Our Story

A person’s whakapapa describes their identity by recognising the genealogy of their father and mother. It is important to know where you come from in order to know who you are! In a similar way, we at the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton can show a connection from Bishop Steve to Jesus Christ, who is the Alpha and Omega [Rev 1:8].

Jesus Christ.png — Jesus Christ

Jesus means in Hebrew: "God saves." At the annunciation, the angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus as his proper name, which expresses both his identity and his mission. Since God alone can forgive sins, it is God who, in Jesus his eternal Son made man, "will save his people from their sins". In Jesus, God recapitulates all of his history of salvation on behalf of men.
CCC 430
The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God's love: "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me." "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." On the mountain of the Transfiguration, the Father commands: "Listen to him!" Jesus is the model for the Beatitudes and the norm of the new law: "Love one another as I have loved you." This love implies an effective offering of oneself, after his example.
CCC 458-459

St John.png — St John, the Evangelist

Feast Day December 27
St John the Evangelist, also known as John the Apostle, or the Beloved disciple, was one of the twelve disciples of Christ. John, who remained close to Jesus throughout his public ministry, witnessed Jesus’ saving death at The Place of the Skull, Golgotha [Jn 19:17].

St Polycarp.png — St Polycarp

Feast Day February 23
St Polycarp was taught by John the Evangelist. Polycarp, a second generation Christian, became Bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp argued against a dualistic heresy being promoted at the time by the Marcionites. Polycarp faced persecution like Christ did and was eventually martyred at the age of 86 in 155 AD.

St I.png — St Irenaeus

Feast Day June 28
Bishop of Lyon, France
As a child Irenaeus heard and saw St Polycarp. St Irenaeus is famous for his work Adversus Haereses (Against Heresies), written in about 180 AD, which argued against the dominant heresy of the time, Gnosticism. He also advanced the development of the canon of Scriptures, the creed, and the authority of the episcopal (bishops) office.
Irenaeus succeeded the martyred Pothinus as Bishop of Lugdunum (Lyon). In 202 AD Irenaeus was martyred in Lyon with many others in a time of fresh persecution against Christians.

Bishop Pompalier.png — Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier

First Bishop of Auckland Diocese, NZ
1600 years after St Irenaeus was martyred, Jean Baptiste François Pompallier, was born in Lyon, France, on 11 December 1802. Pompallier travelled to and was appointed Vicar Apostolic of New Zealand in 1842. In 1848 the country of New Zealand was divided into two dioceses - Auckland and Wellington. On July 3, 1848 Pompallier became the first Bishop of Auckland.

Bishop Gaines.png — Bishop Edward Gaines

First Bishop of Hamilton Dicoese, NZ
Born in Whanganui in 1926 and ordained a Catholic priest on the 13 July 1950 by Archbishop James Liston at St Patrick's Cathedral in Auckland. On 8 December 1976 he was ordained a Bishop by Bishop John Mackey and served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Auckland Diocese. In 1980 the Hamilton Diocese was erected and on June 19 Gaines was installed as first Bishop of the Hamilton Diocese. Bishop Gaines died on 6 September 1994, aged 67.

Bishop Max.png — Pihopa Max Takuira Māriu

Auxiliary Bishop, Hamilton Diocese, NZ
In 1988, Pā Max Takuira Māriu SM DD CNZM was ordained auxiliary bishop to the Hamilton Diocese by Bishop Edward Gaines. This realised a long held desire of Māori and the Catholic people for a Māori bishop.
When Bishop Māriu died in 2005 at the age of 53 his loss was felt deeply by Māori, the wider Church in Aotearoa New Zealand, iwi, hapu, whānau and by the other bishops.

Bishop Denis.png — Emeritus Bishop Denis Browne

Second Bishop Hamilton Diocese, NZ
Denis Browne was born in Auckland on 21 September 1937 and ordained a Catholic priest on 13 July 1950 by James Liston, Archbishop of Wellington Diocese. Browne was ordained Bishop of the Diocese of Auckland (1983-1994), and later installed as the Bishop of Rarotonga (1977-1983). After Bishop Gaines died in September 1994, Bishop Denis Browne, then Bishop of Auckland, was happy to accept the new appointment to the Hamilton Diocese.
Emeritus Bishop Denis Browne is retired and currently resides in Auckland.

Bishop Steve.png — Bishop Stephen Lowe

Third Bishop of Hamilton Diocese, NZ
On the 13 February 2015, Stephen Lowe was ordained Bishop of Hamilton, NZ by Emeritus Bishop Denis Browne.
Click here to learn more about Bishop Steve.