The Te Awakairangi Parish in the Lower Hutt region of New Zealand’s Wellington Archdiocese is a large, culturally rich and diverse parish where the people are warm and welcoming and committed to a missionary outlook which is deeply grounded in the primacy of evangelisation.

Established in 2015, the parish is comprised of four churches and has been in the pastoral care of the Divine Word Missionaries since January 2024.

Parish Priest Fr Kommareddy Rajasekhar Reddy (Fr Raja) SVD said that from the moment he arrived, the faith community welcomed and supported him.

“What I love most about this parish is the people and the community. They are so welcoming, supportive and deeply involved in parish life,” he said.

“From the day I arrived, whether it was finding a place to live, adjusting to ministry or planning parish activities, the community has always stood by me, encouraged me and embraced me as one of their own. Their love, hospitality and commitment have made me feel like family.”

Te Awakairangi Parish is the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Wellington and is home to about 3000 parishioners from many cultures.

“Our parish is a rich tapestry of cultures and a community of communities, including Irish, Polish, Scottish, French, Swiss, Dutch, Italian, Australian, Samoan, Tokelauan, Fijian, Māori, Kiribati, Filipino, Indian, Sri Lankan, South Sudanese, Nigerian, South African, Vietnamese, Colombian, Myanmar and Greek, along with several others I am still getting to know and understand,” Fr Raja said.

“The major cultural groups actively represented in our parish are European and Pacific communities, while Asian and African cultures are growing in presence.”

The parish is composed of the churches of St Michael’s, St Bernadette’s, St Martin de Porres, and Ss Peter & Paul and covers the residential areas of Central Hutt, Avalon, Naenae, Taita, Fairfield, Alicetown, Maungaraki, Normandale, Harbour View and Belmont.

The parish was given the name Te Awakairangi after the original Maori name for the Hutt River. Over time the name grew to be used as the name for the Hutt Valley. “Te Awa” means the river, and “kairangi” describes it as a precious river that meanders across the valley.

“As a parish we are intimately connected to the geographical area within which we are. Water is something that is precious and holy. It symbolises grace, cleansing and life. As Catholics we are connected by the waters of our baptism,” the parish says on its website.

The Parish Vision is based on the parish being “a community of communities”.

“In our diversity we find unity and strength as members of the Body of Christ. We belong, grow and connect; working together for the good of the whole body,” the Vision Statement says.

“Our leadership is collaborative and transparent, encouraging active dialogue and applying the principle of subsidiarity (those things that can be decided at the lowest possible level are decided at that level).

“The identity of Eucharistic Communities within the Parish is respected and all voices are valued and listened to.

“We have a preferential option for the poor, creating conditions for the marginalised voices to be heard, to defend the defenceless, and to assess lifestyles, policies and social institutions in terms of their impact on the poor. Which calls us to strengthen the whole community to assist those who are most vulnerable.”

Fr Raja said the missionary dimension of the parish is centred on its commitment to evangelisation.

“We have a strong emphasis on sharing the faith and supporting those in need which is visible in supporting new refugee families who arrive in the parish as well as our St Vincent Paul Food Bank and Christmas appeal and many community engagements,” Fr Raja said.

“Religious Education is also a crucial part of parish life here, ensuring faith formation across all age groups in the parish community and also supporting our three schools and two Colleges in whatever way possible.”

Te Awakairangi Parish fosters a deep spiritual life through the sacraments and the Spiritual Renewal program which encourages and supports activities like meditation, talks and discussions on faith, ecology, and justice and peace topics.

Fr Raja said the parish is working on building its engagement in cultural and ecumenical dialogue.

“We are greatly investing in our cultural groups who could be instruments of promoting understanding. And we are deeply connected with the Christian churches in our area with combined liturgies for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, along with outreach activities,” he said.

The parish is also committed to Social Justice and Peace and is engaged with Archdiocesan entities and initiatives to uphold justice, peace, and the care of creation.

Fr Raja said the central location of the various churches in the parish puts them at the centre of community life.

“We are located in the CBD of Lower Hutt, Avalon Naeane, Taita, and in Lower Hutt we are just opposite the shopping mall, close to the Hutt hospital, our schools, and the colleges, and retirement and rest homes,” he said.

“Our parish welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds. Many seek opportunities for connection and spiritual nourishment and our role in pastoral care and service is vital to supporting our community of communities.”

Fr Raja is awaiting the arrival of SVD confreres who will be assigned to assist him in Te Awakairangi Parish, but in the meantime has received support from confreres from Australia. They have included Fr Uili Uvea, Fr Michael Knight and Fr Michael Hardie. Currently, Fr Sunil Nagothu SVD and Fr Noel Corcino CJM (a priest of the Archdiocese of Wellington) are assisting in the parish.

“At present, we have four priests assisting on weekends and three during the week,” he said.

Lay leadership is also a strong feature of the parish community.

“Last year, we were blessed to have Barbara Rowley from the Archdiocese serving as our Lay Pastoral Leader. She played a crucial role in supporting the SVD transition, helping us understand the culture and communities of Te Awakairangi Parish specially at St Bernadettes, Naenae and St Michael, Taita communities,” Fr Raja said.

“Barbara retired at the end of 2024, and we farewelled her on 9th February 2025, after the parish and school communities had returned from the holidays.”

Fr Raja said he feels blessed to be walking together with such a vibrant parish community.

“It is a joy and a blessing to journey with them, serve them pastorally and experience every moment with grace, gratitude and a missionary heart - one that seeks to live out intentional discipleship in all we do,” he said.

PHOTOS

TOP RIGHT: Wellington Archbishop Paul Martin SM celebrates the Installation Mass of Fr Raja as Parish Priest, surrounded by SVD confreres and local clergy.

TOP LEFT: Fr Raja with a group of parishioners representing some of the wide range of different cultures within Te Awakairangi Parish.

MIDDLE RIGHT: Parishioners farewell Barbara Rowley from her role as Lay Pastoral Leader in the parish.

MIDDLE LEFT and BOTTOM RIGHT: The parish is a warm and hospitable community of faith, welcoming all to the table.