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.
as Carmelite nuns, and serves the many people who visit our Monastery for Mass and other celebrations.
The new Chapel, with its exterior and interior beauty, will serve for the praise and worship of God,
while also creating a more welcoming, accessible and prayerful space for all.
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, 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.
Finally, please be aware that we cannot make use of paper cheques/checks sent to us as New Zealand banks no longer accept them.
CHARITY FUND
PAYPAL
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
F U N D R A I S I N G S T A T U S
Amount to Raise | Pending (Due Soon) |
Amount Already Raised | NZD $220,418.00 |
Amount left to Raise | Pending |
Donors | 111 |
Updated weekly. Last updated: Saturday, 1 November 2025. | |
P R O J E C T S T A T U S
Completed:
3D images of Chapel.
Developed Drawings by Architect.
Filming for main Fundraiser Video.
Currently in Progress:
Pricing by Contractors and Consultation with Diocese.
Editing of main fundraiser video.
Coming up Next:
Announcement of Chapel cost and fundraiser video.
Sacred art and interior design.
P R O J E C T U P D A T E S
7 July 2025
E M A I L U P D A T E S
23 December 2024
5 February 2025
S U B S C R I B E TO U P D A T E S
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S A C R E D A R T F U N D R A I S E R
We will be launching
the Sacred Art Fundraiser when the designs are ready, which will include the
marble altar, Tabernacle stand and lectern, the Holy Spirit round stained glass
window in the Sanctuary, eight stained glass windows of the Carmelite Saints in
the Nave, a round mosaic of Christ the King above the portal, and statues of
Our Lady and St Joseph and more.
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.
As some of these
items may not be fully sponsored by the time of the chapel construction, some of these 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 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 February, 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 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.
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 as it is today. Extensive fire compliance requirements, in addition to increasing maintenance and functionality issues, led us to decide, in late 2024, to rebuild the Chapel. At long last, a beautiful permanent Chapel, originally envisioned by our founding sisters in 1933, is going to be realised.