Nelson statues formally returned to parish

The statues, which were originally from the former Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions convent, were formally handed over from Founders Heritage Park to St John Paul II Parish on October 20.

The ceremony took place at St Joseph’s School in Nelson and was attended by Nelson Mayor Dr Nick Smith and representatives from Founders Heritage Park, Nelson City Council, St Joseph’s School, Garin College, former Sacred Heart and Redwood College pupils, and from the parish.

The statues – St Joseph with the Child Jesus, St Thérèse of Lisieux, Sacred Heart of Jesus and an adoring angel (one of a pair that will now be back together) – have been in the care of the team at Founders Heritage Park since the 1980s. They were transferred after the former Catholic convent and college on Manuka Street in Nelson was closed in 1982 and dismantled in 1983.

The sacred figures were originally brought to New Zealand from Lyon, France, around the 1870s for the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, the Nelson Mail reported.

Following the closure, several items – including the chapel’s altar, pews, organ and four statues – were transferred to Founders Heritage Park. While the furniture was used, the statues remained stored away in a back cupboard for 40 years.

Their rediscovery came in early 2024 when St John Paul II Parish archivist Bernadette King-Turner visited the park to book the Granary – formerly the college’s art room – for a school reunion.

A two-year planning effort and a deaccession process – the formal removal of objects from a collection – involved the Nelson City Council, Founders Heritage Park, Te Papa and local leaders.

In a Facebook post, Dr Smith expressed gratitude for “the patience of the Parish and Catholic school communities while this work was undertaken. Council is very happy to return these treasures to the Catholic community”.

“These statues are rich taonga for the Catholic community,” Dr Smith noted. Ms King-Turner said the return of the statues was deeply significant for the region’s Catholic identity.

The statues of St Joseph with the Child Jesus and the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be at St Joseph’s School while the statue of St Thérèse will be in the St John Paul II Parish office foyer; the foyer is shared with St Joseph’s School.

The adoring angel will be reunited with its companion and the pair will be displayed together at Garin College, Dr Smith said.

FULL STORY

Nelson mayor delighted statues returned (Dr Nick Smith/Facebook)

Invitation for formal handover of statues (St John Paul II Parish Nelson)

Sacred statues return home to Nelson Catholic community after four decades in storage | The Press (Nelson Mail/Subscription required)