Donations and bequests
The Friends of St. Mary of the Angels Charitable Trust
Needs your help in financing the continuing restoration and maintenance of the iconic St Mary of the Angels Church as well as other projects associated with the Church and its surrounds
The Friends' Trust is a fully constituted charity registered with the Ministry of Economic Development and is recognised and registered with the New Zealand Charities Commission. Our official Charities Commission registration number is CC21962 and details of our registration may be viewed on their website. Being approved and registered by the Charities Commission enables any donations to the Trust by New Zealand taxpayers qualify for an individual's New Zealand tax rebate, if appropriate.
The Friends of St Mary of the Angels Charitable Trust is an independent organisation and separate from the St Mary of the Angels Parish. There are six trustees appointed to the Trust on a rotating basis. One trustee is nominated by the Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, two trustees are nominated by the St Mary of the Angels Parish Priest and three trustees are nominated by the Parish Finance Committee. The Parish Priest is automatically a trustee in addition to the six nominated trustees. At the first meeting of the trustees after each AGM the trustees elect a chairman, vice chairman and treasurer who act as the executive of the Trust.
The Friends of St Mary of the Angels Charitable Trust has Three Financial Goals
1.
The operation of an on-going investment fund titled the Reserve Fund. The principal within this fund provides interest annually which the trustees can decide to either spend on or contribute to projects associated with the Church and its surrounds or to add to the principal of the Fund.
2.
To provide on-going funding from its own financial resources, or for major projects acting as a major, but not necessarily exclusive, fund raiser for outside financial support to provide on-going funding for the restoration and continuing maintenance of the interior and exterior of our Historic Places Trust designated Category One Church, recognised as one of the classic Church structures in New Zealand. Much has already been spent on the Church building since the 1980's, particularly the restoration of the interior of the Church, the replacement of the roof and the sealing of all the outer walls to preserve the integrity of the stained glass windows. Further work is now required.
The major project over the coming years will be the strengthening of the Church structure to meet the latest government and city mandated seismic standards. Options are currently being evaluated and once a final course of action has been approved design work will proceed and work costed. Current estimates suggest this work will take several million New Zealand dollars.
3.
To provide funding for major upgrading of the presbytery building to meet latest current government and city mandated seismic standards as well as upgrading interior facilities to better meet today's Parish needs including upgrading the Parish Hall and kitchen facilities, additional meeting rooms and office facilities and reconfigured accommodation to meet future needs. As well, other projects requiring funding will include continued maintenance and any future restoration of the Church organ, one of only two of its type in New Zealand; continued maintenance and restoration as required on the Church stained glass windows; and, major upkeep of the garden and lawns surrounding the Church; plus other minor projects associated with these facilities as they arise.