Our Rongopai History ...
The Facts & Figures
What is now the Rongopai community was originally the 5/5:30pm Mass community at St Benedict's Parish. Its then Dominican leadership encouraged lay people to take an active part in shaping the parish liturgies. This was fully embraced.
The community moved to St Paul's College Chapel in 2016. It was there that we began calling ourselves Rongopai St Paul's.
In May 2022 we moved to Hau Mana Wai in Epsom, the former Mercy Spirituality Centre. It is here that we first gathered face to face after some 2 years of meeting virtually via Zoom.
During the Zoom years our community expanded signficantly across Aotearoa and at times we have had participants from across the world.
Our new challenge is how to we continue to nourish and include our wider community as locally we move back to 'in person' liturgies.
Why Rongopai?
Our community was started by a group who wanted liturgy where all could feel welcome - one that:
Was inclusive of men and women in its language and in its ministries
Actively embraced our national bi-cultural character
Was inclusive of other cultures who call Aotearoa home
This began initially in a small way and over time a full model was developed. The theology and the liturgical practices used were rigorously researched and evaluated by a range of professional theologians, regular parishioners, religious sisters and ‘ordained’ priests.
We invite 'ordained' priests who support our model of shared ministry to lead the Eucharist.
Who Are We?
A wide group of people from many walks of life form our Rongopai community. There are many Catholic people who have ceased to attend Mass regularly. Over the years some of these people have found a place at this Mass. There are also religious sisters and 'ordained' priests.
Legal & Governance
We are not officially a Parish, rather we are an Ecclesial Eucharistic Community. We are part of the Catholic Diocese of Auckland and as such receive communications sent to Parishes from the Diocesan Communications Office.
Financial contributions to the community go to a Charitable Trust. The Trust distributes funds to a number of NFP organisations eg Auckland City Mission, our previous and current hosts and other organisations working for justice in the community.