Bush inspires name for merged parishes

Archdiocese News October 2013 As part of the archdiocesan reimagining project A future full of hope, the two parishes in Karori and Wilton have renamed their combined parish, Catholic Parish…

Archdiocese News

October 2013

As part of the archdiocesan reimagining project A future full of hope, the two parishes in Karori and Wilton have renamed their combined parish, Catholic Parish of Otari.

The new name will take effect on 1 April 2014, a year after discussions started at Masses and joint meetings between parish councils at St Thomas More in Wilton and St Teresa’s Karori, though the parishes will retain their respective dedications.

Archbishop John Dew has now confirmed the new name.

Otari is a natural sanctuary in Wilton and adjacent to Karori. Because people can enter this beautiful, peaceful, native bush from both suburbs, it links the two parishes. Otari is te reo for place of snares – in this bush, Māori found sustenance for their whānau.

Spiritually, we are called to ‘snare’ others for Jesus, by our witness, our worship and by our love for each other. Sacramentally, we ‘snare’ Jesus, our spiritual food, when we receive the Eucharist.