Category: Diocesan News

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.

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.

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.

Wendy Hill has been appointed as a Catholic Hospital Chaplain to work part-time at Wellington Hospital. Wendy took up her appointment in January joining the Wellington Catholic Social Services chaplaincy team.

Cecily McNeill (left), a parishioner of Wellington South and niece of Fr James Hugh McNeill, accepts his medals from Archdiocesan Archivist Peter Holm (right). Fr. McNeill was Military Chaplain 1956–1968, receiving campaign medals for Malaya and Borneo followed by an MBE in 1968. On his death in 1994 the medals were to be sent to his relatives but ended up in the Archives. To honour this intention Cardinal John Dew approved the return of the medals to Cecily as a representative of the family.

The Wellington Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Wellington makes a significant grant to the archdiocese each year, including chaplaincies and social services. It also makes funding available to the Archbishop for priests’ support and special issues.