by Heath Hutton

Celebrating 25 years of Service and Ministry 

to Youth and Families

Small beginnings

Challenge 2000 began in 1988 in the kitchen at Ss Peter and Pauls Presbytery in Johnsonville, Wellington, as a Youth Development and Social Work agency with one staff member and a supportive parish priest. Challenge 2000’s mission was to live the gospel and work to safeguard the personal dignity of all people and to help build a country based on the principles of social justice and social responsibility.

Making a difference today

Anzac Day Liturgy, Ss Peter and Paul's Church, Johnsonville

Today we have 30 staff and 250 volunteers throughout the country. We work alongside over 6,000 people per year in many different ways in many different places.

Our services include: Social Work in Secondary Schools in Porirua, three Marist Challenge Youth Houses in Johnsonville, Lyall Bay and Eastbourne, Youth Ministry in Hawke’s Bay and Wellington offering retreats, school transition days, liturgies, sacramental programmes and service and formation opportunities for Catholic young people. We provide Social Workers for the NZ Defence Force Limited Service Volunteers’ programmes at Burnham, Hobsonville and Trentham, Family Work and Community Work, youth justice programmes, breakfast clubs, personal development camps and other programmes throughout the lower half of the North Island, leadership training and much, much more!!

We have a ‘Yes’ disposition and always do what we can to service and support young people and families to lead healthy and full lives!

Marist Partnership

Gap Year participants' Liturgy preparation

Since 1988 the Society of Mary and Challenge 2000 have successfully worked together in a variety of ways and we have been lucky enough to have professed, ordained Marist priests from here and overseas on our team at different times. They have passed on their Marist charism to our young people.

A current exciting joint initiative is the Marist Challenge Gap Year Programme. This programme enables 8 College leavers to explore who they are, what their faith means today in Aotearoa New Zealand and how to use their skills and talents to serve their communities. Without the support of the Society of Mary this programme would not be possible and young Catholics would not be given this opportunity to explore and live their faith in the modern world.

To see more of what Challenge 2000 does please refer to our website at
www.challenge2000.org.nz 

Challenge 2000 is a Charitable Trust that is on the front line of community need and service. In Pope Francis’ words we are a bit like “a field hospital after battle”, healing wounds and making a difference from the ground up. Challenge 2000 is also lucky enough to have plenty of young Catholics who are willing to do this and yet we could do more if we had additional resources. So if you are able to help then make contact please.

School Holiday Programme

You can make a donation to our Christmas and 2014 Appeal through our website or by post to Challenge 2000, PO Box 13 059, Johnsonville, Wellington 6440.

Thanks so much and please contact us if you need assistance too! Best wishes for a hope filled Christmas.