The reunification Mass at Sacred Heart Girls' College on 6 September was led by Bishop Charles Drennan, who told the parishioners that Taranaki had always been and would continue to be a fertile ground for the Catholic faith.

He said the fire that gutted the St Philomena's church in Brooklands in January 2014 had proven that faith did not live in bricks and mortar, but rather in the people of the community. Read Bishop Charles' homily.

Regional dean of North Taranaki Father Craig Butler said the amalgamation was a part of a plan to ensure the Catholic church would continue to grow.

Butler said to begin with there would be no changes and services would continue at the individual churches.

The amalgamation would ensure the Catholic community was unified and that emphasis was placed on the importance of the five Catholic schools in the district.

He said the process leading up to the amalgamation had been challenging but exciting.

"We are facing change and people are being very generous around that. It's been a lot of hard work, but it has been very satisfying because Taranaki has some wonderful people."

In 1856 the first Catholic church was build in the district, on Courtenay St, at a site now occupied by McDonalds and Countdown supermarket.

The Fitzroy and Brooklands parishes were established in the 1950 and 60s after the arrival of a cohort of Irish priests.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: Robert Charles/Fairfax NZ

Some parishes will merge to create a new parish. All parish churches will be retained.

The parish mergers will be implemented over a period of two years and will be completed no later that 1 February 2016.

Before making his decision Archbishop John worked with a focus group that he appointed two years ago.

With the focus group he drew up a series of proposals which from May through August 2013 were taken to parishes and pastoral areas for a broad-based consultation.

Hundreds of people have taken part in discussions and consultations relating to the document. Archbishop John says "the responses bear the results of deep reflection and fervent prayer, for which I am very grateful. It is very clear that the discussions were accompanied by a sense of excitement and with great energy and passion, which are wonderful gifts to bring to the life of the Church."

"This is not an easy time for the Archdiocese. We face unprecedented challenges. We could ignore them and refuse to change, but change is in the very nature of things. Not to change is to stagnate and die. What helps us, of course, is that we know God is with us," say Archbishop John.

Click here for PDF version of the Promulgating Booklet and Appendices

Source

• The Archdiocese of Wellington
• Wel-Com