Parish Leadership Teams
Parish Priest - Fr Simione Volavola MSC
Archbishop Paul Martin SM and
Fr Simione Volavola
We warmly welcome Fr Simione Volavola MSC as our new parish priest at St Joseph's Parish, Levin.
A missionary of the Sacred Heart, Fr Simione brings with him a deep pastoral spirit and a wealth of experience from his ministry in Fiji, the United States, and now here in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Rooted in the charism of the Sacred Heart - love, compassion, and presence - Fr Simione's leadership is marked by humility, warmth, and a deep trust in God's guidance. We are blessed to have him journey with us in faith, and we look forward to growing together under his care.
Welcome, Fr Simione! May your time with us be joyful and Spirit-filled!
Assistant Priest - Fr Beniata Bakatete MSC
We joyfully welcome Fr Beniata Bakatete MSC to St Joseph's Parish, Levin, as our new assistant priest. As a Missionary of the Sacred Heart, Fr Beniata brings a generous heart, a spirit of service, and a strong commitment to walking alongside our community in faith.
His presence is a true blessing, and we are grateful for the gifts he brings from his formation and ministry across the Pacific. We look forward to sharing in the life and mission of our parish together.
Welcome, Fr Beniata! May your ministry among us be fruitful, fulfilling, and filled with grace.
Parish Coordinator - Brian Nolan
Brian Nolan is our St Joseph's Parish Coordinator. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the various ministries and teams of the church.
Brian is very dedicated to our Parish. He has been an active member of the St Joseph's Church community for some time and has been involved as a sacristan and a parish ministries coordinator. Brian's role as the parish coordinator means that he is responsible for ensuring that the various ministries of the church are functioning smoothly and that the needs of the community are being met. He works closely with the Parish Priest, the Parish Pastoral Council, the Finance Committee, the Liturgy Committee, and the Faith Formation Committee. His experience and dedication to the church makes him well-suited for this role and we love seeing the positive impact that he has on our community.
Parish Pastoral Council
Our Parish Pastoral Council is made up of a team of parishioners who take special responsibility for what our parish is and does. This council represents the wider parish community and works with parishioners to plan where we should be going as a parish and how to make that happen. The council is made up of parishioners who have a vested interest in the life and development of the parish and want to help the parish priest in this regard.
The Pastoral Council is responsible for creating, reviewing and updating the parish pastoral plan that guides the parish in its mission. The Pastoral Council investigates pastoral matters under the leadership of the parish priest, ponders and prays about them, and draws practical conclusions.
Parish Council Members
Fr Simione Volavola (Parish Priest)
Fr Beniata Bakatete (Assistant Priest)
Chris Olsen (Chair)
Brian Nolan (Parish Coordinator)
Richard Finau
Liam Jensen
Bridget Lobb
Harry Bennik
Parish Liturgy Committee
Liturgy is a very important part of our parish life as effective, prayerful, uplifting and spiritually satisfying liturgies are an integral part of our faith community.
The Liturgy Committee oversees the planning, design, and implementation of liturgies within the Parish. It is comprised of representatives from a wide range of ministries that play a part in the liturgical life of the Parish.
Specific areas of responsibility include:
- taking responsibility for the planning of regular Sunday liturgical celebrations, organised on a roster basis
- highlighting and celebrating major liturgical feasts and special occasions in an appropriate manner
- encouraging parishioners to take part in the various liturgical ministries and associated groups
- overseeing adequate preparation and on-going training and formation of the various ministers
Liturgy Committee Members
Nicole Boyce (Chair)
Brian Nolan (Parish Coordinator)
Kilian De Lacy
Helen Clifford
Maria Kanipule
Salamo So'oalo
Forrest Chambers
Parish Finance Committee
The Parish Finance Committee has a particular responsibility to ensure that the Parish is adequately resourced in terms of its facilities and staffing. It supports the pastoral works of the parish, working closely with the Parish Priest and Parish Pastoral Council by preparing budgets, providing financial advice, accounting for parish income and expenditure and safeguarding parish assets.
It has an important responsibility to find the funds necessary to support priority pastoral needs. In doing so, a balance needs to be struck between short-term and long-term pastoral priorities.
Finance Committee Members
Tony Clifford (Chair and Bills Payment)
Irene Barrett (Accounting)
John Jarden
Faith Formation Committee
Our Faith Formation Committee at St Joseph's Parish is dedicated to nurturing spiritual growth and deepening the understanding of our Catholic faith. Through various programmes, events, and educational opportunities, the committee helps foster a vibrant faith community for all ages.
We strive to support individuals on their faith journey, from children to adults, by offering guidance, resources, workshops, retreats, and meaningful experiences that inspire a closer relationship with Christ.
