Marist Brothers farewelled from Wellington

Mass was celebrated on July 25 at Sts Peter and Paul Church in Lower Hutt, as the Wellington Catholic community said farewell to the Brothers after 149 years of service in the region.

Archbishop Paul Martin, SM, and Cardinal John Dew expressed thanks for all the work the Brothers have done over the years.

After the Mass, there were speeches from people whose lives the Brothers have touched, and a shared evening tea was enjoyed.

The last two Marist Brothers in the Wellington region are moving up to Auckland.

In 1876, two Marist Brothers arrived in Wellington, and their first school was opened shortly afterwards.

In July 1876 the Marist Brothers began teaching at St Mary’s Catholic School, Thorndon in Hill St. They moved to a new building in Boulcott St and were there for some years.

However, in 1911, in line with a shift in the population, they established a school on Hawkestone St.

It provided education for Standards 2–6 (Years 4–8) boys from the city and Western Suburbs until 1969 when it was demolished to make way for the motorway.

The Brothers and the school were housed temporarily in Viard House, Guilford Tce, while their new school and accommodation were being built.

In 1970, the new school was blessed and opened by Cardinal McKeefry, in Albemarle Rd, Wilton, and was renamed in his honour.

The Brothers took Catholic education to broad areas across both the North and the South Islands.

Among the schools in Welllington archdiocese that have a Marist Brothers charism are St Bernard’s College in Lower Hutt and Chanel College in Masterton.

FULL STORY

Farewelling the Marist Brothers | Archdiocese of Wellington (Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington)

THE MARIST BROTHERS IN NEW ZEALAND – Champagnat (Marist Brothers)

Almost 185 years of Marist presence in New Zealand – Champagnat (Marist Brothers)

Cardinal McKeefry School — Cardinal McKeefry School (Cardinal McKeefry School)