Metropolitan Archdiocese of Wellington, New Zealand

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Wellington / Vellingtonen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Palmerston North

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Websites:

Celebrations

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: March 18

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1848.06.20: Established as Diocese of Wellington / Vellingtonen(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of New Zealand and without ecclesiastical province)
1869.11.26: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Dunedin
1887.05.10: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Wellington / Vellingtonen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin and lost territory to establish Diocese of Christchurch)
1966.06.21: Gained suffragan see Rarotonga
1972.07.01: Lost suffragan see Rarotonga
1980.03.06: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Palmerston North and gained suffragan sees Hamilton and Palmerston North

Contact Info

Address: Catholic Centre, 22-30 Hill Street, PO Box 1937, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

Phone: +64 4 496-1777

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1986.11)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2023.05.05 – ...):

Archbishop Paul Gerard Martin, S.M. (57)

Military Ordinary of New Zealand (New Zealand)

General Secretary of New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Wellington (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Paul Gerard Martin, S.M. (57)
(2023.05.05 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand)
Military Ordinary of New Zealand (New Zealand)
General Secretary of New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

Rejoice in the Lord always

Born:	1967.05.05 (Hastings, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1993.09.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2018.03.03

Bishop of Christchurch (New Zealand) (2017.12.05 – 2021.01.01)

Apostolic Administrator of Christchurch (New Zealand) (2021.01.01 – 2022.05.21)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (2021.01.01 – 2023.05.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (2023.05.05 – ...)

General Secretary of New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (2023.05.10 – ...)

Military Ordinary of New Zealand (New Zealand) (2023.05.27 – ...)

Cardinal John Atcherley Dew (76)
(2005.03.21 – 2023.05.05)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Ippolito
Military Ordinary emeritus of New Zealand (New Zealand)

Peace through integrity

Born:	1948.05.05 (Waipawa, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1976.05.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1995.05.31
Created Cardinal:	2015.02.14

Priest of Wellington (New Zealand) (1976.05.09 – 1995.04.01)

Titular Bishop of Privata (1995.04.01 – 2004.05.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (1995.04.01 – 2004.05.24)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (2004.05.24 – 2005.03.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (2005.03.21 – 2023.05.05)

Military Ordinary of New Zealand (New Zealand) (2005.04.01 – 2023.05.27)

President of New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (2009.09 – 2016.06.01)

President of Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (2011.04 – 2014.05)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Ippolito (2015.02.14 [2015.11.29] – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Palmerston North (New Zealand) (2019.10.04 – 2023.06.22)

President of New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (2020.10.30 – 2023.05.10)

Cardinal Thomas Stafford Williams
(1979.10.30 – 2005.03.21)

Unity is Christ

Born:	1930.03.20 (Wellington, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1959.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1979.12.20
Created Cardinal:	1983.02.02
Died:	2023.12.22 (Waikanae, New Zealand † 93)

Priest of Wellington (New Zealand) (1959.12.20 – 1979.10.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (1979.10.30 – 2005.03.21)

President of New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (1980 – 1988)

Cardinal-Priest of Gesù Divin Maestro alla Pineta Sacchetti (1983.02.02 – 2023.12.22)

President of Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (1992 – 1999)

Military Ordinary of New Zealand (New Zealand) (1995.06.01 – 2005.04.01)

Cardinal Reginald John Delargey
(1974.04.25 – 1979.01.29)

In ipso vita

Born:	1914.12.10 (Timaru, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1938.03.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1958.02.27
Created Cardinal:	1976.05.24
Died:	1979.01.29 (Auckland, New Zealand † 64)

Priest of Auckland (New Zealand) (1938.03.19 – 1957.11.25)

Titular Bishop of Hirina (1957.11.25 – 1970.09.01)

Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland (New Zealand) (1957.11.25 – 1970.09.01)

Bishop of Auckland (New Zealand) (1970.09.01 – 1974.04.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (1974.04.25 – 1979.01.29)

President of New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (1976 – 1979)

Cardinal-Priest of Immacolata al Tiburtino (1976.05.24 – 1979.01.29)

Cardinal Thomas Peter McKeefry
(1954.05.09 – 1973.11.18)

Pastor bonus esto

Born:	1899.07.03 (Greymouth, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1926.04.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.10.19
Created Cardinal:	1969.04.28
Died:	1973.11.18 (Wellington, New Zealand † 74)

Priest of Auckland (New Zealand) (1926.04.03 – 1947.06.12)

Titular Archbishop of Dercos (1947.06.12 – 1954.05.09)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (1947.06.12 – 1954.05.09)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (1954.05.09 – 1973.11.18)

President of New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (1967 – 1973)

Cardinal-Priest of Immacolata al Tiburtino (1969.04.30 – 1973.11.18)

Archbishop Thomas O’Shea, S.M.
(1935.01.03 – 1954.05.09)

Born:	1871.03.13 (San Francisco, CA, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1893.12.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1913.08.17
Died:	1954.05.09 († 83)

Titular Archbishop of Gortyna (1913.05.09 – 1935.01.03)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (1913.05.09 – 1935.01.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (1935.01.03 – 1954.05.09)

Archbishop Francis Mary Redwood, S.M.
(1887.03.13 – 1935.01.03)

Born:	1839.01.06 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1865.06.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1874.03.17
Died:	1935.01.03 († 95)

Bishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (1874.02.10 – 1887.03.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (1887.03.13 – 1935.01.03)

Bishops of Wellington (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francis Mary Redwood, S.M. (later Archbishop)
(1874.02.10 – 1887.03.13)

(see above)

Bishop Philippe-Joseph Viard, S.M.
(1860.07.03 – 1872.06.02)

Born:	1809.10.11 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1834.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1846.01.04
Died:	1872.06.02 († 62)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of New Zealand (New Zealand) (1845.02.07 – 1848.06.20)

Titular Bishop of Orthosia (1845.02.07 – 1860.07.03)

Apostolic Administrator of Wellington (New Zealand) (1848.06.20 – 1860.07.03)

Bishop of Wellington (New Zealand) (1860.07.03 – 1872.06.02)

Bishop Philippe-Joseph Viard, S.M.
(Apostolic Administrator 1848.06.20 – 1860.07.03)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Thomas Peter McKeefry (later Cardinal) (1947.06.12 – 1954.05.09)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Paul Gerard Martin, S.M. (57) (2021.01.01 – 2023.05.05)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop John Atcherley Dew (76) (later Cardinal) (2004.05.24 – 2005.03.21)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Thomas O’Shea, S.M. (1913.05.09 – 1935.01.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop John Atcherley Dew (76) (later Cardinal) (1995.04.01 – 2004.05.24)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Owen Noel Snedden (1962.05.23 – 1981.04.17)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Wellington, Wellington, North Island
Pro-Cathedral: Pro-Cathedral of St Teresa, Wellington, Wellington, North Island
National Shrine: National Shrine of St Mary of the Angels, Wellington, Wellington, North Island
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (52)

Christchurch (↙), Palmerston North (↑)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 35,810 km²

Population: 85,380 Catholics (12.2% of 701,120 total)

Pastoral Centres: 23 parishes

Personnel: 100 priests (48 diocesan, 52 religious), 158 religious (56 brothers, 102 sisters), 4 seminarians