Marriage & Family Ministry
This ministry supports couples and families in growing closer to God and one another. Through workshops, retreats, prayer gatherings, and family-focused events, we help strengthen marriages, nurture children in the faith, and build vibrant, faith-filled homes. It’s a welcoming space where families can connect, learn, and journey together in God’s love.
The Domestic Church
We are the living Church - the People of God gathered in faith, prayer, community, and service to others. In our homes and daily lives, the Church continues to live and grow through what we call the Domestic Church.
In the Catholic tradition, the family has a unique and important role in the formation of faith. Parents are recognised as the first teachers and witnesses of faith for their children. As the Second Vatican Council teaches:
“The family, is so to speak, the domestic church.”
Lumen Gentium #11
Within the life of the family, we first come to know God, learn how to pray, and begin to seek God’s will in our lives.
The phrase “domestic church” has been part of Christian tradition since the early Church. In his Letter to Families, St John Paul II wrote:
“The Fathers of the Church, in the Christian tradition, have spoken of the family as a ‘domestic church,’ a ‘little church.’”
The domestic church reminds us that the way we live our faith within the home can have a lasting impact on the world around us. Families evangelise through everyday acts of love, faith, humility, mercy, and joy, living out the spirit of the Beatitudes in ordinary life.
Every family is called to be a place of prayer, love, and service — truly a “little Church of the home.” This calling is lived out in simple daily experiences and relationships. As Pope Francis writes:
“The spirituality of family love is made up of thousands of small but real gestures”
(Amoris Laetitia, no. 315)
Families strengthen their domestic church by deepening bonds of love, inviting the presence of Christ into their homes, and sharing faith in everyday life. This page and the resources linked here offer practical ideas and encouragement to help families continue growing in faith together.
Pro-Life Ministry
The Church teaches that every human life is sacred—from conception to natural death—because each person is created in the image and likeness of God. Our Pro-Life Ministry works to uphold the dignity of all life by promoting compassion, prayer, and support for mothers, families, and the most vulnerable. We seek to build a culture of life where every person is valued, protected, and loved.
Family and Parenting
Family life is where faith begins and love is lived every day. Our Family and Parenting Ministry walks alongside parents and caregivers as they nurture their children in faith, hope, and love. Through shared experiences, support, and prayer, we help families navigate the joys and challenges of everyday life while keeping Christ at the center.
Whether your family is young, growing, or blended, you’ll find encouragement, friendship, and faith-filled connection here!
Marriage Enrichment
Coming Soon!
Marriage Preparation
Preparing for marriage is more than planning a beautiful day—it’s about building a strong foundation for a lifelong journey together, supported by faith, love and the community of the Church. In the Catholic tradition, your marriage is a sacrament—a sacred covenant where two people commit to love one another as Christ loves the Church.
If you’re planning to marry in the Catholic Church, please contact the parish office as soon as you’re engaged. The Archdiocese of Wellington requires all couples to complete a marriage preparation course, such as Love is a Decision (LIAD), to help you grow together in faith and understanding before your wedding day.
You’ll also meet with your parish priest to complete the necessary pre-nuptial papers and provide baptism and confirmation details. It’s best to begin this process at least six months before your wedding, especially if your marriage will take place outside New Zealand.
Marriage preparation is a beautiful time to strengthen your relationship, explore what the sacrament means, and build a lasting foundation for your future together.
