History of Ss Peter and Paul

History of Our Church

Ss Peter & Paul church was founded in June 1850 as a Mission in the then new Diocese of Wellington.  The site was in the present day High Street and occupied an area of over two acres (approximately 1 hectare) bordered by the Hutt River and extending approximately 100m along High Street south from the present Andrews Avenue. 

The Mission territory extended beyond the Valley to include the Wairarapa and to the west from the northern part of what is now part of Wellington up to Paekakariki and beyond.  French missionary bishops and priests were the pioneers of the Catholic Faith in New Zealand and it was one of these, Father Jean Forest who headed the Hutt Mission.  Father Forest built a church and an adjoining house and in 1853 he also built and commenced the first Catholic school in the Hutt likewise on the same site.  It continues today as Ss Peter & Paul School.

French priests continued to administer the Hutt Mission until 1883 being succeeded by Irish, English and later New Zealand born priests.  Over the years various parts of the original Mission became separate parishes in their own right until ultimately the parish achieved its present size extending from Alicetown in the south to Naenae and Avalon in the North and including the Western Hills. 

In 1927 the present Knights Road property, then farmland, was purchased. To cope with increasing numbers the school was relocated in a new two storey school building on this land in 1929.  The building of the presbytery in 1938/39 followed it and finally a new church was built in 1945 replacing the original 1850 church demolished in 1940, after most of the High Street land had been sold to make way for urban expansion. 

The present church was built in the Gothic style with the altar at the end of central and side aisles.  A much enlarged entrance area was added in 1959 featuring the glass panels showing Ss Peter & Paul these being now incorporated into the recent entrance.

In 1986/87 the church was substantially altered to bring it into conformity with the modern layout considered more desirable for services with an altar located in a central position.

In 2001 a further major alteration to the front of the church was carried out providing both an enlarged gathering area and a new Chapel dedicated to St Elizabeth of Hungary.  The Chapel is used for the smaller weekday services and other occasions not requiring the use of the full church and seats approximately 100 people.  It can be opened up by means of folding doors being then used as part of the church. 

The two large stained glass windows on either side of the altar depicting in symbolic form the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church feature the Hutt River flowing through the Valley, with the hills bordering it on the outside edges their varying colours representing the vegetation and the diversity of the shadowing on the hills.  The circular window at the top of the Chapel depicts the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove with three magnolia blooms, these trees being a feature of the gardens in the front of the church.

On the west wall of the Chapel is a quilt made by parishioners featuring various aspects of the Parish history.  On a wall of the Parish hall, now integrated with the structure of the church, is a large tapestry completed by a parish family depicting Christ of the Valley.

Just on 100 priests have served the parish since 1850; it is a busy parish with four services from Saturday evening to Sunday evening as well as weekday services.  The parish choir usually sings at one of the Sunday services.  Many parishioners are involved in special groupings and organisations carrying out a wide variety of spiritual and other ministries in the parish community. 

8th February 2015, St Bernadette’s parish, St Micheal’s Church, St Martin de porres Church and Ss Peter and Paul’s Church combined became a Te Awakairangi Parish . With amalgamation Mrs Barbara Rowley, Fr Pat Greally, Fr Pat McCullough of St Michael’s, Taita, Fr David Orange of St Martin de Porres, Avalon, and Fr Andrew Kim of Ss Peter & Paul’s, Lower Hutt, became the Pastoral Team for the new Parish of Te Awakairangi, under the patronage of the Good Shepherd, with Fr Patrick Bridgman being appointed Parish Priest and the designated leader of the team.

Fr Raja Kommareddy, SVD, and Fr Uili Uvea, SVD, arrived in New Zealand in 2023 and joined Te Awakairangi Parish in September 2023. They initially ministered alongside Fr Patrick and the pastoral team, taking time to get to know the parish communities, become familiar with the life of the parish, and introduce themselves to the local community.

From February 2024, the Parish of Te Awakairangi has been entrusted to the pastoral care of the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD), working in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Wellington. Fr Raja Kommareddy, SVD, was appointed Parish Priest and was formally installed by Archbishop Paul Martin, SM, at the 5:30 pm Mass on Sunday, 11 February 2024. During 2024, Fr Raja worked closely with Fr Uili Uvea, SVD, and Barbara Rowley, who was serving as the Lay Pastoral Leader. Barbara concluded her role as Lay Pastoral Leader as part of the Archdiocese of Wellington’s restructuring and retired from the position. Her many years of service to Te Awakairangi Parish, particularly at St Bernadette’s and in the Naenae community, were gratefully acknowledged, with her final parish farewell taking place in February 2025.

The assistant priests who have served in the parish since 2024 include Fr Uili Uvea, SVD, who served for one year in 2024; Fr Sunil Nagothu, SVD, from March to October 2025; Fr Michael Knight, SVD, during October and December 2025; Fr Michael Hardie, SVD, during November 2025; Fr Noel Corcino, SVD, from January to October 2025; and Fr John Sang Le, SVD, from July to December 2025.

In October 2025, St Martin de Porres Church was closed and deconsecrated, and the Mass times were moved to St Michael’s Church in Taita to support the community and enable the people to continue gathering for worship. During this transition, the parish also brought some of the sacred symbols and items from St Martin de Porres to the other parish communities, helping to preserve the memory, history and spiritual connection of the community within the wider parish.

This period also strengthened the parish’s understanding of itself as a community of communities, where people from different churches are invited to support one another and share in the life and mission of the parish. The parish continues to reach out to the wider community through social services, practical support and pastoral care. This includes the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society, the support and involvement of the Passionist community, and the generous service of individual parishioners, families and parish groups. The parish also supports refugees, new migrants and families from different ethnic and cultural communities who are settling into the Hutt Valley. Individuals and groups within the parish respond to practical needs, offer friendship and hospitality, provide assistance where possible, and help connect people with appropriate local services and support. In this way, the parish seeks to be present to people not only through worship, but also through practical care, welcome, service and outreach.

Fr Bill Burt, SVD, began serving in the parish on 15 January 2026, and Fr Satheesh Voora, SVD, began on 18 February 2026. The current pastoral team of Te Awakairangi Parish consists of Fr Raja Kommareddy, SVD, as Parish Priest, together with the assistant priests, Fr Bill Burt, SVD, and Fr Satheesh Voora, SVD.

While continuing the existing ministries of the parish, from 2026 Fr Raja has called the parish communities to a renewed focus on ministry and leadership, inspired by the principles of Divine Renovation. The focus is on becoming intentional disciples of Christ, strengthening the formation of lay people, and encouraging them to take up ministries wherever possible. The parish is also inviting new members to become involved in ministry, renewing their commitment to Christ and their baptismal promises.

Alongside this renewal within the parish, there is also a growing focus on reaching out to the wider local community through social services, practical support and outreach. Through this renewal, the parish seeks to become a welcoming and missionary community, forming intentional disciples of Christ, strengthening lay leadership, and being a visible presence of Christ in the wider Hutt Valley community.