Abbey of Kopua
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
Dom Niko Verkley, superior ad nutum of Southern Star Abbey, Kopua (diocese of Palmerston North, New Zealand) since 2016, offered his resignation to the Father Immediate, Dom Steele Hartman, abbot of Tarrawarra Abbey (Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia). Dom Steele accepted the resignation which became effective in December 2025.
Since then, the brothers of Kopua and the Father Immediate, aided by the Abbot General and his Council, have sought the most life-giving path for the community. After discernment and following the process established in the Statute on Affiliation (General Chapter, 2025), Dom Steele requested that the community of Kopua be affiliated to the community of Tarrawarra.
On April 14 th 2026, the Abbot General with the consent of his Council and in the name of the General Chapter approved this affiliation, effective immediately. We pray that this (the first affiliation for a community of monks in the Order) will help the community to return to full exercise of its autonomy.
Dom Steele Hartman, abbot of Tarrawarra, thus becomes the major superior of the community of Kopua.
Comments