship.

The messages and the calls we get initially start with business — to renew a subscription — and then often go on to include stories from the person's or their family's lives. We hear of hopes and milestones — births, achievements, birthdays, anniversaries, memories, ideas for improvements and travels to visit family or friends. 

We share, too, in sad events. We were shocked when John Meredith, who often sent us book reviews and messages, shared that he had been diagnosed with cancer and soon after we heard of his death in May 2022. And we've come to learn of the death of other subscribers from their children or friends. We have subscribers asking to be remembered in prayer. 

Then we have friends dropping in when they are passing by or visiting Dunedin. We value all these contacts as contributions to our Tui Motu community life. 

Over the last year we've celebrated birthdays and particular events with those who come to the Tui Motu offices regularly.

Ann Hassan Welcomed into the Church

We celebrated Ann Hassan's Baptism, Confirmation and Communion in St Joseph's Cathedral during the Easter Vigil, 2022. Representatives of our volunteers and Board joined Ann for the liturgy and the joyful party afterwards. Ann wrote about the occasion in her article: "I've Now Cast My Lot" (TM Issue 271 June 2022: 20).

Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Trifle

We're known for our celebratory morning teas. Ann and I both bake to thank our volunteers for their assistance each month. One highlight was the jubilee trifle which was the winning dessert in a UK competition to mark Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee. We made it for the morning tea that followed packing the June 2022 issue. It was delicious but the numerous steps in the recipe, worthy of Masterchef, make it a one-off. Next time we'll take short cuts! 

End of Year Thanksgiving Dinner

We held our annual dinner on 3 December 2022 to thank our volunteers for their support during the year. We invited Michael Hill IC and Francie Skelton, the first editorial team, and Elizabeth Mackie OP to join us for the evening. Elizabeth was recovering from surgery and enjoyed meeting up with her Tui Motu friends. We didn't know at the time that we would not have her with us for much longer.

Shirley's 90th Birthday in February 2023

Shirley Curran is our longest reigning Dunedin volunteer. She started in the time of Michael and Francie and has been coming regularly every month since. We estimate that Shirley's been volunteering for at least 20 years. In February 2023 we celebrated her 90th birthday. Clare Curran wrote about her mother in "Turning the Mirror on Ourselves" (TM Issue 278 February 2023: 3).

We always look forward to hearing about Shirley's latest activities and stories about her life when she arrives for labelling and packing each month.

We actually do more than eat at Tui Motu but this eucharistic act of sharing food is an ingredient of our community life.