Our Lady of the Assumption

Whispers of faith echo within the walls of Our Lady of the Assumption. This magnificent church stands before us, a testament to the enduring power of belief. Our Lady of the Assumption isn’t just a building. It’s a living story, etched in brick and stained glass. The church, also known as The Church of the Assumption, sits proudly in Onehunga, at the corner of Church Street and Galway Street. Construction began in 1887 and finished in 1889. Its Gothic Revival style, with its steep roof and lancet windows, points to a rich architectural heritage. Our Lady of the Assumption is nestled within a cemetery dating back to the 1840s. This cemetery holds the remains of many of Onehunga’s early colonial settlers, adding another layer of history to this sacred ground. Bishop John Edmund Luck, a key figure in the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, rests in the church vault. The church’s history is intertwined with the land’s original inhabitants, the Māori iwi Te Waiohua and Ngāti Whātua. A small wooden church, St Mary’s, preceded Our Lady of the Assumption, built in 1851. The current church was completed in 1889, its opening marked by a grand celebration. The New Zealand Herald detailed the event, describing the Mozart’s Twelfth Mass sung by the choir and the sermon delivered by Father Alphonsus O’Neill. The article highlighted the church’s impressive features, from its bluestone foundation to the stained-glass window depicting the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, imported from Tours, France. The architects, Edward Mahoney and Sons, left their mark on Onehunga with this remarkable structure. Our Lady of the Assumption continues to serve a vibrant, multicultural community. Services are held in Samoan and Tongan, and a multicultural Mass takes place on the fifth Sunday of each month. In 2018, a service celebrated the diversity of the community, incorporating worship in English, Samoan, Tongan, Rotuman, Slovakian, Afrikaans, Filipino, and Tamil. Our Lady of the Assumption has also witnessed moments of darkness. In 1934, thieves broke in and stole gilded sacred vessels. More recently, the church was mentioned in “The Catholic Boys,” a book detailing the experiences of sexual abuse survivors. Our Lady of the Assumption stands as a symbol of faith, resilience, and the passage of time. Its walls have absorbed the joys and sorrows of generations. As we stand here, we become a part of its ongoing narrative.