Our People
Parish Priest - Father Philip Billing
Father Philip arrived in the Parish 6th September 2019.
I was ordained in St Mary Immaculate Church Hamilton on 20th September 2002. In 2016 I spent time in Melbourne studying at the Heart of Life Spirituality Centre, completing the "Siloam' programme, a one year formation programme for Spiritual Directors.
Assistant Parish Priest - Father Arnold Punzalan
Arrived in the Parish 23rd January 2020.
Assistant Parish Priest - Father Peter Kim
Welcome to Father Peter, the new Korean Chaplain for our Diocese and Assistant Priest in our parish. Father Peter is from the Wonju Diocese in South Korea and has been a priest for eight years.
Deacon Ricky Kuka
Tena tatou katoa. Tenei te mihi atu ki a koutou ra i runga i te aroha o to tatou Ariki. Noku te honore ki te mihi atu i tenei wa.
I am most privileged to be chosen by God to serve His people as a Deacon. I hail from Te Puna where I live with my wife Donna, and I have five brothers and one sister. My primary school years were at St Joseph’s Convent in Te Puna, and my secondary schooling was at Hato Petera College in Auckland.
Kia ora tatou! Ma te Atua e tiaki i a tatou katoa i nga wa katoa.
Deacon Sidney Wells (Retired)
My name is Deacon Sidney Wells, known as Sid. I am married with two children, ten grandchildren and at the moment six great grandchildren. I was ordained in England on 25th May 1991. My wife and I followed our son and daughter and their small families to come to New Zealand in September 1996, and joined St. Mary Immaculate Parish in 1997. I was asked by Bishop Denis Brown to be Port Chaplain, joined the Apostleship of the Sea as their chaplain, having served as Port Chaplain for 19 years. I assist the Priests at Mass, and have assisted with many baptisms, weddings, funerals and so on. I have also assisted with the training of the Altar servers.
Deacon Don Beckett (Retired)
Deacon Don Beckett was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Hamilton in 2013. He has served in the Parish of St Thomas Aquinas in a variety of roles: preaching, proclaiming the Gospel, celebrating baptisms, weddings and funerals, and taking Holy Communion to the sick and infirm.
Margie Cooper
Parish Administrative & Pastoral Coordinator:
I feel blessed to be a part of the Parish of St Thomas Aquinas community and to be working alongside Father Philip and the Cluny Sisters. Attending a Catholic Primary school I grew up having close connections with the Parish Community. I am a member of All Saints by-the-Sea Parish (St Thomas More Church), am married to Carl and have had a long association with St Mary’s School and Aquinas College through my children. It has been an absolute privilege to serve as a Proprietor’s Representative on the Aquinas College Board of Trustees.
Together with the Parish Pastoral Council and Father Philip, I am looking forward to being a part of the Parish Vision and Mission going into the future.
Cheryl Standring
Pastoral Assistant
Hello, I am delighted to become part of the church team as Pastoral Assistant. I was born and raised in Hamilton but have called Tauranga home for over 30 years. I am married to Greg and have 3 adult sons and 2 beautiful granddaughters. I have worked in the community in various positions as a health Social Worker until earlier this year.
I have been a Christian for many years but didn’t have a spiritual home until my husband and I decided that we wanted to return to church. As Greg was raised a Catholic, attending St Marys School in Tauranga, that was a natural choice. Coming to St Marys felt like coming home for me, consequently I went through the RCIA programme and was confirmed and baptised as a Catholic at Easter 2004. Since then I have become a Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion and am currently involved in one of the homegroups. I look forward to further participating in church life and serving the Lord through this ministry.
Leanne Brooks
Hospital Chaplain:
Hi, I’m Leanne Brooks and I am the Catholic hospital chaplain based at Tauranga Hospital.
It’s a great privilege and I feel very blessed to be in this role, as I become involved in the spiritual care of patients in hospital.
Being in hospital can truly be a stressful time not only for the patient but also for family and loved ones, so please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like me to visit, or if you would simply like a listening ear!
A bit about me: I have until recently lived in Christchurch, and moved to Tauranga with my husband Hamish and our daughter Hannah – and we are loving it! I have worked in health and was previously working at Christchurch and Burwood hospitals, which I really enjoyed.
