With Gratitude
Nathaniel Centre Staff
Issue 15, April 2005
In the six years that the Nathaniel Centre has been in existence as a resource in bioethics for the Catholic Church we have become very aware of the role of our benefactors in sustaining our ministry on behalf of the church in New Zealand. We have been greatly blessed, not only by those who have provided financial support, but also, and perhaps more especially, by those who have provided encouragement and resources for our work.
Our benefactors include such fine physicians as the late Tom Collins and Jack Bergin. It also includes wonderful groups of Catholic lay men and women such as the Catholic Doctors Guild of Ss Luke, Cosmos and Damian, the Catholic Women's League and the Knights of the Southern Cross.
In this issue we record the recent passing of Father Warren Fowler and Mrs Marilyn Pryor both of whom were significant benefactors of the Nathaniel Centre. Both Marilyn and Father Warren did so much to nurture the Gospel of life within the Body of Christ and the wider community.
As Editor of the Wellington Archdiocesan newspaper, Wel-com, Marilyn Pryor had regular contact with The Nathaniel Centre and frequently reminded us that the issues around the gift of life "were just so important" as was the need for clear communication about the ethical and moral issues contained within them.
Father Warren Fowler nurtured the gift of life, not only through his ministry as a hospital chaplain and pastor, but also through his and Marilyn's work in Project Rachel – a programme for post-abortion counseling. We are deeply grateful to Father Warren's estate who has gifted The Nathaniel Centre with his valuable collection of books on moral theology and bioethics.
We extend our sympathy and prayerful support to their loved ones and pray eternal rest for them with the lord of all life. Together with all our benefactors, living and dead, we offer our prayerful gratitude for the kindness and encouragement that they have provided for The Nathaniel Centre.