W E L C O M E!
Thank you for interest in our Chapel Rebuild!
Please find below all the latest information on the history of the Chapel,
architectural plans, interior design, fundraising status, donation methods, updates and more.
We are so grateful for your support and prayers!
Your Carmelite Sisters in Christchurch, New Zealand.
M A K E A D O N A T I O N
We are a registered New Zealand Charitable Trust and can give donation receipts for tax purposes to New Zealand donors.
For international donors wanting to make a tax deductible donation, our Charity Fund with TrustBridge Global can make this possible.
Whichever method of donation you choose, please consider sharing with us your email (or emailing us: ocdchch@xtra.co.nz) so that we can acknowledge and thank you for your donation.
Thank you!
CHARITY FUND
PAYPAL
BANK TRANSFER
Our Charity Fund with TrustBridge Global makes tax deductible donations possible for overseas donors.
For PayPal donations, please note we can send a tax effective donation receipt to New Zealand donors only.
Account Name: The Discalced Carmelite Nuns (Christchurch) Charitable Trust
Account Number: 03-1592-0216044-001
Bank Name: Westpac New Zealand Ltd
Bank SWIFT Code: WPACNZ2W
Bank Branch: Christchurch Central, 83 Cashel Street, Christchurch 8011
F U N D R A I S I N G S T A T U S
Amount to Raise | Pending |
Amount Already Raised | NZD$121,187.00 |
Amount left to Raise | Pending |
Donors | 57 |
Updated weekly. Last updated: Saturday, 12 April 2025. | |
P R O J E C T U P D A T E S
E M A I L U P D A T E S
5 February 2024
23 December 2024
S U B S C R I B E TO U P D A T E S
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I N T E R I O R D E S I G N
~ COMING SOON! ~
H I S T O R Y
The first chapel the sisters set up inside the homestead as they awaited the completion of the chapel
The construction of the temporary chapel and extern quarters was completed between March—June, 1933.
At least 500 people came for the Dedication of the Chapel and Enclosure Ceremony on June 4, 1933.
The original sanctuary of the chapel, as decorated for our enclosure ceremony.
The original homestead on six acres of land purchased by our founding sisters in 1933. At that time it was three miles outside of Christchurch city.
The tiny temporary confessional, still in existence and use today.
Funds were scarce during the war years as our Carmel supported monasteries in Europe, even going into overdraft at the bank to do so. After the war years the novitiate wing was added in 1950, to accommodate the growing community.
The first wing of the monastery was completed in 1938, five years after the foundation was made. The Sisters had chosen to build the monastery wing before the permanent chapel, so as to be able to accept new vocations.
In 1987 another addition was made. Thus, what began as a temporary chapel was eventually made permanent, with three extensions to the original chapel being added over the years to support a growing Mass attendance in a growing city. The last addition to our chapel was the building of a foyer in the year 2001.
In 1959 our Carmel made a new foundation, sending seven sisters to Samoa in the Pacific Ocean to found Carmel there. We continued to financially support our sisters in Samoa Carmel until 1979.
Our Chapel today