Welcome to St. Joseph’s Parish

Te Pārihi o Hāto Hōhepa Taitoko

Group of six smiling people, women and children, standing outdoors on a sunny day, with trees and houses in the background.

Nau mai, haere mai - welcome to our Parish!

Here at St. Joseph’s, we joyfully welcome all who seek to grow in faith, hope, and love. Rooted in prayer and strengthened by the Sacraments, our parish family strives to follow Christ, serve one another, and share God’s love with our wider community. We are glad you are here and invite you to talk with us on this journey of faith.

Everyone is welcome at St. Joseph’s - whether you’re new to the area, returning to the practice of the faith, or simply curious, there’s a place for you here!

If you would like to learn more or explore becoming Catholic, please contact us at stjosephlevin.office@gmail.com.

A Community Radiating the Light of Christ

What’s New?

Change to Mass Time & Weekday Reconciliation Opportunity

Throughout the season of Lent, our parish offered Wednesday Mass at 7pm instead of 5:30pm. Since this new Mass time was quite popular and there was a great deal of positive feedback given regarding this change, Wednesday Mass will continue to be held at 7pm each week going forward. The sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available before the Mass from 6:15-6:45pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend!

Welcome to Our New Catholics!

Easter Vigil was a special blessing for St. Joseph’s Parish this year, as six candidates from our Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) programme were received into the Catholic Church.

We warmly congratulate them and give thanks to God for this beautiful step in their faith journey. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to grow in faith and discipleship.

These joyful occasions reflect a wider hope in the Church. A recent article from Radio New Zealand highlights encouraging signs of a quiet renewal of the Catholic faith in Christchurch, with growing interest - especially among young people seeking deeper meaning.

These stories remind us that the Holy Spirit continues to draw people to Christ and His Church.

Read the full article here:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/people/identity/a-quiet-catholic-revival-christchurch-says-yes

Church Land Sale

To keep up to date about the proposed sale of St. Joseph’s Parish Land, read the announcement from our Finance Chairperson, Harry Bennik. This can be found under ‘News and Events’ here.

If you have any feedback or ideas you would like to share, please speak with Harry. Reach out to the parish office anytime for his phone number or feel free to email Harry at stjosephlevin.finance@gmail.com. Thanks!

Come and Join Us!

MASS SCHEDULE

SATURDAY VIGIL MASS: 5:30pm
SUNDAY MASS: 9:30am
MONDAY: 5:30pm
TUESDAY & THURSDAY: 9:30am
WEDNESDAY: 7:00pm
FRIDAY: 12:10pm
RECONCILIATION TIMES

WEDNESDAY: 6:15pm - 6:45pm (before the 7pm Mass)
FRIDAY: 11:15am - 11:50am (during Holy Hour)
SATURDAY: 4:15pm - 5:15pm (before the Vigil Mass)
If you are not able to attend reconciliation during these times, please contact the parish office to make an appointment with one of our priests.
ADORATION & BENEDICTION

Adoration is every Friday from 11am - 11:50am.
Benediction is held at the conclusion of the Holy Hour of adoration each Friday from 11:50am-12:00pm.
PARISH OFFICE

Come visit our Parish Secretary, Adam Praat, in the office if you have any queries!
The Parish Office is open Mon-Thurs (9:00am - 10:00am).
The parish office is located at the front of the Presbytery. Please use the entrance up the steps on the side closest to the corrugated iron fence.
EMAILED NEWSLETTER

Keen to receive our more comprehensive parish newsletter by email?
Visit the parish office to let us know, write down your name and email and drop it onto the suggestions box at the back of the church, or email us at stjosephlevin.office@gmail.com.
PRAYER GROUPS

You are warmly invited to join one of our parish prayer groups. Have a look at our Prayer Ministry page (located under Ministries) to see if there is a group you would like to attend. Everyone is welcome no matter where you are on your faith journey!
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2026

If your child is already Baptized and will be 8 years of age or older by March 1, 2026, they can receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist. If you would like your child to receive these sacraments, please find their baptismal certificate and have this ready. Further info about the programme and registration forms will be made available early next year.
REGISTER AS A PARISHIONER

Whether you are new to the parish or would like to update your contact details, please fill out a new parishioner registration form and we will add you to our parish roll and mailing list.
The registration forms are in the foyer of our church and can be returned to the parish office or drop them into the suggestion box at the back of the church.

