ADVENTUROUS Brisbane priest, Fr Morgan Batt, is gaining a reputation for celebrating Mass in high places.
Just back from celebrating what is thought to be the first Mass on Mt Cook (Aoraki) in New Zealand, Fr Batt is already planning his next conquest – Mt Everest.
Fr Batt, an army chaplain at Enoggera, climbed Mt Cook on December 5 as part of the Australian Army Association’s Exercise 3000m New Zealand.
The aim was to climb 14 peaks during December and January.
Fr Batt said he always wanted to climb Mt Cook ‘and this time she let me’.
Accompanied by guide Kevin Nicholas and trainee guide Severin Marchand, he marked the achievement by celebrating Mass near the summit.
He decided against going to the top, out of respect for the Maori culture which prefers climbers not to.
Fr Batt’s next ambition is to celebrate Mass near the top of Mt Everest.
