The Church marked the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on 27 September. This year, Pope Leo XIV chose the theme “Even just one of these children”, drawing on Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:5: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
In the lead-up to the day, we invited migrants from around our Diocese to share stories of hope, resilience and faith from their journeys to Aotearoa New Zealand. These reflections offer a glimpse into the experiences of those who have made New Zealand their home – from the challenges of starting again to the welcome of new communities, and the ways faith has helped them find hope, belonging and a sense of home.
Many thanks to all who shared their story with us!
Nearly four years have passed since I first arrived in New Zealand as a student. Like many Filipinos, I grew up Catholic: sacramentalised but not deeply catechized. People often say that when you live in a foreign land, you either drift away from your faith or grow stronger in it. With New Zealand’s growing secularism, I could easily have fallen into the first category. But by God’s mercy, He drew me into the second and granted me an inner transformation that led me to seek the “whys” and “hows” of my Catholic faith and to deepen my relationship with Jesus and Mary.
During my first few months here, I was content with practicing my faith on my own. But God, in His goodness, had better plans. He opened a way for me to meet a Filipino Catholic community, and through them, He showed me how much more beautiful and fulfilling life becomes when faith is shared. Their prayers, support, and fellowship have become such a blessing, and I now consider them my second family in this land.
One of the things I like about New Zealand is its national anthem. When I first heard it, I was amazed to discover that it is essentially a prayer. It felt like God Himself was reassuring me that He had welcomed me here and that I was not alone in this foreign place. Living far from my family and balancing work with study and other commitments has not been easy, and I know challenges will continue to come. But I am not afraid, because I have my Heavenly Father eager to defend and help me, Jesus my Friend available to listen to me, and Mary my Mother ready to console me. By God’s grace, my faith has grown deeper and stronger here in New Zealand, and I pray it continues to do so — not by my strength, but by His.
Bernadette Pancho
We are a family from Johannesburg, South Africa: my husband Pieter, our daughters Anabelle and Leila, and me. We came to New Zealand in 2023 for a safer future for our daughters. What we found was much more than a change of country.
New Zealand is a beautiful country, and its people have been incredibly welcoming. In those first months, though, one of the biggest challenges was building community and finding our place. You can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely. My advice to anyone arriving new is to get involved. Don’t only look for people from your own country, nationality or age. Some of our loveliest friendships have been with Kiwis and people from diverse backgrounds and generations. And don’t try to recreate the home you left behind. Enjoy the adventure and let your new home become something of its own.
Of course, we miss our family in South Africa terribly. We video call regularly, but even the best technology cannot give you a hug or make a family lunch happen! I also miss the Johannesburg sunshine, particularly at this time of year when Palmy forgot to flick the switch for Spring.
Our faith has been central to our journey. Before we moved, I prayed about our decision, and we could clearly see God’s hand in bringing us here. We were Protestant when we arrived in New Zealand, but our faith journey led us to Catholicism. The first time we attended Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, I had an overwhelming sense of being home. That feeling was a significant part of our journey into the Catholic Church.
Since then, our Catholic community has made all the difference. Through Mass, Alpha and the wider Church, we have found friendship, faith and a spiritual home.
I am deeply grateful for the safety and freedom we have here, for the beauty of this country, and for the people who have welcomed us. Migrants bring many things with them, and resilience is one of them.
My hope is that our daughters will keep walking with Jesus, find their purpose, live joyfully and one day give something back to this beautiful country we now call home.
An-Li Theron
Hello, I’m Theresa Makiwa, a mother of 3 boys. We arrived from Zimbabwe 18 years ago, following new career opportunities, and we have been happily settled in Palmerston North since then. My first impressions of New Zealand were how friendly and welcoming everyone was. What I miss most about Zimbabwe is family, and the lively, vibrant masses with singing, dancing, drums and shakers.
The biggest challenge was the cultural difference, and trying to balance work, study and raising a young family. The warm welcome we received from the parish, and school communities really helped us settle in and feel at home, providing a degree of familiarity, and helping connect us with services, resources and activities for the kids.
Finding a Catholic Community to belong to, a Catholic education for the children and an opportunity to continue with our faith journey was valuable and integral to our family. Active Participation in different ministries, groups, and working with the Parish Pastoral Council has given me a strong sense of belonging and an opportunity to give back to a community that has given us so much. Holding on to our faith, values and culture, while learning new experiences helped my family to build resilience and thrive in this new environment.