For me my heart has always been my compass, and my heart is fully about caring for people. It’s about being available to help people in a time of need and to help them understand their situation - this is something so very special.
Please say hi and know I am only too happy to come visit you or a loved one should you come into the hospital. You can telephone the Parish Office at 578 6209, or telephone me on 0210563326.
Monique de Vega
Youth Coordinator:
“As Youth Co-ordintor for 2019, it is my vision to provide the youth with a Spirit led programme centered on Christ and His Church.
A programme where youth can have fun through games and activities, while receiving solid teachings on the Catholic Faith and building a personal relationship with Jesus through the Sacraments.
Youth Ministry has been a passion of mine since being involved in youth leadership, programmes and events in previous years. I am really looking forward to meeting and working with the youth throughout the year!
“Young people are not just the future of our Church but the present.” - Pope Francis”
MONIQUE WILL BE ON MATERNITY LEAVE from September to December (2019). For any Youth Group inquiries please contact:
Aubrey & Jen Liew
Mobile: 027 5621334
Email: aubreyliew@gmail.com
Parish Pastoral Council Members:
Father Philip
Terry Consedine (Chair)
Sue Connell
Clare Kowalewski
Shona Woodhead
Clare Sokimi
Jo Scott
Gavin Hesqua
Parish Finance Committee:
Father Philip, Ashley Hayes (Chairman), Sue Connell, Andrew Burn, Brendon Bradley.
"In each parish there is a finance committee to help the parish priest in the administration of the goods of the parish..." (Canon Law, p.537)
Parish Contacts and Organisations
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Parish Priest
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Father Philip Billing
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578 6209
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frphilip@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
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Assistant Priest
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Father Arnold
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578 6209
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frarnold@taurangamoanacatholic.nz |
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Assistant Priest
(Korean Chaplain/Hamilton Diocese)
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Father Peter
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578 6209
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kor.ham.catholic@gmail.com |
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Parish Administrative & Pastoral Coordinator
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Margie Cooper
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578 6209
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027 649 0549
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office@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
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Pastoral Assistant
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Cheryl Standring
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578 6209
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pastoralassistant@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
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Parish Finance
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Ashley Hayes
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578 5190
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021 634 786
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sartorial@kinect.co.nz
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Parish Pastoral Council
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Terry Consedine |
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027 829 9467 |
parishcouncil@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
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| Cluny Retreat Centre |
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578 5220 |
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clunyretreatcentre@gmail.com |
| Youth Group Contact |
Aubrey & Jen Liew
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027 5621334
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aubreyliew@gmail.com |
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Matakana Island Catholic Community
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Mark & Demita Ngatai
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578 7638
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027 210 1296
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Deacons
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Ricky Kuka
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Sid Wells (Retired)
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544 3506
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027 211 6009
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s.ewells@kinect.co.nz
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Don Beckett (Retired)
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576 2573 |
027 479 4591 |
donsandy@xtra.co.nz |
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Organists (Coordinator)
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Viviene Stefadouros
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544 7271
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027 453 2766
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tomandviv@xtra.co.nz
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Sacramental Programme
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(Please contact Parish office)
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Aquinas College Principal
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Matthew Dalton
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543 2400
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mdalton@aquinas.school.nz
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Aquinas College D.R.S.
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Susan Van Zyl
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543 2400
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svanzyl@aquinas.school.nz
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St Mary’s Primary School Acting Principal
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Anna MacKinnon
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578 8066
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amackinnon@stmarystga.school.nz
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St Mary’s Primary School D.R.S.
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Teresa Rush
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578 8066
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trush@stmarystga.school.nz
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R.C.I.A. (Becoming Catholic)
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Cheryl Standring
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578 6209
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pastoralassistant@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
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Baptism Preparation
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Parish Office
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578 6209
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office@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
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St Vincent de Paul
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Tony Rogers (Area President)
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022 0129 069
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Shop (Tauranga)
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578 8218
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Welfare Office
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578 3814
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Helpline
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021 0298 7817
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Catholic Family Support Services
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To be advised
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Marriage Preparation
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Pat & Pauline Jaques
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544 1300
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p.jaques@xtra.co.nz
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