Final Mass celebrated at St Thomas More Church, Wilton

“Today is also a day of gratitude, for we give thanks for all that’s happened here,” Archbishop Martin said in his homily. “This place was built out of faith, out of generosity and out of commitment.”

He added: “The faith that’s been living here is not being closed today. The Church will continue, because the people of God will continue.”

He ended his homily with some words to reflect on: “Our home is not simply a building made by human hands. Our home is in Christ.”

On August 29, there was an open day at St Thomas More Church, and people were able to share memories and stories.

Many past parishioners returned and told of their recollections. Those present also heard from the family of the designer of the church, which was opened in 1969 by Cardinal Peter McKeefry.

In a reflection shared by Otari Parish on Facebook, long-time parishioners Stuart and Estelle Henrys stated that one of the great gifts of St Thomas More was its close-knit community.

“With a congregation of its size, parishioners were known by name and participation was expected, not left to others. Pastoral care was personal and the bonds of friendship became the foundation of our mission. That mission reached beyond the walls. Through outreach, social justice initiatives, support for refugees, care for creation, bicultural dialogue, ecumenical events and countless acts of service, we sought to live the Gospel in practical ways. We learned that faith is not something we keep to ourselves; faith sends us out.”

A report by the Otari Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) chair Des Tiller said the decision to close St Thomas More Church has been “an important and, for many, emotional change”.

“The PPC has worked to support parishioners through this transition, ensuring continuity of worship and pastoral care, while also seeking to foster a unified and welcoming parish community. We are grateful for the openness, resilience and compassion shown by parishioners during this time,” Mr Tiller said.

FULL STORY

Final Mass at St Thomas More Wilton (Archdiocese of Wellington/Facebook)

Saturday session, Memories of St Thomas… (Otari Parish/Facebook)

Facebook (Otari Parish)

AGM 2026 PPC chair report (Otari Parish)