Long-serving priest, 93, in final throes of health decline becomes published author

Caroline Williams Reporter from North Shore Times

It was touch-and-go whether Father Martin Bugler would survive to see his memoir published.

But at 93, the long-serving priest has become a published author during the final throes of his life.

Bugler has been a parish priest for 62 years and is thought to be one of New Zealand’s longest-serving priests, with stints at many parishes including Milford and Takapuna.

His memoir, A Song to be Sung, documents Bugler’s life from a quiet boy living in poverty in rural Ireland, to becoming a well-loved and widely-followed Catholic priest in New Zealand.