Contribution by:
Hannah Kennedy and Claudia Campbell
St Mary's College, Wellington
Bishop John Dew was born in Waipukarau in 1948. His parents are Joan and George Dew and he has two sisters, Margaret McKinley a Kate Sinton.
Bishop John grew up in Waipukarau and went to the local 'St Josephs Primary School'. He went to 'St Josephs College, Masterton, now known and 'Chanel College', for his secondary school education.
Before he entered the priesthood, Bishop John worked in horticulture because of his love for gardening. (He also has a love for cooking). Bishop John was ordained a priest on the 9th of May 1976, in Waipukarau at St Josephs church. As a priest he served many parishes including St Josephs Upper Hutt and St Annes Newtown.
His ministry took him to the Cook Islands where again he had parishes and worked with the people. Bishop John is very in touch with the people and this has made him a very special friend and priest to many.
Bishop John was ordained the Auxiliary Bishop of Wellington on Wednesday 31 May in 1995. The ceremony was held at the Town Hall to accommodate the 2000 people. It was a huge and very memorable occasion.
In his role as Bishop, Bishop John does much work in the Wellington Arch-Diociese. As well as saying masses and holding other important occasions he also visits parishes and schools.
We admire Bishop John Dew not only because of all the work he does but also his way of all the work he does but also his way with people. He is a very special person who is touch with the community and ordinary lives. Bishop John is one of the youngest bishops ever in Wellington and so he is also in contact with the youth. Bishop John is a great leader for the youth. Bishop John is a great leader for the Catholic Church of today and his special ways are an example to all of us.