Renovations for community-built Catholic church set for early next year
Catholic communities here in Auckland and around the world urged to support repairs to the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua in Tonga
A catholic church in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, built largely with volunteer labour is in urgent need of repair.
That’s the verdict from parishioners and members of the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua in Tonga as they finalise plans for renovations to begin early next year.
Situated on the corner of Taufa’ahau Road and Laifone Roads, in Nuku’alofa, the church is not just a place of worship and solace, it’s also a home to many of the faithful parishioners who attend weekly mass.
“This church is 45 years old. So the old church would have been built by our ancestors here,” says Baula Tu’itavake, parishioner and Church Catechist.
“They’ve all been baptized here, married here, and had their last mass.
“It’s a real blessing for us in Nuku’alofa to, especially, from a family who has been here for five generations and the church, it means a lot.”
Construction of the Basilica started in 1977 and it was completed in 1980 replacing the old church building.
The architect was Tongan Basil Hafoka and the church was built with the help of his father Isitolo Hafoka and many families and volunteers from around Tongatapu
What was remarkable about the effort was that it was built with “pure manpower”..
“We never had a crane or those trucks (to) manage it so we had to push wheelbarrows of cement up a ramp up to this floor to do all the cement. Pass around buckets of cement, do these beams and all that,” Tu’itavake says.
“So it was all done by hand, a great community achievement.”
Parishioner Filokalafi Akauola recalls the effort of the builders and the volunteers at the time adding,
“Back in the 70s, there were no machines and the people who, the architects, that do the building, they do (it) with their own hands; they are so bright in those days.
“I was so young at that time but I can see them, how they lay out the branches and bring the whole thing up there.”
But while the church has been a constant in the community for 45 years, the building is in dire need of repair.
“We’re most grateful that it has been given the status of a basilica and it’s up to us to maintain it,” says Tu’itavake.
“It’s stood a couple of hurricanes, earthquakes and volcano eruptions but we’ve got a leaking roof and some of the beams have to be repaired.”
The committee says to fix the roof alone it will cost up to $650,000 and so Tongan Catholics around the world have been asked to fundraise and help with the renovation.
Some think it might be too late.
“You know, the roof is coming off,” says Faka’ilokimoana Fifita Beaman.
“I look at it, I look from outside and it breaks my heart. I can see the timber start peeling off , and I remember my mum and the whole family, and it’s, it’s the core centre. Home is a happy place but here we all come together as a community. ”
The start of the renovation is scheduled for early 2026 and to be completed in 2030 in time to celebrate its 50th Golden Jubilee
“I guess that’s part of the legacy I wish to, to keep that up, if God so willing, this basilica be renovated again and renewed,” says Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi.
“There is a great saying in the church we evangelise with beauty. Beauty attracts people, it draws people to come, so I hope that they also try to keep that beauty up to (the) standard of this place, the Basilica, that will draw people to come and worship God.”
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