W E L C O M E!
We are raising funds to rebuild the 92-year-old public Chapel of our Monastery to meet fire compliance requirements, reduce maintenance costs, and improve functionality.
Please find below the latest information on all aspects of the capital campaign for our new Chapel.
We are so grateful for your support and prayers as we undertake this important work!
Your Carmelite Sisters in Christchurch, New Zealand.
M A K E A D O N A T I O N
Every gift, whether large or small, is deeply appreciated.
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Recognition Opportunities
If you would like your name—or that of a loved one—to be included on the Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Donor Wall plaques or in the St Thérèse Book of Flowers (more information below), please include the name
in your donation method or email us directly. We would be honoured to recognise your generosity.
You may also choose to give in loving memory of someone special.
Note that donations will automatically remain anonymous unless otherwise requested.
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Fundraising Tiers
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Donor Wall
These permanent donor plaques will be displayed beside the new outdoor shrine of
Our Lady of Mount Carmel between the Chapel and Monastery entrance doors.
St Teresa of Jesus Silver Donors – $25,000 to $49,999
St John of the Cross Bronze Donors – $10,000 to $24,999
St John of the Cross Bronze Donors – $10,000 to $24,999
Names included in the Donor Wall will also be recorded in the St Thérèse Book of Flowers.
St Thérèse Book of Flowers
Two identical books will honour all who contribute to the Chapel Rebuild project.
One will be displayed in the Chapel foyer; the other will be placed in the Nuns’ Choir.
Rose Donors – $5,000 to $9,999
Lily Donors – $1,000 to $4,999
Violet Donors – $100 to $999
“What a joy it was for me to throw flowers beneath the feet of God.”
~ St Thérèse ~
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Donation Methods
We are a registered New Zealand Charitable Trust (CC59559) 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.
We personally reply and thank all donors who opt to share with us their email address via the payment method or to our email: ocdchch@xtra.co.nz
For large donations, our Bank Account or TrustBridge fund are preferred donation methods due to their low fees.
For all payment methods, our account name is the same: The Discalced Carmelite Nuns (Christchurch) Charitable Trust.
Finally, please be aware that we cannot make use of paper cheques/checks sent to us as New Zealand banks no longer accept them. However, TrustBridge can process checks to our charity fund via instructions on the TrustBridge online portal.
BANK TRANSFER
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
PAYPAL
CHARITY FUND
F U N D R A I S I N G S T A T U S
Amount to Raise | Coming Soon! |
Amount Already Raised | NZD $281,565.00 |
Amount left to Raise | Pending |
Donors | 138 |
Updated weekly. Last updated: Saturday, 6 December 2025. | |
P R O J E C T U P D A T E S
S U B S C R I B E TO U P D A T E S
Subscribe to receive email updates as our plans progress!
E M A I L U P D A T E S
7 July 2025
5 February 2025
23 December 2024
S A C R E D A R T F U N D R A I S E R
We will launch the Sacred Art Fundraiser when the designs and costs are ready. Partial or full sponsorship of each item will be available. The principal sponsor of each item will be recognised in a plaque on or as near as possible the sacred item or artwork, with other donors being recognized according to the fundraiser tiers (above). Donors who are interested in sponsoring a Sacred art item may contact us in advance of the fundraiser being public.
Our desire and plan for the Sacred artwork in the Chapel is as follows:
A round stained-glass window of the Holy Spirit-Dove in the Sanctuary - a replica of the one in St Peter's, Rome.
The two alcoves at the front sides of the Sanctuary will be for statues of Our Lady and St Joseph.
A marble Altar, Tabernacle stand and Lectern with designs yet to be decided.
The Nave will have 8 traditional style round arched stained-glass windows of our Carmelite Saints,
on the left side and right side as follows:
St Elijah - St Teresa of Jesus
St John of the Cross - St Therese of the Child Jesus
St Elizabeth of the Trinity - The Martyrs of Compiegne
St Mary of Jesus Crucified - St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
The two angels we already have will continue to be stationed either side the doorway from the foyer into the Chapel.
An image, possibly a mosaic, of Christ the King in the round space above the entrance portal.
As some of the Sacred art may not be fully sponsored by the time of the chapel construction, some items will be part of phase II of the Chapel rebuilding project, to be commissioned and installed as funds allow.
Watch this space!
H I S T O R Y
The original homestead on six acres of land purchased by our founding sisters in February, 1933. At that time it was three miles outside of Christchurch city.
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.
The tiny temporary confessional, still in existence and use today.
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 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.
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.
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.
In 1987 a second addition to the chapel 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.
Our Chapel as it is today.