Two of the oldest parishes in the archdiocese are amalgamating. Sacred Heart parish, founded 1874 and based in Reefton, and St Canice’s parish, founded 1867 and based in Westport, are to become the ‘Catholic Parish of Buller and Inangahua.’
During Holy Week at special Chrism Masses in diocesan cathedrals and churches around the globe, oils to be used in the Sacramental life of the Church, are blessed and distributed to representatives to take back to their parishes and faith communities.
Waipatu Māori Catholic Club,are a local group, generally based out at Waipatu Marae, north of Hastings, and we are about to celebrate our 75th birthday. We too are the organisers for our annual hui aranga for 2024 to be held here in Heretaunga or Napier. We are currently looking to secure a venue.
The Young Christian Mothers group was formed in the Sacred Heart Parish of Hastings in 1974 with the help and support of Fr Paul Shannahan sm. Although the group was Catholic based, they opted to use the word Christian rather than Catholic to reflect their wish to be inclusive, particularly for non-Catholic women who had Catholic husbands.
Over the last couple of years the Archdiocese of Wellington has been talking with Ngāti Kapumanawawhiti (Ngāti Kapu), whose ancestors made land available at Pukekaraka, Ōtaki, for the Catholic Mission in 1851.
Sacred Heart Cathedral is no stranger to change.
In her 122-year history, the mother church of the Wellington Archdiocese has been altered in shape and colour and furnishing, as well as in response to liturgical reforms.
There was a spirit of deep gratitude to all those killed in both World Wars when parishioners from the Catholic Parish of Whanganui – Te Parihi Katorika Ki Whanganui gathered around the altar to mark Anzac Day at morning Eucharist.
Fale Pasifika Horowhenua held its annual Pasifika Celebration Day on Saturday, 11 March, at the Levin Domain. An estimated 4000 people enjoyed cultural performances from Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa and Tonga.
The second Sunday in Lent saw the return of the Filipino Choir in force for this post-Covid reunion at Sacred Heart Church, Rongotea – a small rural village near Palmerston North. Choir members and locals present resulted in few empty seats! Sacred Heart was established in 1895.
St Gerard’s Monastery on Mt Victoria has been sold to new owners.
The landmark heritage building went on the market on 24 February. The category one, heritage-listed church and monastery building, which had been listed with a declared RV of $16.9 million, was sold in March after three weeks on the market.