New Holy Faith Convent

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30364, 13 February 1964, Page 9

New Holy Faith Convent

With the staff now in residence, the . new convent of the Order of the Sisters of the Holy Faith is ready to be officially opened at Hawarden on Sunday, February 16. The convent will be blessed and opened by the Rt. Rev. J. Finerty, P.A., who has been in charge of the diocese since the death of Bishop Joyce. The convent is the third established by the order in New Zealand, the others being at Christchurch and Auckland.

Observing the feast-day of their order’s patron saint. St Brigid. the sisters moved in on February 1. They were accompanied by the Mother General, Mother Mary Monica, who stayed a few days to assist with their settling in. Mother Mary Monica has since left to visit convents at

Auckland and Canberra but will be back for the opening ceremony. The sisters’ work will mean travelling to the State schools of the four parishes of Rangiora North, Hawarden, Cheviot, and Hanmer, to give religious and moral instruction to Catholic children. The Mother Superior, Sister Mary Luke, recently arrived from Trinidad where she was teaching for jll years. Sister Mary Dorothy, who spent six years and a half on the staff of the Holy Faith Convent at.lpnes road, will be - teaching music in North Canterbury. S|ster Marie Bernard was also on the staff at Innes road for a similar period after coming from Ireland. Sister Mary Gemma Galgani spent only a few months at Auckland on her way from Ireland to Hawarden,

Sister Mary Luke expressed appreciation of the welcome they had had and said they were all impressed by the kindliness, friendliness and generosity of' the people of the district. This reception had made them feel at home from the start.

The sisters were pleased with the convent that had been prepared for them. A feature of the building is the chapel which is still being furnished. Stained glass windows, donated by Mr W. J. Earl, depict the Sacred Heart, Our Blessed Lady. St. Joseph and St. Brigid. Two windows are occupied by the scroll with the motto of the order, “Unus Doniinus, Una Fides” (One Lord, One Faith). Work is at present being undertaken in the grounds in preparation for the opening.