Book celebrates 180 years of Wairarapa Catholicism

Heritage and Horizon, by Masterton-based academic and archivist Dr Claire Hills, is a comprehensive account of Catholicism in Wairarapa, beginning with first contact between local communities and Marist missionaries in the 1840s.

The book traces Wairarapa’s Catholic communities through the decades, from the leadership of the first resident priest, Fr Antoine Halbwachs – who built five churches in five years – to the impact of the Brigidine Sisters on local education, the work of Catholic charities supporting “the sick and the aged” and the merger of the region’s parishes in 2015.

The launch of Heritage and Horizon coincided with the 150th anniversary of Fr Halbwachs’ arrival in Wairarapa, and was scheduled to be marked with a celebration at Chanel College in Masterton on June 20-21.

Printed by Masterton’s Greenlees Print, the book is the result of many years of work by Dr Hills, author of several education and New Zealand settler histories, and a practising Catholic of more than six decades.

Before retiring in 2019, Dr Hills taught for 52 years at Catholic secondary schools in Wairarapa. The book also draws on her recollections of a changing education landscape, including the shift from religious to lay teachers and the integration of Catholic schools into the state system.

In writing Heritage and Horizon, Dr Hills said she hoped to “break new ground” in recording parish life – going beyond a simple chronology to capture the human face of the provincial church, shaped by rural grit, faith in action and a deep sense of community.

“Our history is full of stories that really are quite remarkable,” Dr Hills said.

“They’re stories of men and women who had every reason to be anxious and disillusioned – but they got stuck in, looked for solutions and showed up for each other. They trusted in their faith and, in doing so, moved the community forward in practical, resilient and robust ways.”

FULL STORY

Faith, grit and community: 180 years of Catholic life in Wairarapa | The Post (By Erin Kavanagh-Hall/ Wairarapa Times-Age – subscription required)

The Catholic Parish of Wairarapa