The trust was incorporated in 1971 as the trust deed records ‘as an expression of the love and affection for the Right Reverend Monsignor Nicholas Moore by the Parishioners of St Patrick’s Parish in Masterton and their appreciation of his dedicated and devoted service to the said parish by establishing a trust to be known as The Monsignor Moore Education Trust to foster and promote Catholic education and the spiritual, religious and secular education of persons generally within the said parish and elsewhere’.
The trust started with the sum of $3585.70, raised in 1970 at a public function celebrating Monsignor Moore’s 40 years as parish priest of St Patrick’s. In the 36 years to 2007 this sum has grown to $135,645 with two-thirds of its income being distributed each year.
In the days before school dues committees came into existence the trust helped parents who were unable to meet part or all of their dues obligations to St Patrick’s Primary School, St Joseph’s and St Bride’s colleges (subsequently amalgamated to Chanel College) and more recently to support school camps and religious education resources for the two current schools.
Other payments have been made to help local children attend Hato Paora College and an Australian seminary.
The annual meeting on June 5 approved the amended Trust Deed and re-elected Bernard Teahan as chairperson, Jim Dekker as deputy and Margaret Dekker as secretary treasurer. Fr Julian Wagg, Bill Orange and Bill Peters were appointed to the review committee.
The other trustees are Margaret Biggs, Mary Lennon, Anne Perry, Mike McGruddy, James Sprawson (representing St Patrick’s School) and Rosemary Madden (representing Chanel College).
The trustees are looking forward to increasing the fund and continuing to implement the monsignor’s vision of promoting Catholic education and spiritual, religious and secular education in the Wairarapa.