Carving gifted to priest returned to Hato Pāora

When the late Msgr Charles Cooper left Hato Pāora College, the students there gifted a carving to him, as a mark of respect. It was placed in the archives room at St Mary’s Church in Nelson when Msgr Cooper shifted there. He died in 2024.

However, it was later discovered that he wished that the carving be returned to Hato Pāora after his passing.

A plan was created to return the item in person. A group from St Joseph’s School in Nelson, made up of two students and archivist Bernadette King Turner, travelled to the North Island last month.

Ms King Turner was responsible for finding the carving that was gifted to Msgr Cooper, and starting the conversation on how to have this returned.

St Joseph’s School principal Chris Bascand said, “the carving is now home – we thoroughly felt genuinely privileged to have been given the chance to visit one of our Catholic schools, and come away feeling richer for the experience”.

A St Joseph’s School newsletter stated: “Hato Pāora College – New Zealand’s only Catholic Māori Boys boarding school – is an incredibly spiritual place and to see this carving ‘go home’ was privilege and a memory I’m sure that will stay with those of us who travelled for a very long time”.

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ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL IN NELSON… (Archdiocese of Wellington/Facebook)

St Joseph’s School Nelson newsletter October 17