ST. MARY'S HOME

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XXI, Issue 1, 1 July 1929, Page 7

ST. MARY'S HOME

1 wonder how many people know where St. Mary's Home is, and know, what it stands for! It is m Burlington Road, m Napier, high up on a hill m a large sunny garden. St. Mary's Home was opened' nearly 15 years ago as a Rescue liome, and there, any girl, irrespective of her faith, who had a first fall, was taken m, cared for till her baby was born and then was taught and helped to regain her selfrespect. The only two rules of admission are (1) That it must be the girl's first fall into sin; (2) The girl must promise to stay until her baby is six months old. The second rule was made m order that the mother should feed and care for her little one and do all she could to make amend? for the stain on its birth. Also, during- that time she was taught what the sin she had committed meant; what forgiveness was, and how she could make a fresh start again m the world, fortified by the Sacraments of the Church. Though the Home is Church of England*, no one m trouble js ever refused on account of her difference m faith ; the Home is to help every girl and to do all it can to win her for Christ. The centre of St. Mary's Home has always been the chapel; here befoi'© breakfast every morning, services are held for a few minutes to which every inmate cbmes 3 the children who are able to walk attending too. Evensong is held here every evening when all the work is done, and once a week there is a service of Holy Communion at 7.30 a.m. Very soon after the opening of the Home, it was found necessary to add nurseries m order to keep the children after their mothers' stay o.f six months was over. Two were bulit and a verandah and bathroom. Still the work grew. St Mary's was constantly being asked to take m a baby whose mother was ill or who for some reason had to earn her living and could not keep (her baby with her. In several cases the mother had left, leaving helpless new born babies. Time went on and 1 the old buildings began to leak badly and each winter found it woiise. till at last mildew began to form. on the walls of some of the bedrooms. Then advice was sought and the verdict was that nothing more could be done. A new building was absolutely necessary. Everyone moved to ■ a . temporary house foi\ a year, whilst a beautiful new ferro concrete Home was being built. There was nothing- elaborate m the building. No luxuries, just, necessities, but it was built with every convenience

to meet the need of a growing work and a small staff. Although it was costly to .build on the same site as that of the old building,' because of the small space of level ground, and excavating and building tip the foundations was extensive, yet all agreed l it was the wisest thing to do,"as here, the sun, so necessary for babies, was not shut out by any obstruction, but poured all day long on the nurseries'. This cost ihas been fully justified; the babiies are never ill, and for two consecutive year s the doctor has not been called m to se» even one sick baby. The nurseries and large verandah are ideal for children j at night six or seven little ones are able to sleep outside m the open air. The bathroom is very large, with raised bath, and on the shady wall, a milk cupboard has been built outside, but opened from within, and liere is kept cool the humanised milk for all the babies. There are windows for the sun everywhere, and all the woodwork of the Home is light and beautifully marked and has been much admired. The rest of the Home consists of dormitories, kitchen, sitting rooms,' labour ward and bathrooms. The chapel is very beautiful and furnished' with gifts from friends j nothing is lacking, even a sanctuary lamp burns all night long-, just to show any poor soul-weary inmate of St. Mary's that m God's House is. Ligh| and Peace. The chapel is never m darkness. The nurse m charge has been tliertj since the work first began, and is now a Plunket Nurse, and this again calls for more work as often there are delicate or premature babies needing special care and St.. Mary's Home is always asked to take tlieni m. The work lia lS grown and grown, the

needs are still the same, and the staff just three, with the help of the inmates Twenty-five babies are here, cared for and kept until they are three years old, very few of the parents being able to help towards the expense of their, keep. The mothers, now eight m number, learn all they most need ; how to .cook, sew, wash and care for babies, etc., and are taught the meaning of Baptism, and Confirmation, and often some are confirmed! m the chapel. The Home has still a large debt on it, m spite of plain living and trying to keep down expenses ; even the garden has never been set m order after the 'excavations, as there was no money. Will any of' our readers come to see this Home. Visitors are always welcome till 4 p.m.; will they come to see these little babies growing up, with plenty of love and care — yes, but with no home of their own; no parents' love so necessary to -little ones? Will they help clothe and feed these little ones? Will they sometimes think of -the staff, of their long hours on duty, rising winter and summer always at 5.30 a.m., or earlier; of their many disappointments and yet quite happy m their work of trying to do something for God's little ones and erring- ones'.' .'Will they.sometimes, pray, too, for. 'the babies and staff and for nieans to pay off the debt which' is ! e'yer,'. present with all m the Home and which is a Burden 'that could be lifted the shoulders . of those working there by" 1 a little 'self-denial, from everyone? Will .they^ come arid see St, Mary's' arid what -it' does for' these helpless little ' babies and their mothers, . and then we 'have .'no. fear butthat the debt wiil '.'all be 'paid'. off.' We only ask them to be' interested, the rest ■will follow naturally.— E. Annie Carter.