It has been a privilege to share my gifts, strengths, faith and experiences with others, through the different ministries I am involved with and through my work as a Registered Nurse.
My children’s migration experience has been a very positive one, as we have embraced the education, sporting, social and career opportunities here in New Zealand, making new friends while maintaining a strong connection with our family, language and culture back home in Zimbabwe.
I hope my boys continue to work hard and grow in faith, and I encourage other new families to embrace this new life and the opportunities it brings.
Theresa Makiwa
We are a family of three who arrived in New Zealand in August last year, after living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for more than 20 years. Leaving a place that had been home for so long was both exciting and daunting.
We were looking for a change of pace, an opportunity to grow and the chance for me to return to study after many years in the corporate world. We knew what we were leaving behind, but not quite what lay ahead. We simply trusted there was something in the journey worth discovering. What we did not realise was that our leap of faith would also lead us back to faith itself.
Starting again has stretched each of us differently. Returning to study has been both humbling and empowering for me. Beyond gaining knowledge, I have slowly found my voice again, learning that growth is not always about becoming someone new. Sometimes, new surroundings, people and experiences bring to the surface parts of ourselves that were already there.
My husband moved from a people-facing career into healthcare support, where human connection has taken on deeper meaning. In supporting people through everyday realities, he has discovered how much he has to give, but also how much he receives in return. Their stories, struggles and strength have given him new perspectives and a sense of purpose and fulfilment he had not expected.
Our daughter is blossoming in her own way. She is finding her people, forming meaningful friendships and growing into the quiet confidence that comes from being seen, being understood and valued for who she is. Watching her navigate change has shown us the courage it takes to enter unfamiliar spaces, allow yourself to be known and keep reaching out until somewhere begins to feel like home. She reminds us that hope can simply be the willingness to keep growing, or as they say, to bloom where you are planted.
Perhaps this has been the most meaningful part of our migration story: each of us is finding our place, individually and together.
Finding a Catholic community here has given us something we did not fully realise we were searching for: a place where our faith could deepen alongside a genuine sense of belonging. Through people who welcomed us and walked alongside us, faith became less something we carried privately and more something we experienced in community. We have come to understand that belonging is not only something we hope to find, but something we can build and offer to others.
We still do not know exactly where this journey will lead. But perhaps faith was never about knowing. It is about trusting the process and moving forward together, anchored in faith and grateful for the people beside us while also hopeful for what is still unfolding.
Jebson, Mae and Alex Lhanee
I am originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, and New Zealand has always had a special place in my heart. I first came to New Zealand as a student in 2002, and even after returning to Indonesia, I always hoped that one day I would come back.
In 2006, I was supposed to return to New Zealand, but my father passed away, so my plans changed. Later, I worked for ANZ Indonesia for seven years, with the hope that one day I could relocate to New Zealand. In 2022, I planned to return again, but my mother became ill, and once again, I had to postpone my plans.
After so many delays, I almost gave up. I started thinking that perhaps New Zealand was simply not meant for me or my family. Eventually, I surrendered it to God and told myself that His timing is better than mine. Looking back, I believe that was one of the most important lessons of my journey.
When we finally came to New Zealand, I was worried that my husband and children might not like it. But they did. They have embraced life here, and I realised that perhaps God’s timing really was right.
Our journey has not been without challenges, but we have also experienced so many miracles. One of the biggest blessings ha
s been the people and communities we have encountered. We have experienced kindness, support and welcome in ways that helped us feel that we were not alone.
I believe all these experiences have also been God’s way of teaching me to be humble, not to be afraid, and to surrender my worries and problems to Him. I am learning that I do not have to have all the answers or control everything. Sometimes, I simply need to trust, take the next step, and let God lead the way.
A Scripture passage that has stayed close to my heart is Isaiah 30:18: “Blessed are all who wait for him.” I often think of my journey as a reminder that God’s plan is worth the wait.
Today, when I pray, I ask God to give me more courage, strength and faith, so that I can lift up my family and, in whatever way I can, also support and encourage the communities around me. My hope is that my children will grow up with faith, resilience and gratitude, knowing that even difficult new beginnings can be filled with God’s grace. And sometimes, the things we wait longest for become the blessings we appreciate most.
Lorraine Armaine