In the latter part of the Nineteenth Century, the present parish of Saint Mary's Papakura was formed. At first, it was part of the parish Otahuhu and then of Pukekohe. The earliest churches in the present parish came into existence during the Pukekohe period, Ararimu and Ramarama. The Ramarama or Maketu church was the first. The original church was built under Fr. Hoine's direction, from timber taken from the adjacent bush, in 1869. It was 40ft by 12 ft with 11 foot transepts and cost £90. There was a Catholic school there for a time.In 1896 a new church was built further up the road. It was opened by Bishop Lennihan. Fr. Donald McMillan was the parish priest and there were 120 Catholics at Maketu, a substantial number for those early times. Ararimu church was built either in 1874 or 1880. Accurate records no longer exist. This church was enlarged in 1940 with the addition of a new sanctuary, extensively renovated and re-decorated. Fr. Cahill re-dedicated this church, 21st January, 1940.

The first Catholic Church in Opaheke Road, Papakura, was built in 1875. It was in use until the building of the present St. Mary's in 1954. One of the builders was Mr. Charles McEntee. On 14th February, 1954, a big step in the development of the present parish plant began when the new church was opened by Archbishop Liston. The new building was one of three major projects in hand, with a three classroom school finished in May 1954, and a convent for the Sisters of the Mission just beginning. The erection of the church, convent and school, with the conversion of the former 80 year old wooden church into a parish hall, was part of a twelve month programme. The church cost about £900.

The Sisters of the Mission began teaching in the new school on 21st May, 1954. The two-storey brick convent was not opened until May, 1955. With the arrival of the Sisters, the parish of Papakura reached its maturity. The town and parish continued to grow and many improvements were made within the parish over the years. The parish consisted of three churches - St. Mary's at Papakura, St. Brigid's at Ramarama and St. Mary's at Arirumu. There were also Mass centres at Clevedon, Kingseat Hospital and at the Military camp.The first Catholic priest to work in the Waikato in the early 1840's. During the early 1860's, the Papakura-Drury end of the Great South Road was looked after from Otahuhu.The attaching of a priest to this district coincided with the building of blockhouses and the establishing of military camps at Otahuhu, Wiri. Papakura, Ring's Redoubt, Clevedon and Drury. A large proportion of the soldiers were Irish Catholics and their presence in the district greatly increased the Catholic congregation in those days.In 1865, Fr. James McEntigart took up residence in a raupo whare at Tuhimata, near Ramarama.

Other early priests in the area were Fr. James Hoines, Father James McDonald and fr Stephen Chastagnen. In 1927, Fr. Joseph Duffy was appointed to the newly constituted parish of Papakura-Manurewa. Mr H McEntee presided over an enthusiastic Manurewa gathering.Fr. Duffy, a Scot from Dundee, looked after the parish until his transfer to Otahuhu in 1936. His successor was Fr George Lockwood who had the double charge of Papakura and Manurewa until the latter became a separate parish in 1947. In 1950, Fr. Norman Von Rotter was appointed. When Fr. Von Rotter took over the parish, the total Catholic population was 525.In 1968, Fr. Ernest Simmons was appointed parish priest. Fr. Thomas Ryder followed in 1971. Fr. Denis Horton was appointed priest in 1984, Fr. Ryder staying on as Pastor Emiritus until his death in 2000. The present parish priest, Fr. Peter Gray, took up his appointment in 1994.At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, the state of the Catholic Church in Papakura was-

1. In Papakura township, there was a 25 year old church in Opaheke Road. There was neither a resident priest nor a house for a priest.

2. At Ramarama, there was a fine wooden church, but no resident priest.

3. At Drury, there was a quarter acre section, no church, no priest, no priest's house.

4. At Ararimu, there was a small wooden church, 20 years old and renovated seven years earlierAt that time, the bulk of the Catholics were in the Ararimu-Ramarama area.

The main trunk railway, completed in Mercer in 1875, was gradually bringing about a change in the whole area, and Papakura was becoming more important that Drury. Today, at the beginning of the new century, St. Mary's, Papakura has about 1400 families on the parish roll. Parishioners, no longer predominantly of Irish heritage, come from all corners of the world, and includes a solid core of home-bred Kiwi Catholics.St. Brigid's Church, Ramarama, was first moved to Raventhorpe in 1970, then in 1990, moved to Selwyn Oaks, Papakura, to become an interdenominational chapel, "St. Martin's in the Field."St. Mary's, Ararimu was moved onto the Marae at Maraeti. Mass centres at Clevedon, Kingseat Hospital and Papakura Military camp have discontinued.The Catholic School in Clark Road now has 440 pupils and 18 classrooms (2002). The two storey brick Convent in Wood Street is now a solicitor's office.1927. Fr. Duffy appointed PP., 10.12.27. He lived for some time as a boarder in a Catholic home on the Great South Road. The present presbytery was on site when land in Papakura central, purchased in 1928.1928. Church in Opaheke Road extended.1954. St. Mary's Church, in Papakura Central, blessed and opened, February 14th.1954. St. Mary's primary School opens doors. May 21st, staffed by "Sisters of the Mission."1963. Present parish hall opened - modelled from old church.1976. The "Sisters of the Mission" completed their mission at the parish school. The school is now in the hands of a lay-staff.

Information about Fr T J Ryder 1912 - 2000  Click here to view

Information on Maori Culture - The Tabernacle HERE