Since the Catholic Parish of the Wairarapa sold the property in 2021, the once cared-for Catholic church is now seen as an eyesore.

Rubbish, debris and overgrown leaves surround the now-empty St Mary's church on the corner of King Street and SH2 - Carterton's High St.

Worse, it has been subjected to several break-ins, graffiti and arson says the new owner Westwood Land Developments Limited.

The stained glass windows are no more. Parishioners had donated those. Shards are scattered in bushes growing along the stone building's sides.

Although the police were notified and some young culprits were caught, the damage remains.

Police enquiries are continuing.

Distressed locals

The former Catholic church has become the subject of a "larger debate" among Carterton residents. The Wairarapa locals have various concerns about it, according to online comments.

Some are upset that the church has been left to fall into disrepair. Others are concerned about alleged break-ins and how safe the structure is.

The real estate listing from 2022 says the structure is earthquake-prone. At this stage no earthquake strengthening has been carried out.

When approached, the Carterton District Council said the church's exterior is not a Council matter unless it is in breach of the Wairarapa Combined District Plan.

"It is up to the building owner to maintain it how they see fit, within the scope of the district plan" it said.

However, some practical help is on offer to improve the property's street view, with local businesses offering gardening services free of charge.

The developer

Despite rumours about the fate of the former Catholic church, the new owner and developer is keeping quiet.

Westwood says it cannot comment as it is still "undecided".

In the meantime however work is underway in the background. "Engineers are currently exploring the options for strengthening the building," Westwood says.

Source

• Wairarapa Times Age

Former parish council member Asrina Hutchinson​ told Stuff it was sad to see the building go after it played such an important role in the community over the years.

"It was a very happy place and very much a parish community place," she said.

"It's sad because we had three or four generations of our family who have been part of that Catholic community."

In 2018 the Church next to the parish house was deemed an earthquake risk. The land and buildings were sold to developers earlier this year.

The Wairarapa parish has recently suffered several reversals; the Archdiocese closed the Carterton, Greytown and Martinborough churches - three of the parish's five faith communities.

The Wairarapa Times-Age reported several reasons for selling the three Wairarapa churches.

These include there being not enough priests to go around, high maintenance costs, declining congregations, and the directive from Pope Francis to focus more on missionary work.

In May, Wairarapa parishioner Gerard McGreevy told the Wairarapa Times-Age that closing church communities is not a way to support people.

McGreevy is the organiser of a Sunday morning alternative prayer service in Greytown.

Subsequently, others have asked how genuine Synodality really looks in the Church and are questioning whether Church administrators are leaving space for the Holy Spirit in the Synodal process.

"I thought Synodality was about listening together rather than church administrators at all levels of church management, having the Holy Spirit's personal direct dial number," a Wairarapa parishioner told CathNews.

Listening is an important attitude for Cardinal John Dew, who spoke recently to the national hui on synodality held in Wellington.

"Synodality calls us to listen to all the People of God, even if we think the ideas are whacky, or heretical or far-fetched.

"It is only in prayerful listening that we hear others and begin a dialogue . . . with the Spirit leading us," he said.

Then, on November 24, updating the archdiocese on the Synod process, Dew wrote thanking people for their participation in the Synodal process, saying, "I want you to know that your voices have been heard."

Meanwhile, the new owner of the Carterton parish house, Matt Calder, described the outside of the former parish house as "absolutely gorgeous" with "a huge amount of stature".

He says that when he's finished restoring it, the restored building will have four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and two living areas.

"When I'm finished with it, it should have another 110 years in it," Calder told Stuff.

He expects the restoration to be completed by March 2023.

Sources

• Stuff
• CathNews
• CathNews
• NZ Catholic
• Charities Commission
• Supplied

The sale is being managed on behalf of the diocese by Peter McCardle, chairman of the Wairarapa catholic finance committee.

Tenders closed 24 February.

McCardle said that parish priests had been asked to review their properties to make financially realistic decisions that will enable Catholics to better focus on sharing their faith rather than being absorbed in maintaining very old buildings.

While parishioners knew the church would be sold, many found out about the sale details only when it appeared on a TradeMe listing. This is despite McCardle promising to keep the Parish constantly up-to-date and informed as meetings and information progress.

"It's true there was a small notice in the parish newsletter just before Christmas, but everyone's attention is not so minutely focussed before Christmas", a Carterton parishioner told CathNews.

"Selling the Church is a big deal, we never got the opportunity to say goodbye", said another.

Many local Catholics are also upset that two stained glass windows donated by parishioners are to be sold as part of the Church.

They are also concerned the statue of Mary situated on the church façade may also be lost in the sale.

They want to know that if the building is demolished the windows and statue can be returned to the parish.

One parishioner said, "They (the finance committee) are unbelievable. Anyone would think they are dealing with their personal property. This property is owned and has been managed by the Carterton parishioners forever (albeit ownership is in the Cardinal's and archdiocese's name)".

In contrast to the Carterton sale, Whanganui parishioners are being fully consulted regarding the possible sale of the Holy Family Church. The church is one of three catholic churches in the city located reasonably close together.

The sale of the church will make possible a proposed 1.7ha social housing development providing 111 dwelling units.

The Catholic parish of Whanganui finance committee chairwoman Sue Langford shared 'the difficult question of how to manage financially' with parishioners at a February 17 meeting at the Holy Family Church.

The parish had a debt of more than $600,000, she said.

Parishioners have until March 11 to give their views on the proposal.

Sources

New Zealand Herald

Dominion Post

CathNews NZ