The Community started with a mere strength of 16 families in 2003 and currently has a membership of 312 families including bachelors and spinsters as per the latest census. The Catechism for Children was started by Mr. Saju Kurian in March 2006 with just 6 students and was subsequently nurtured by Ms. Silvy Robin in a big way. Our Catechism Ministry is led by Chaplain Fr. Joy CssR (Director), Mrs.Mini James (Head Master), and Mrs.Cicily Varghese (Assistant Head Master) with 42 teachers and 6 Trainee Teachers. There are 20 classes for different age groups with strength of about 400 students. The Malayalam language is taught in 4 classes for 20 students.

We have started celebrating St. Thomas Day from 2010 including competitions for children. The First Holy Communion in Syro-Malabar rite was conducted for the first time in Hamilton to Nikita Shibu on 05th March 2006 by Fr. Akkara. Taking the Christmas Carol Team to the houses and celebration of New Year Mass began in 2006. We started our ‘Ettu Noyambu’ prayers in September 2008.

Our Parish Council under our First Chaplin Rev. Fr. Joseph Akkara and Trustees Mr. Antony Augusty and Mr. Tom Joseph its council meeting held on 2nd April 2014 took the decision to name our community as Sacred Heart Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission, Hamilton New Zealand. The community was raised to Syro-Malabar Catholic Mission on Saturday, 17th May 2014 by Mar Bosco Puthur, Bishop of Melbourne Syro-Malabar Diocese, while Mr. Joseph M.J and Mr. Mathew Joseph were Trustees.

The Community was blessed with the visits of Mar Thomas Elevanal, Bishop of Kalyan, Mar Mathew Arakkal, Bishop of Kanjirappilly, Mar Joseph Pandarasseril, Auxiliary Bishop of the Arch Diocese of Kottayam and Mar Joseph Perumthottam, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry.

TBishop Denis Browne, retired bishop of Hamilton Diocese, Mar Bosco Puthur Bishop Emeritus of Melbourne, and Bishop Mar John Panamthottathil CMI, Bishop of Melbourne Syro-Malabar Diocese were in our midst for 6, 4, and 1 occasions respectively. The Mission was blessed with the pastoral visit of His Beatitude Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry on 22nd September 2017.

We could organize retreats by eminent Priests from Kerala such as Mathew Naikanamparambil, Abraham Pallivathuckal, George Panackal, Mathew Ashariparambil, Xavier Khan Vattayil, Jason Thundathil, Joseph Puthenpurackal, Biju Kunnumpurathu, Devis Pattath, Sebastian Kandathil, Mathew Elevumkal, Tony Kuzhiparambil, Tony Kattakayam Sijo Kumminiyil, and online Live Retreat by Fr . Dominic Valamanal & Sehion Retreat team during the covid Pandemic Time. Annual retreats have been conducted exclusively for the Catechism children and the Youth since 2015. We also cherish the memories of the visit of Rev. Fr. Paul - Vice Provincial of CMI, Rev. Fr. Jose Panthaplamthottiyil – Prior General of CMI, and the services rendered by Rev. Fr. Jose Pallissery during his 3 year stint in New Zealand.

The community celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Fr. Akkara’s Ordination on 06th June 2010 and its Parish Day on 08th January 2011 on a grand scale. We draw satisfaction in taking the initiative to organize two Ecumenical Christmas and New Year Celebrations in 2006 and 2010. Rev. Fr. Joseph Akkara CMI was our community’s Chaplain from the very beginning till February 2011 and our community was well established under his spiritual nourishing and leadership. He resumed the Chaplaincy of the community from February 2013 till he left for India in 2014.

The Community was spiritually led by Rev. Fr. Seejo Antony CMI for 2 years from February, 2011 to February 2013 and from 2014 till his transfer to U.S. in May 2017. He was instrumental in forming 4 family units and in starting unit-based prayer meetings The Mission was led by Fr. Jobin Joseph, C.Ss.R. since the departure of Fr. Seejo till he left for India, by the end of May 2019. He initiated to holding Bible conventions on every second Saturday of the month from June 2017 and was instrumental in the formation of the Syro-Malabar Youth Movement along with Mr. Manoj Thomas. Fr. Joseph George was appointed as our Chaplin from June 2019 till November 2019 and led our community upholding our Syro- Malabar Traditions and values.

The Mission led by Fr. Binu Scaria, C.S.S.R. from November 2019 to November 2023. Under Fr. Binu’s Chaplaincy and Trustees Mr. Antony Augusty, Mr. Vinu Paul and Mr. Nelson Joy, our Community got registered as a Trust with IRD under the name “The Sacred Heart Syro-Malabar Mission, Hamilton, New Zealand Trust” with Registration Number 133-097-139 and also got registered under Charities New Zealand with Registration number CC58729 as a Parish under Hamilton Diocese.

The council could organize live Facebook Telecasting of October month’s Mother Mary Veneration & Rosary Prayers with the help of Mr. Ginu Joseph during the epidemic time. Organized Parish Sports Day; Prayer Unit wise Carol Competition; Implemented Family- Prayer-Unit wise house to house Carol visits; way of the Cross outside the church with enactment; compiled the important Policy Decisions taken in earlier and present Parish Council & General Body meetings for follow-up; recommended to implement Palliyogm-Procedure Rules of the Syro-Malabar Parishes/Missions in the Eparchy of St Thomas, the Apostle, Melbourne and was approved by the General Body Meeting on18th April 2021; updated Community List; managed the Zero Accounting of our Parish, to comply with the Hamilton Diocese Financial Policy, enabling us, getting our IRD and Charity Registration and to make our Fixed Deposit (FD).

The Holy Father Pope Francis extended the Jurisdiction of Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas, the Apostle, of Melbourne, Australia to include New Zealand and all countries in Oceania. The Decree Prot. No. 145/2020, to this effect, was signed on 29 March 2021 by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. Accordingly, all Syro-Malabar faithful in these countries have been placed under the jurisdiction of Bishop Bosco Puthur, who thus became our first Eparch and our community come under, Bishop Mar Boco Puthur.

On January 2023, Pope Francis appointed Bishop John Panamthottathil CMI as the second bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy at Thomas the Apostle in Melbourne. On May 31, 2023, he was ordained as bishop and installed as the bishop of the eparchy by His Beatitude Cardinal George Alencherry.

We have a very vibrant youthful community. New Parishioners are always heartily welcomed and are requested to get registered with our community by signing in an Online Parish Joining Form.

Presently our Mission led by Fr. Joy Thottamkkara CSsR, since November 2023.

Under Fr. Joy’s Chaplaincy and Trustees Mr. Tom Joseph, Mr. Manoj Thomas, and ex-trustees Mr. Saju Kurian initiated and completed the storage facility for the community. Under Fr. Joy's chaplaincy, the Parish Council of 2024 initiated two Syro-Malabar Holy Qurbanas every Sunday, starting from June 2, 2024."