Feature
Fr James Lyons
Labour Weekend this year is one you shouldn’t want to miss in Wellington if you have any interest in archdiocesan history or reunions.
A celebration of 165 years of Catholic education in Thorndon will bring together Sacred Heart Cathedral parish and school, together with St Mary’s College and those connected to the former Marist Brothers school, for a combined jubilee.
Classes have been taught, and sermons and homilies preached, on the same Wellington site since the first parish was established in 1850.
The same year saw the beginning of an education programme for Māori girls, which has expanded and developed over the decades into the thriving school communities we see today.
This unbroken communication of the gospel message across 165 years has taken place on the same site, Golders Hill, Thorndon. Golder’s Hill is home to Sacred Heart Cathedral, St Mary’s College, and Sacred Heart Cathedral Primary School. The parish was founded in 1850 and in the same year the first Catholic school opened nearby. Education has been offered on the same site ever since.
The Marist Brothers Thorndon School also played a significant part until its removal due to the Wellington Urban Motorway in the 1970s.
A full programme is planned for the 23‒25 October celebration, including a historical display in the National Library, a gala dinner, sport events and open days at the schools. Mass on the Sunday will climax the occasion. There will also be ample time for class reunions and photos.
This is a unique opportunity to showcase Catholic life in a historic part of Wellington and its contribution to the wider society of New Zealand.
The Jubilee Committee would like as many as possible to share the Labour Weekend celebrations. Email celebrating165@gmail.com or visit www.mcshwellington.org/165-years-of-catholic-education/ to register on line.
Fr James Lyons is convenor of the Jubilee Committee and parish priest Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish.
Save the date!
Labour Weekend 23–26 October 2015
Sacred Heart Cathedral parish and schools are delighted to showcase their ‘presence’ over 165 years and invite all to join their celebration over Labour Weekend.
Opening on the Friday evening with a social gathering, the weekend will also include a schools’ open day, sporting fixtures, a historical display at the National Library, a gala dinner and a Jubilee Mass. The invitation to participate is open to all, but especially past and present parishioners, teachers and students.
For more information, visit the parish website, email cathedral.parish@wn.catholic.org.nz, contact Cathedral/Schools Jubilee Secretary, PO Box 1937, Wellington 6140, or call (04) 496-1700.
Bill Turley
Being part of 165 years of Catholic education on the hill in Thorndon is a big deal for Sacred Heart Cathedral School. From what I have found out there has never been a jubilee of any sort for Sacred Heart Primary School, on Guildford Terrace.
Our school was known as St Mary’s Day School until the original Cathedral building burnt down in 1898. With a new church came a change of parish name and a change in the school’s name and so Sacred Heart School began its life in Thorndon.
Records seem to be scarce for our school. So we are appealing for ex-pupils who may have old photos or documents that could show some of the changes that have taken place over the last 50 to 100 years.
During term 3 our students will be looking into the school’s history so anyone who can help here would be most welcome.
Please email the Jubilee Committee at: celebrating165@gmail.com with any historic information your may have.
If you know people who came to Sacred Heart, taught here or had a connection with it in some way please let them know about the 2015 Labour Weekend celebrations.
It would be great to see many of our ex-pupils at this celebration.
Bill Turley is Principal at Sacred Heart Cathedral School.
St Mary’s College
Catherine Ryan
A school by day and a convent by night, St Mary’s College Wellington was opened and blessed by Bishop Viard on 8 September 1850.
The new school was staffed by three young teachers: Catherine McCann, Mary Ann McGarvey, and Elizabeth Walsh who was also known as Sr Teresa Walsh.
These young women established a school that was open to all denominations, a boarding school that catered for girls from all over New Zealand, and an orphanage that was primarily for Māori children.
In 1861, the Sisters of Mercy from Auckland took over the school. St Mary’s Convent School was registered as a college in 1926 and placed on the first list of schools empowered to accredit entrants to the University of New Zealand.
On 2 March 1983, the college integrated into the state-education system. In 1999 the Teresa Walsh Technology block, built on the original site of the first school, was blessed and opened by (then) Bishop John Dew.
Today, the school has a roll of 620 students with a wide multi-cultural background. St Mary’s College is a Sisters of Mercy school, following the teachings of Jesus Christ through the lens and charism of Mercy as Catherine McAuley introduced to her community in Ireland in 1831.
Catherine Ryan is principal of St Mary’s College, Wellington.