Our New Zealand Wilderness

The official or canonical houses of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer should be located away from cities in deserted places.  With this in mind, Bishop Barry Jones RIP, as Bishop of Christchurch, invited us to establish a canonical house in his diocese according to the requirements of our Constitutions.
On Holy Thursday, 13 April 2017 we took possession of our New Zealand Wilderness.
The property is called Mount Saint Joseph's Kakahu.

Procession to take possession

of the Wilderness of Mt St Joseph's Kakahu 

 The altar being prepared in the wilderness.

On the feast of St Joseph, May 1st 2017 the 300 acre property was first blessed and Holy Mass was celebrated at the foot of the wilderness hills which rise another 1300 feet from here to the summit.

 Views from the summit of Mt St Joseph's Kakahu

looking across the Four Peaks Range

and looking to the cities on the plain.

 - 29 September -

Michaelmas 2017

 Holy Mass was offered in the open for the faithful

who came to Mt St Joseph's Kakahu

for the first Wild Sheep Muster. 

 In this place... 

 The altar was in the open

the Faithful gathered to assist from

beneath the verandah.

Now in this place let us make a beginning.

November 2017

Laying the logs.

 The logs for the Wilderness Oratory 

were all taken from the neighbouring forest.

The Wilderness Oratory of St Joseph looking down the verandah.

 The Wilderness Oratory takes shape

view from the West

 View from the South

 The roof.

The stained glass window

-the gift of Mr and Mrs J N Richards - 

which is greatly appreciated.

Making the altar rails

The altar, gradines and throne.

 The temporary altar and footpace

 The gradines are solid Douglas Fir from the neighbouring forest,

 so too, is the throne.

Blessing of the 

Wilderness Oratory of St Joseph

Last Sunday of the Year

26 November, 2017.

 The Wilderness Oratory of St Joseph

was officially blessed by

Rt. Reverend Dom Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B.

Bishop of Aberdeen, Scotland

 DOMINE DEUS, qui licet...  O LORD GOD, Whom the heavens and earth cannot contain, but Who dost condescend to have a dwelling on earth where thy name can be continually invoked, we beseech thee, through the merits and intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, of Blessed Joseph and of all the saints, visit this edifice with thy kindly countenance, and purge it of all evil by the infusion of thy grace. And as thou didst cause the vow of thy beloved David to be fulfilled in the work of Solomon, his son, grant us in this work the realisation of our desires, and banish hence all wicked spirits. Through our Lord.

 Ut hanc ecclesiam, et altare hoc, ad honorem tuum, 

et nomen Sancti tui Josephi, purgare, et bene+dicere digneris.

Te rogamus audi nos.

That Thou wouldst purify and bless + this church and this altar 

to thy honour and the name of Saint Joseph.

We beseech thee, hear us.

 Psalmus 120

LEVAVI oculos meos in montes ... 

I lift up mine eyes to the mountains; 

whence shall help come to me? 

My help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth ... 

 Psalmus 121

LAETATUS sum in his, quae dicta sunt mihi: In domum Domini ibimus...

I rejoiced when it was said to me: 'Let us go to the house of the Lord...'

 First Mass in the Wilderness Oratory

offered by Father Anthony Mary

served by Brother Paul Mary

...in montem sanctum tuum et in tabernacula tua...

unto thy holy hill, and into thy tabernacles...

DEUS, qui loca nomini tuo dicanda sanctificas...

GOD, Who dost sanctify the places dedicated to thy name, pour forth thy grace upon this house of prayer, so tht all who here invoke thee, may experience thy assistance. Amen.