Guests from Monaco

Louise Kiely with Diva Susan Boyle and Monsignor Bernard Kiely in London.

Susan had just sung and met the Pope in the UK and the Kielys were off to Rome to join His Holiness at the Canonisation of Blessed Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia s first Saint.

Susan was very humble, sweet and a delight to be with. We are thrilled with her ongoing success.

Canonisation of Blessed Mary of the Cross MacKillop

I was very honored to attend the Canonisation ceremony of Blessed Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australiasia’s first Saint on October the 17th at St Peters in Rome. My brothers Peter and Bernard were with me along with many friends.

What an exciting time, seeing the Pope on three occasions including a concert inside the Vatican walls, where His Holiness sat about 15m from us. To be present with the Holy Man celebrating mass for our Saint , all overwhelming.

We met,Cardinals, Arch Bishops, Mary Mackillops, St Joseph sisters, all interesting well educated, caring people, who all warmed to the legacy left by this wonderful woman who did so much for the poor and under priviledged in our countries.

She is a person I have always felt close to, maybe her coming to Arrowtown and setting up a school there or the great sense of peace I have always felt when visiting her tomb and museum in North Sydney. Her faith and perseverance when faced with sickness and adversity was not portrayed as heroic or religiously exotic but as an ordinary person who dared to make a difference.

I am inspired, it does rub off, I loved the whole experience.

Thanksgiving mass for St Mary MacKillop

19th October , Thanksgiving mass for St Mary MacKillop at St Pauls Outside The Walls in Rome was the culmination of the experience of a lifetime, my brother Bernard and the Aboringinal Deacon Boniface Perdjert con celebrated the mass with at least a hundred priests supporting CardinalPell. Mary MacKillop would have been delighted with the presence of the Indigenous people from both New Zealand and Australia, the sound of the didgeridoo was very moving. This was really Australiasia’s day, the service was mainly in English which does not happen that often in one of the worlds iconic churchs.

St Peters Square

Fr Peter Tipene from the Hokianga,Peter Kiely, Louise, Arch Bishop John Dew, Monsignor Bernard Kiely after the ceremony in St Peter’s Square.

Dinner at the Piazza Minerva

Her Excellency Liana Marolla, the former Ambassador of Italy to NZ hosted a reception dinner at her residence in Piazza Minerva.

Back row:

HE. Liana Marolla (Former Ambassador of Italy to New Zealand), Adriana Bembo, Admiral Paolo Bembo, Louise, Milanese Architect Maurella Boifava (who restored the historic residence of the Italian Ambassador in Wellington, as featured in NZ House & Garden), Hon Consul Peter Kiely, Francisco Zampetti.
Front row:

HE Laurie Marks (New Zealand Ambassador to Italy), His Grace Archbishop John Dew (Metropolitan of the Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand).

Louise receiving the Socialite Cup at the Goodbars Hospitality marquee at the Cromwell races

Louise got a surprise at the  Cromwell races last weekend when she was awarded the the Socialite Cup at the Goodbars Hospitality marquee.

Visiting Journalist from the USA, Barclay Nelson, being shown Queenstown's nightlife by Aimee Clark and Stephanie Bursill.

Visiting Journalist from the USA, Barclay Nelson, being shown Queenstown’s nightlife by Aimee Clark and Stephanie Bursill – outside the popular Bardeaux Bar.

Diners Club, Ray Smith & Brett McVeigh with Queenstown Tourism Marketeers John Mc Donald,Simon Green,David Kennedy and Graham Budd at an informal get together at Queenstown House during the NZ Golf Open

Diners Club, Ray Smith & Brett McVeigh with Queenstown Tourism Marketeers John Mc Donald,Simon Green,David Kennedy and Graham Budd at an informal get together at Queenstown House during the NZ Golf Open

Diners Club, Ray Smith & Brett McVeigh with Queenstown Tourism Marketeers John Mc Donald,Simon Green,David Kennedy and Graham Budd at an informal get together at Queenstown House during the NZ Golf Open

Diners Club, Ray Smith & Brett McVeigh with Queenstown Tourism Marketeers John Mc Donald,Simon Green,David Kennedy and Graham Budd at an informal get together at Queenstown House during the NZ Golf Open

Kiely veterans at the tennis

“We’re here every year,” Mr Kiely said. “You meet so many of the players and overseas officials and representatives.”

The pair, who will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in September, are both past presidents of Auckland Tennis and have been courtside for almost as many decades.

Mr Kiely, 85, said he began playing tennis in the 1930s, when he was a schoolboy.

He moved on to administration, acting as a tournament director for about a decade.

The Kielys have been to countless matches – they’ve been to the Wimbledon tournament in England 15 times, the French Open at Roland Garros France, the Australian Open in Melbourne and the US Open in New York.

But, Mr Kiely said, “there is nothing like these two events that are played here in Auckland”.

“They are ranked highly internationally as the friendliest tournaments in the world.”