New Zealand

St. Columbans Mission Society first sent members to Aotearoa/ New Zealand in the 1920's.

It was later in the the 1940's that a house and land were purchased in Lower Hutt and the present residence and office buildings in St. Columbans Grove were built on that property in 1976 after it was subdivided.

This Lower Hutt base is our centre for Mission Education, especially through the distribution of The Far East magazine and Columban Calendar.

Besides talks on Global Mission and advertising the magazine in parishes we concentrate on social justice and environmental issues which are part of our experience and response to global mission. Our networking also includes inter faith groups, cross cultural education input, and groups involved in inculturation issues as well as assisting parishes with sacramental ministry and retreats.

At present we are 19 N.Z. Columbans and 12 of those are on overseas mission. We also have one Dunedin diocesan priest on mission with us in Chile. We have been blessed in this country with wonderfully loyal long term supporters who keep contact with us and who appreciate our sharing of and are part of our mission story.

Read a series of reflection articles by Fr Michael Gormly