Missionaries of Charity farewelled from Wellington

By CathNews New Zealand

October 27th, 2026

(Archdiocese of Wellington/Facebook)

The Missionaries of Charity have been farewelled from Porirua in Wellington after serving there for a quarter of a century.

Cardinal John Dew and Archbishop Paul Martin SM were among clergy at the Mass celebrated at Holy Family Church on October 17.

The Missionaries of Charity, founded by St Teresa of Kolkata, had been discerning where God is calling them to be and what needs the poor have. As a result, the sisters have decided to open a new house in East Timor and to finish their ministry in Wellington and in two communities in Australia – in Dareton in Wilcannia-Forbes Diocese and in Orange in Bathurst Diocese, both in New South Wales.

Earlier this year, the congregation’s superior general, Sr Mary Joseph MC, met Archbishop Martin and also visited the sisters in Porirua.

According to the Porirua parish history, the sisters began their mission there on August 15, 2001. They have cared for the most vulnerable and assisted with the sacramental programme, as well as distribution of Holy Communion to the sick. They enhanced parish life in many ways.

In a Facebook post, the Wellington Archdiocese thanked the sisters for their years of generous service in the community and prayed for them on the next steps of their ministry.

In farewelling the sisters from his diocese, Bathurst Bishop Michael McKenna said, “The Missionaries of Charity serve all across the world, usually in the most deprived and even dangerous places. In recent years, their numbers have become fewer, so they are being moved to missions of greatest need. We will ‘give what God takes’; and assure the sisters that our prayer and support accompany them wherever they may go”.

According to a Missionaries of Charity-related website, the congregation has a mission in Glen Eden in Auckland.

FULL STORY

Giving thanks for the Missionaries of Charity (Archdiocese of Wellington/Facebook)

Missionaries of Charity head meets Wellington Archbishop (CathNews New Zealand)

Our Church History (Holy Family Parish Porirua)

Instagram (Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green)

Instagram (Catholic Diocese of Bathurst)

Missionaries of Charity Sisters (Mother Teresa Center)

Farewell and Heartfelt Thanks to the Missionaries of Charity – A Message from Bishop McKenna(Catholic Diocese of Bathurst)