"Parishes should be close-knit communities, without bureaucracy, people-centered - a place where the gift of the sacraments can be found.
They have to become, once again, schools of service and generosity, with their doors always open to those who are excluded."

Our People - "Behold, the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb."

Parish Priest – Father Philip Billing

Father Philip arrived in the Parish 6th September 2019.

He is currently on leave from the Parish until the end of January 2023.

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.

MONDAY 15th AUGUST 2022:

Bishop Steve Lowe the Apostolic Administrator of our diocese and his consultors have granted me leave of absence from the parish until January to support a family member in their ongoing care and well-being. Fr Arnold has been appointed the Administrator of the parish in my absence and Fr Adam Kirkeby who was newly ordained to the priesthood last Saturday at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton has been appointed to assist Fr Arnold. Fr Adam will join our faith community later this coming week.

It is business as usual as they say. Please continue to support Fathers Arnold and Adam with your prayer, love and practical care.

Administrator of the Parish – Father Arnold Punzalan
Assistant Parish Priest – Father Adam Kirkeby

Fr Adam Kirkeby’s vocation story didn’t start with a great revelation or an “aha!” moment. Rather, it was a call in quiet moments, a gentle pull, something that was always there waiting for him to respond. “It was something that I started to feel drawn to when I was a very young boy. Sometimes it would go into the background, but it always came back,” he told NZ Catholic.

Bishop Stephen Lowe, apostolic administrator of Hamilton diocese, ordained Fr Kirkeby on August 6 2022, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton.

The new priest told NZ Catholic that, when he was a boy, he would sometimes “play priest”. “I’d set up a little altar or a prayer table and put a cloth on it, have the soft toys lined-up. One time, I made a stole out of toilet paper. I got promptly told off by mum,” he said, laughing at the recollection.

With three priests in the family, there wasn’t a lack of good example to follow. Fr Chris Skinner, SM, is an uncle, while Frs Bob Lee, SM, and former Puhoi parish priest Fr Frank Skinner are great uncles.

Faith was fostered in a loving home environment. “Right from when I was young, faith was part of my life. It was never forced or anything like that. It was just an organic part of life,” he said. “It was nurtured in a very loving way, a very supportive and gentle way in my family.”

Fr Kirkeby recalled that his mum used to read him the Fatima story using a cartoon version. “[The Fatima story] helped [me] fall in love with the faith. It was really nice this year when Pope Francis consecrated Russia and Ukraine, that was a great moment. We were in the church watching it live early in the morning,” he said.

Fr Kirkeby taught at Catholic primary schools in Taupo, Hamilton and Tokoroa for six years.

(Excerpt from NZ Catholic Article by Rowena Orejana, August 15, 2022)

Margie Cooper

Parish Administration

Deacon Mark Hassett

Wendy Showan

Parish Pastoral Coordinator:

Leanne Brooks

Hospital Chaplain

Deacon Ricky Kuka

Parish Finance Committee:

Father Arnold, Ashley Hayes (Chairman), 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
Parish AdministratorFather Arnold Punzalan578 6209  frarnold@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
Assistant PriestFather Adam Kirkeby578 6209  fradam@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
DeaconMark Hassett 578 6209  markhassett@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
Parish AdministrationMargie Cooper578 6209027 649 0549office@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
Parish Pastoral CoordinatorWendy Showan 578 6209  pastoralcoordinator@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
Hospital ChaplainLeanne Brooks578 6209021 056 3326
Parish FinanceAshley Hayes578 5190021 634 786sartorial@kinect.co.nz
Parish Pastoral Council (Chair)TBA   parishcouncil@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
Cluny Retreat Centre  578 5220  clunyretreatcentre@gmail.com
 Youth Group ContactTBA   
Matakana Island Catholic CommunityMark & Demita Ngatai578 7638027 210 1296 
DeaconRicky Kuka 552 4149  rickodonna@xtra.co.nz
Organists (Coordinator)Viviene Stefadouros544 7271027 453 2766tomandviv@xtra.co.nz
Sacramental ProgrammePlease contact the Parish office   
Aquinas College PrincipalMatthew Dalton543 2400 mdalton@aquinas.school.nz
Aquinas College D.R.S.

Leon Roberson

543 2400 

lroberson@aquinas.school.nz

St Mary’s Primary School PrincipalJames Murray578 8066 jmurray@stmarystga.school.nz
St Mary’s Primary School D.R.S.Fay Warnock578 8066 fwarnock@stmarystga.school.nz
R.C.I.A. (Becoming Catholic)Katherine Scott 020 4154 7782katherineabbott1994@gmail.com
Baptism PreparationParish Office578 6209 office@taurangamoanacatholic.nz
St Vincent de PaulShop – Tauranga 578 8218  
 

Welfare Office

(Lorna Edlin)

578 3814

Ex. 2

021 047 7144 
 Helpline 021 0298 7817 
Catholic Family Support Services 07 8563760 referrals@cfss.org.nz

Marriage Preparation

Marriage Preparation (Hamilton Diocese)

 07 8566989 

www.cdh.org.nz/marriage