“Up until 1949, all the teachers had been Sisters, except for one or two outsiders like Mr O’Brien who taught boot repairing in the Cottage. Miss Rosemary Williams was appointed as a part-time teacher in elocution. This was the beginning of a move that ended in 1989, when Sister M Gemma left- the last of the Sisters of Mercy at the School. After that, all the teachers were lay people.

In 1950, the roll reached 201. Two years later it was up to 236. By the end of 1953, a two room infant block was built. In 1955 an old prefabricated classroom was renovated and brought on site. There were still 80 boys living in the Orphanage and the sisters had to look after them seven days a week and teach during the school day.  The classes were very large and the Inspectors were not very impressed. There was very strict discipline and the teachers had to work under very stressful conditions.”

Reflecting on our history makes us, among other things, realise how well off we are today!  Imagine working 7 days and nights as the sisters did back in 1950 and before.

I learnt another bit of our history the other day when a parishioner, Elaine Kennedy, rang to say that a Dominican sister, by the name of Maria MacDonald, who was in her 90’s, had died. She told me that Maria was the first girl pupil at our school. Her parents managed the Mercy sisters farm on Shakespeare Road and Maria’s mother was determined that her daughter was going to receive a Catholic education. From what I can gather, the sisters weren’t keen to take on a girl, but Mrs MacDonald was determined!

Also linked to our history are our school House names: Pompallier, Patuone, McAuley and Alphonsus.   Patuone House members and their families are celebrating Mass with the Parish next Sunday at 10.00 a.m.  Patuone was a Maori Chief and he gifted to Bishop Pompallier the  land  on which our school and church stand.  All school families are welcome at this Mass.

Last week I spent two days at Good Shepherd School in Balmoral, accompanying the Catholic Character Review Team.  The school was celebrating it’s centennial this weekend. Over the past few months, each class had been inquiring into a particular decade during those 100 years and so were finding out a lot about how things were in the past. They could find out plenty from books, movies, the internet, photos, newspapers and so on, but the best sources of information were often people. One way to ensure the history of our school is remembered and passed on is for grandparents, parents and other relations who went to our school,  to tell the stories and show the photos and souvenirs from their time.  The past is our foundation and we are building the present on top of it so that hopefully the future is even richer because of it!

Ka kite ano

Phil