Your Parish Pastoral Council

I am Ajith Nissangaratchie, humbly affiliated with the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish for the past 15 years. I serve as the chair of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) and contribute to various liturgical ministries. I usually attend the 7 PM mass.

Originally from Sri Lanka, I was raised in a devout Catholic family. I attended St Joseph's College in Colombo, one of Sri Lanka's largest Catholic schools. These played a significant role in nurturing my Catholic faith.

My professional journey began in the field of Accounting, transitioning later to IT. Presently, I serve as an Information Technology Architect for the New Zealand Government. Prior to settling in Wellington, we lived in Singapore for 11 years.

I strongly believe that as a Catholic, it's essential to actively contribute to building God's kingdom, which is why I am deeply involved in serving our parish community. I serve several liturgical ministries, including Communion, Mass coordination, Collection, Projectionist and member of the upcoming Alpha program. Additionally, I've been involved in fundraising initiatives. I joined the Parish Pastoral Council in September 2022, and I am currently involved in activities relating to the reopening of the Cathedral.

During my leisure time, I enjoy listening to music, tinkering with computers, repairing cars, driving, travelling, and engaging in DIY projects.

I am grateful for the blessings bestowed upon us by God, including a loving family, fulfilling employment, and the opportunity to live and serve in New Zealand. A guiding principle in my life is to seek God's guidance before undertaking any endeavour and to express gratitude to Him afterwards.

I look forward to continuing to serve our parish community and building connections with each of you.

I'm Leon Rodrigues and I'm honoured to be a part of the Parish Council at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. As a relatively new member of our parish family, I'm excited to get involved and serve our community.

I’ve been working most parts of Australia and North Island New Zealand for the past 20 years in the engineering and manufacturing related field. Outside of work I’m passionate for trail running and hiking where I’ve hiked the Himalayas twice. Besides running in the hills, I enjoy navigating currency markets and learning Spanish.

My Malaysian heritage has instilled in me a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and a passion to foster meaningful connections. In this Cathedral I have met amazing faith-filled passionate brothers and sisters in Christ, particularly in in the MCSH prayer group, Fund-raising team, the Divine Mercy Devotion, and the scripture reflection group.

I am committed to supporting our parish by listening, learning, and fostering spiritual growth and community engagement. Guided by faith, I strive to use my abilities to uphold the church's teachings and enhance our parish's mission.

Inspired by the words of St. Paul (Romans 12:5) “We are all one body, and members one of another”, I feel moved to foster a sense of belonging and understanding in our community.

I look forward to working together to build a compassionate and faith-filled parish.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

I am Marianna Pekar, humbly affiliated with the Sacred Heart Parish since 2016. Prior to this, I was a member of the Newtown Saint Anne's Parish. Besides being part of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), I serve as a proclaimer and liturgy leader at the 7 PM mass on Sundays.

Originally from Hungary, I was born in a small town in the Northwestern part of the country and grew up in Budapest. My journey to New Zealand began with a scholarship to study at Otago University. After graduating, I made a conscious decision to stay in New Zealand for work opportunities, eventually settling in Wellington. Growing up in a Catholic family during a time when religion was persecuted in Hungary taught me the value of steadfast faith and resilience. Despite the challenges, my family’s commitment to faith profoundly shaped my beliefs.

My academic background is in Financial Mathematics and Statistics, which I studied in both Hungary and New Zealand. I later pursued studies in AI and Data Science and am currently working towards a PhD in this field. Professionally, I have worked as a consultant, engaging in social research and data science.

Living in Hungary and New Zealand has enriched my life experiences. Although I sometimes feel my accent makes me a less effective liturgy leader or proclaimer, I believe it's important to show my children that serving God can be done in any capacity, however small. Our parish has been gracious in allowing me to fulfill these roles.

Outside of my parish duties, I lead a busy family life, caring for my children, working, and studying. I enjoy coding, participating in some networks outside of work, like Women in Data Science, and learning and reading in different languages. I love fine arts, and art history and enjoy travelling to places relating to these.

I am deeply grateful for God’s guidance in my life, helping me make difficult decisions such as leaving my family at a young age and finding my wonderful husband who shares my love for God and a desire to lead a righteous life. Initially, living in New Zealand felt like being in a Babylonian exile, far from home and among people with very different values. However, being part of this parish and the broader Catholic community in New Zealand has made me realise that God is present wherever two or more gather in His name.

I hope to continue growing in love and understanding, becoming a useful member of the parish. My aim is to help build a real community where we all acknowledge our imperfections and recognise that God loves us all.