Lower Hutt community celebrates 175 years of faith

The church was packed for a multicultural jubilee Mass celebrated on the morning of June 28, with Archbishop Paul Martin SM as principal celebrant. The jubilee celebrations involved fellowship and feasting, the cutting of an anniversary cake and tree planting by students from nearby Sacred Heart College.

The jubilee Mass was followed by the sharing of memories and various performances. A jubilee dinner was enjoyed by many at a local restaurant. A family Mass on June 29 was followed by a celebration for children. There was pizza for young people and wine and cheese for adults after an evening Mass led by the parish’s youth.

On July 5, a bonus jubilee high tea celebration for senior parishioners will take place in the parish hall.

A nine-day novena was prayed in Te Awakairangi parish leading up to the celebration of the jubilee.

Sts Peter and Paul Church was founded in June 1850 as a mission in the then-new Diocese of Wellington. The site occupied an area of about one hectare, bordered by the Hutt River. French priests administered the Hutt Mission until 1883, and were succeeded by Irish, English and later New Zealand-born priests. 

In 1927, the present Knights Road property, which was then farmland, was purchased. The new church was built in 1945, and there have been various alterations and additions since then. Just on 100 priests have served the parish since 1850.

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Jubilee Novena list (Te Awakairangi parish)

History of Ss Peter and Paul – Te Awakairangi Parish (Te Awakairangi Parish)