ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
The Kiwi-Indian community will gather together this weekend to remember and pay homage to one of their beloved sons, Wenceslaus Anthony – a successful businessman, papal medal awardee and a prominent community leader.
Divine Retreat Centre New Zealand (DRC NZ) is hosting a commemoration service on Sunday, July 23 on the first death anniversary of Wenceslaus Anthony, who was also the founder and chairman of the organisation until his untimely demise.
Wenceslaus Anthony was a prominent community figure known for his humility, business excellence, and contribution towards the betterment of the community in New Zealand.
His efforts over the years led to the establishment of the DRC NZ, an off-shoot of the main Divine Retreat Centre, Potta, India, which is one of the largest Catholic retreat centres in the world. He also established the Mother Teresa Interfaith Committee on the birth centenary of Mother Teresa in 2010.
Mr Anthony was on a business and holiday tour for eight weeks with his family overseas visiting Israel, Egypt, Sri Lanka and events in India. During the trip, he met with the former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka RanilWickremesinghe, attended his nephew's wedding ceremony in Kerala before he was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai, India after falling ill.
Mr Anthony suffered multiple organ failure and passed away at the hospital on July 23, 2017.
Mr Anthony was a former co-chairperson of India New Zealand Business Council and fostered the India-New Zealand bilateral relations and also travelled as a delegate to India twice with the then Prime Minister Sir John Key.
Mr Anthony received Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II in December 2013 for his services to New Zealand-India relations.
He was loved and looked upon by the community members in New Zealand spent most of his time and energy towards building a better cohesion within the communities.
His efforts awarded him as the first Kiwi Indian to be honoured with the Papal Media Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice (Decoration of Honour of the Roman Catholic Church) by Pope Francis.
His untimely death came as a blow for the community and several memorial services were held in India and New Zealand in his honour.
Divine Retreat Centre New Zealand is conducting the First Year Memorial Eucharistic Celebration at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 22, at St John Vianney Church on 317 Hillsborough Road, Hillsborough, Auckland.
The Kiwi-Indian community will gather together this weekend to remember and pay homage to one of their beloved sons, Wenceslaus Anthony – a successful businessman, papal medal awardee and a prominent community leader.
Divine Retreat Centre New Zealand (DRC NZ) is hosting a commemoration service on...
The Kiwi-Indian community will gather together this weekend to remember and pay homage to one of their beloved sons, Wenceslaus Anthony – a successful businessman, papal medal awardee and a prominent community leader.
Divine Retreat Centre New Zealand (DRC NZ) is hosting a commemoration service on Sunday, July 23 on the first death anniversary of Wenceslaus Anthony, who was also the founder and chairman of the organisation until his untimely demise.
Wenceslaus Anthony was a prominent community figure known for his humility, business excellence, and contribution towards the betterment of the community in New Zealand.
His efforts over the years led to the establishment of the DRC NZ, an off-shoot of the main Divine Retreat Centre, Potta, India, which is one of the largest Catholic retreat centres in the world. He also established the Mother Teresa Interfaith Committee on the birth centenary of Mother Teresa in 2010.
Mr Anthony was on a business and holiday tour for eight weeks with his family overseas visiting Israel, Egypt, Sri Lanka and events in India. During the trip, he met with the former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka RanilWickremesinghe, attended his nephew's wedding ceremony in Kerala before he was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai, India after falling ill.
Mr Anthony suffered multiple organ failure and passed away at the hospital on July 23, 2017.
Mr Anthony was a former co-chairperson of India New Zealand Business Council and fostered the India-New Zealand bilateral relations and also travelled as a delegate to India twice with the then Prime Minister Sir John Key.
Mr Anthony received Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II in December 2013 for his services to New Zealand-India relations.
He was loved and looked upon by the community members in New Zealand spent most of his time and energy towards building a better cohesion within the communities.
His efforts awarded him as the first Kiwi Indian to be honoured with the Papal Media Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice (Decoration of Honour of the Roman Catholic Church) by Pope Francis.
His untimely death came as a blow for the community and several memorial services were held in India and New Zealand in his honour.
Divine Retreat Centre New Zealand is conducting the First Year Memorial Eucharistic Celebration at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 22, at St John Vianney Church on 317 Hillsborough Road, Hillsborough, Auckland.
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