Our Parish Leadership

Fr. Simione Volavola MSC

PARISH PRIEST
Fr. Simi is a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, otherwise known as MSC. Born and raised in Fiji, Fr. Simi felt called to the priesthood from a young age and was ordained in 2001. He has served as a parish priest in the Marshall Islands, Fiji, and the United States.
In April 2025, Fr. Simi was appointed Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Parish, Levin, and Administrator of St. Mary’s Parish, Otaki.
Fr. Simi strives to bring the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to all of us. We are so blessed to have him shepherd our flock!
For any appointments with Fr. Simi, please contact the parish office and Adam, our secretary, will book you in. Alternatively, you are welcome to email Fr. Simi at stjosephlevin.priest@gmail.com.
Fr. Beniata Bakatete MSC

ASSISTANT PRIEST
Fr. Beni comes from Kiribati, a country with deep roots in the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Inspired from childhood by the Mass, he joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 2008 and was ordained in 2017 after studying at the Pacific Regional Seminary in Fiji.
Fr. Beni has served as Parish Priest in Fiji and Kiribati, and in 2025 he was appointed by Archbishop Paul Martin as Assistant Priest of St. Joseph’s Parish, Levin, and St. Mary’s Parish, Otaki. We are delighted to have him join us in our Parish!
Adam Praat

PARISH SECRETARY
Adam Praat works as our Parish Secretary and he is the first point of contact for many parishioners and visitors. He supports the Parish Priest and helps coordinate communications, records, and daily parish life.
Adam has a deep and lifelong connection to St. Joseph’s Parish. His family has been part of the parish community since the early 1960s, and he is a former student of St. Joseph’s School, later serving there as a teacher from 1995 to the present.
We are grateful to have Adam as our office admin! If you need to reach out to the office at anytime, you can contact Adam by phone at 027 511 2474 or through our office email: stjosephlevin.office@gmail.com
Parish Operations Team

The Parish Operations Team handles the day-to-day practical needs that keep parish life running smoothly. Their mission is to make sure the parish is safe, well-organised, and ready to welcome parishioners for worship, ministries, and events.
This team is made up of parish council members: Our Parish Priest, Parish Pastoral Council Chairperson, Finance Committee Chairperson, Parish Secretary, and one of the Priest’s Appointees.
Parish Pastoral Council

Our Parish Pastoral Council is a group of parishioners who assist the parish priest in guiding and supporting the life of our parish community. The Council’s main responsibilities are to form a pastoral plan, implement this plan, and to evaluate the results.
Our new Parish Pastoral Council (commissioned November 2025) is made up of our Parish Priest, Assistant Priest, Parish Secretary, Representative from St. Joseph’s School (Principal), Finance Chairperson, the Heads of all our main ministry teams, and two Priest’s Appointees.
To learn more about our Parish Council members and their visions for our parish, click on the link below.
Parish Finance Committee

Our Parish Finance Committee is made up of a team of parishioners who volunteer to assist the Parish Priest in managing the financial well-being of the parish. They review budgets, monitor income and expenses, provide guidance on financial planning, and help ensure responsible stewardship of parish resources. Their role supports transparency, accountability, and long-term stability for the parish’s ministries and operations.
If you need to reach out to our parish for anything regarding the finances, please email Irene Barrett (our wonderful accounts volunteer) and Harry Bennik (our Finance Chairperson) at stjosephlevin.finance@gmail.com.

Learn More About Our Parish Leadership Here

Our Parish Life and Outreach Ministry

Learn more about our Outreach ministry groups, our parish social groups, and our hospitality team.

Explore More Here

Nourish Your Faith

We have a range of great resources available for those wanting to dive deeper into the faith.

Browse through some helpful Catholic podcasts, watch your favourite faith-filled movies on Formed, or check out more resources and websites. Click on one of the boxes below to find more!