Saints Peter and Paul Church in Lower Hutt, New Zealand has celebrated its 175th anniversary, with a series of joyous jubilee events.
Parish Priest, Fr Raja Kommareddy SVD, said the celebrations, which took place over the whole weekend of June 28 and 29, marking the parish’s patronal feast, were a wonderful testimony to the community’s vibrant faith and multicultural richness.
“For me, the highlight was seeing and experiencing our faith communities coming together to celebrate with such joy – bringing their cultures, ethnicities, languages, and love into one unified expression of faith,” he said.
The celebrations got underway on the morning of June 28 when the church was packed for a multicultural Jubilee Mass, with Wellington Archbishop Paul Martin SM as principal celebrant and concelebrants from the Archdiocese and religious communities. Four Divine Word Missionaries were present over the weekend, including the Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD, as well as Fr Raja, Fr John Sang Le SVD, and Fr Sunil Nagothu SVD.
Following the Jubilee Mass, celebrations included fellowship and feasting, the cutting of an anniversary cake and tree planting by students from Sacred Heart College, along with the sharing of memories and various multicultural performances.
Later that evening, many parishioners enjoyed a Jubilee Dinner at a local restaurant. Among the guests were Archbishop Martin, the SVD Provincial Fr Asaeli Rass SVD, priests and religious who have served the parish over the years.
The following day, celebrations continued, with a children-led Family Mass, presided over by Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington, Cardinal John Dew, and concelebrated by Fr Rass and Fr Raja. It was followed by a celebration for children. That evening 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 took place in the parish hall.
Fr Raja said that in the lead-up to the Jubilee, parishioners prayed a nine-day novena in Te Awakairangi parish.
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.
In a forward written for the official Jubilee Booklet, Archbishop Martin said it was a joy to celebrate 175 years of the parish.
“This parish was one of the earliest Catholic communities, formed within the first 12 years of the arrival of Bishop Pompallier and the Marist priests to New Zealand,” he said.
He said many parishioners and others were aware of the impressive history of the parish, which was covered thoroughly by Bernard Cullinane’s book Mission to the River Hutt.
“The many developments in the faith community in the first 150 years were captured so vividly. But we know that a parish is never static. The last 25 years have seen significant changes,” he said.
“The creation in 2015 of Te Awakairangi parish brought back together several communities who had been formed out of the original parish, and you are coming together as one to work in a coordinated manner for the sake of the mission of the Church.
“We never know what lies ahead, but as God’s people, trusting in the power of Holy Spirit, desiring to grow in holiness, and to bring the Gospel to those who have yet to hear it, we have a mission that does not change.
“Just like the people who formed the Catholic faith community in 1850, the people of 2025 reflect the changing nature of the Church and our society.
“We come from many different backgrounds and cultures, yet we gather with our brothers and sisters in faith to build the Church so that there will be a place for people to praise God, to find the support they need to live that relationship, and be good disciples.
“This parish has so much for which to give thanks to God. So many have gone before who played their part in the parish and who pray for us now within the communion of saints. We look to the future, trusting that God will continue to grace and bless us as we endeavour to follow him in this part of our country and within the Archdiocese of Wellington.”
Archbishop Martin asked God’s continued blessing on the parish for the years ahead.
“And in this year of Jubilee we pray that we will be pilgrims of hope to all with whom we come into contact.”
Fr Raja said he was delighted with the weekend’s celebrations and thanked all involved.
“I was truly amazed at how well the groups coordinated everything, from prayer to liturgy and the overall celebration,” he said.
“I feel very grateful for the opportunity to journey with them and celebrate this milestone together.”
PHOTOS
TOP RIGHT: Archbishop Paul Martin SM with clergy including Parish Priest Fr Raja Kommareddy SVD and Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD pictured as the Gospel is processed in.
TOP LEFT: The 175th Jubilee Booklet
MIDDLE RIGHT: An afternoon tea for seniors to celebrate the Jubilee.
BOTTOM LEFT: Fr Raja blesses a commemorative tree with students from Sacred Heart College.