Parish History

Early history of Our Lady of Grace, Heretaunga

Prior to 1951 the areas of Trentham, Heretaunga, Silverstream, Pinehaven and Whiteman’s Valley were part of St Joseph’s parish in Upper Hutt. The parish obtained use of a corrugated iron shed at 31 Islington Street in 1943. Sunday Mass commenced there with Father Michael Brennan; the altar boy a small trainee named Tom Sims (long-time Our Lady of Grace organist).

Before that families travelled by train or walked to St Joseph’s; if the sermon was long they ran the risk of missing the return train, walking a long way with tired children.

Southern end parishioners were more fortunate. The opening of St Patrick’s College, Silverstream in 1931 provided opportunity to attend weekday and Sunday Masses at half hour intervals from 6am to 9am.

Up until the late sixties many in this area attended the ‘Public’ Sunday Mass at the college and considered the college to be their parish centre. Few families owned a car so people travelled on foot or bicycle. Most parents had kiddie seats on the bar of a man’s bike and behind the rider on a woman’s bike.

Subdivisions an influence on the parish

Early years in the parish were influenced by large areas of open ground. Subdivisions opened up south of St Joseph’s and builders were kept very busy as thousands of men returned from World War II and were discharged from their forces. Housing demanded much land and some that the parish owned was sold by Father Cashman in “an astute piece of negotiation”.

Toward the end of World War II local parishioners were permitted to attend Mass in the Catholic hut in Trentham Army Camp, celebrated by Father Jesse Kingan, military chaplain. Later St Joseph’s purchased land in Heretaunga for further needs. This area is now St Brendan’s Primary School.

In 1951 the Archdiocese designated the area ‘John Street south’ as a separate parish and appointed Father Bert Heavey as the first parish priest. A property housing the first presbytery and a large section in front on which to build the future church, was purchased on Fergusson Drive (opposite the current church).

Our Lady of Grace – a building, a name and a parish

A short while later the land on which the current church is built was obtained. Plans were drawn up and the church built between 1958-1960, assisted by a large number of volunteers. No-one could keep up with Father Cashman once he got on the end of a pick and shovel, dressed in his old army khakis. His handouts of beer helped revive the hot and tired thirsty volunteers.

The design was very much ahead of its time, with the sanctuary situated on a side wall as opposed to the traditional narrow deep building. Donations financed the furnishings.

Much fundraising was done and Archbishop McKeefry blessed and opened the church on September 11, 1960. Father Cashman was recognised as the driving force behind the building. With his urgings he reached fulfillment of a dream, a fine new church.

Father Cashman decided on the title ‘Our Lady of Grace’ and said he hoped that those who read it would understand their mission, follow the example of their forebears and grow in the light and grace of Our Lady – not only as dispensers of Christ’s message of good news, but also as teachers.

Planned giving fundraising 1962

The universal need for funds was not being met by Sunday collections so the decision was made to institute a ‘planned giving’ campaign so an on-going financial plan could be visible. Aimed very much toward future growth the campaign set out to raise 21,000 pounds over a period of 150 weeks.

The aim was to have every Catholic family and every Catholic income receiver committed to giving. Parishioners canvassed people in their own homes. A team of men was set up to help guide a large band of workers. The parish women welcomed the campaign because they tended to look ahead more because of the need to provide for their children.

Other buildings and improvements

After two years of planning and well organised supervision and building the Pettit Centre was opened debt-free on July 31, 1988, named in recognition of Monsignor Norman Pettit’s dedicated service to Our Lady of Grace parish. Facelifts and additions have followed using voluntary labour, some from Rimutaka Prison.

Also in 1988 the finance committee decided it unwise to commit major funding to major works required for the presbytery; after a professional evaluation it was confirmed a new one was to be built. The old one was sold and moved to the Wairarapa to become a Presbyterian manse.

For the replacement presbytery tenders were called in September 1989, building completed in July 1990 and it was blessed by Cardinal Williams in October 1990.

Early in 1995 Father Lyons initiated some meetings to consider architect-produced draft plans to bring our church building into line with Vatican II requirements.

Extensions to the front porch were put off because it could not be financed, but inside the church the altar was brought forward and the seating rearranged to better focus on it. Heating was added under the pews, painting, carpeting and some glazing was done.

For three months it was back to Trentham Army Camp chapel for 8am Mass and St Patrick’s College was the venue for 10am.

Work was completed under budget and new parish priest Father Brian Fletcher was delighted. Other improvements have been made since, a large amount with voluntary assistance or ‘mates rates’.

Ecumenical occasions

Since around 1980 Our Lady of Grace parish has been ecumenically joined with the people of St Mary’s Anglican and St Margaret’s Presbyterian churches in Silverstream. On one social occasion parish priest Father Paddy Carmody (a magnificent tenor) and Reverend Charles Naylor (one of New Zealand’s leading bass singers) from St Margaret’s joined in a duo performance. Other involvement included a ‘Jesus’ march, a pro-life demonstration, a Pentecost celebration in the town hall, and processing a large wooden cross through the streets on Good Friday.

Joint carol singing at Christmas was also communally shared. Since 2000 we have been celebrating with St Mary’s and St John’s (Anglican) parishioners twice yearly with the Ash Wednesday and Advent services rotating between the three churches. St John’s always extend an invitation to all to attend their Passion re-enactment on Good Friday, tastefully followed by hot cross buns.

The above information is condensed from a publication printed in 2001 entitled “Grace In The Valley, Heretaunga Parish History”.

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