Welcome
Nau mai, haere mai, welcome to the Catholic Parish of Mackenzie, located in the central South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Our parish encompasses a diverse geographical area, stretching across several beautiful towns and villages. With churches in Fairlie, Tekapo, and Twizel, we are deeply rooted in the heart of this captivating region.
Our parish proudly serves the local communities, offering spiritual guidance, support, and a welcoming space for all who seek solace, fellowship, and a deeper connection with their faith. From the rugged splendor of the Southern Alps to the tranquil shores of Lake Tekapo, our parishioners draw inspiration from the awe-inspiring surroundings that reflect the beauty of God’s creation.
The churches within our parish serve as spiritual havens, where individuals and families can come together to celebrate Mass, receive sacraments, and participate in various religious activities and events. We embrace diversity and warmly welcome people from all walks of life, inviting them to join us in worship, prayer, and service to others.
I invite you to explore our website and connect with us. Should you have any questions, require pastoral assistance, or simply wish to learn more about our parish, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am here to support and accompany you on your faith journey, fostering a sense of belonging and providing spiritual nourishment.
God bless,
Fr. Tien Cao
Parish Priest, Catholic Parish of Mackenzie
“The very first truth I would tell each of you is this: ‘God loves you.’ It makes no difference whether you have already heard it or not. I want to remind you of it. God loves you. Never doubt this, whatever may happen to you in life. At every moment, you are infinitely loved”
(Pope Francis: Christus Vivit – No. 112).,8
Christ is Alive
The fact that our faith community here and everywhere has gathered together to celebrate Easter is not because of our successful pastoral plans and projects, but because Jesus is alive. By the Holy Spirit, Jesus has called us, mobilized and animated us by instilling, implanting, and nurturing in us the seed of faith to believe in his resurrection, which is why we celebrate Easter with hope.
“Christ is alive! We need to keep reminding ourselves of this, because we can risk seeing Jesus Christ simply as a fine model from the distant past, as a memory, as someone who saved us two thousand years ago. But that would be of no use to us: it would leave us unchanged, it would not set us free. The one who fills us with his grace, the one who liberates us, transforms us, heals and consoles us is someone fully alive. He is the Christ, risen from the dead, filled with supernatural life and energy, and robed in boundless light. Amen!” (Christus Vivit No. 124).
‘Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not in the tomb, he has risen. Remember what he told us when he was still in Galilee: that the Son of Man had to be handed over into the power of sinful men and be crucified, and rise again on the third day?’ (Luke 24:1–12). According to St. Luke, the resurrection of Jesus is first reported by the women. They were the first people to hear about the resurrection—that death was not the final destination of the life of Jesus, but life was. These women reported their witness to the Eleven Apostles, who were amazed. In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Peter addressed Cornelius and his family, saying: ‘You must have heard about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree. Yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses—we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead—and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people’ (Acts 10:34, 37–43).
Finally, the Opening Prayer of the Easter Mass reminds us: ‘The Only Begotten Son of God has conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity.’ In Christ, the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned, so that those saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come. For those who belong to the Lord, life is changed, not ended. When our earthly dwellings turn to dust, an eternal dwelling is prepared for us in heaven. For Christ has promised us, “I am the resurrection and the life. They who believe in me will live, even though they die. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (Jn 11:25–26).
Fr. Tien Cao
Happy Are Those Who Hope in the Lord
The theme of the Church’s Jubilee Year 2025, Pilgrims of Hope, reminds us that life on earth is transient, it is not our final destination. We are created to know and love God, and our true happiness must be rooted in Him rather than in earthly realities. Otherwise, we risk being overwhelmed by disappointment.
The prophet Jeremiah offers a powerful image of hope, comparing the one who trusts in the Lord to a tree planted by the waterside: “It thrusts its roots towards the stream; when the heat comes, it feels no alarm, its foliage remains green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never ceases to bear fruit” (Jer 17:5-8). Just as the tree remains steadfast, drawing life from the stream, so too does the person who places their trust in God. They do not falter when trials come, for their hope is firmly anchored in the Lord. In contrast, Jeremiah warns that those who turn away from God and rely solely on human strength are like dry scrub in the wasteland, lifeless and unable to recognize the good when it comes.
Jesus reaffirms this teaching in the Beatitudes, encouraging the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful, and the persecuted not to fall into despair but to place their hope in God’s promises, especially in the eternal reward of heaven (Lk 6:17, 20-26). At the same time, He cautions those who are rich or self-satisfied not to rely on material wealth or worldly status, but to remain humble and open to the kingdom of God.
As we journey through life, let nothing and no one shake our trust in the eternal rewards that come from God. St. Paul reminds us: “Hope does not disappoint” (Rm 5:5). Pope Francis beautifully reflects on this Christian hope: “Christian hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one may ever separate us from God’s love (Rm 8:35, 37-39). This is why hope perseveres in the midst of trials: founded on faith and nurtured by charity, it enables us to press forward in life.”
May our hope in the Lord be unwavering, and may we bear lasting fruit for His kingdom
“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life” (John 3:16)
‘I take this opportunity to thank all those missionaries who, in response to Christ’s call, have left everything behind to go far from their homeland and bring the Good News to places where people have not yet received it, or received it only recently. Dear friends, your generous dedication is a tangible expression of your commitment to the mission ad gentes that Jesus entrusted to his disciples: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). We continue to pray and we thank God for the new and numerous missionary vocations for the task of evangelization to the ends of the earth’ (Pope Francis’s Message: World Mission Day 2024). …
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The Lord takes delight in his people - Psalms 149:4
