ST DOMINIC’S SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, FIELDING
St Dominic’s School for the Deaf opened in 1944 to provide a Catholic based education to deaf children, and ran for 45 years before closing in May 1989. St Dominic’s has contributed immensely to the New Zealand Deaf education sector. The Diocese of Palmerston North continues to have a specialised ministry to and with the deaf community, the fruit of the wonderful work done by the Dominicans at St Dominic’s Feilding. This ministry is continued through David Loving-Molloy who can be contacted via the St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre on catholic.deaf@pndiocese.org.nz. St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre in Palmerston North has donated their full collection of St Dominic’s video footage to SignDNA, along with hundreds of documents and photos. You can also visit their facebook page and find helpful videos in NZSL on YouTube.
SACRED HEART SCHOOL, NORTH EAST VALLEY, DUNEDIN
In 1894, the Dominican Sisters extended their education mission to North East Valley, in response to a request from Bishop Moran for the Sisters to travel by carriage each Sunday to take Catechism classes, now known as Religious Education, in the church for the young people of the district. This was the usual practice in new settlements, until a separate school building was available. These classes started on April 8, 1894 and the teachers were the community leader, Mother Gabriel, Mother St Peter Slattery and Mother Bertrand McLaughlin. Read More
ST DOMINIC’S SCHOOL, BLOCKHOUSE BAY, AUCKLAND
The school opened with 4 classrooms on 6th February 1962 welcoming 181 children, 71 of whom had come from the Avondale Convent school where Sister M. Kiernan was the Superior and Head teacher. Prior to the school being built at Blockhouse Bay, Avondale had been the nearest Catholic school, and would require a daily bus ride or often a long walk to attend. Read More
ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL, INVERCARGILL
In 1864 the first Catholic Church in Southland opened – St Mary’s Clyde St Invercargill. The building committee had the establishment of a school as well as a church as part of their plan but lack of funds saw the plan for a school shelved. However, by 1871 St Mary’s School for Boys and Girls was being advertised. It was most likely started by the resident parish priest Father Belliard S.M. a French Marist. Education was not compulsory at this time and St Mary’s was one of only three schools in Invercargill – all private, fee-paying schools. St Mary’s was in rented rooms on the west side of Conon St near Forth St. A lay schoolmaster assisted as well as a female teacher assistant. Within a few years the school roll was 130. Read More
ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL, QUEENSTOWN
The first school in Queenstown was under the direction of Mr Sproule and in 1875 had a roll of 65. Fr Mackay taught in both the Arrowtown and the Queenstown school regularly. By November 1879, the school was closed due to lack of funds. More urgent requests for the Sisters were made by the local people and Mother Gabriel and another Sister travelled to Queenstown to make arrangements to establish a school. Read More
ST MARY’S SCHOOL, KAIKORAI, DUNEDIN
In 1910, the suburb of Kaikorai had grown to such an extent, it was decided by the residents and clergy of the diocese that a church should be built at Kaikorai.
The parishioners had expressed a desire for a school to also be built. Bishop of Dunedin, Rt Rev Dr Verdon approached the Dominican Sisters who readily agreed to staff the school which was opened on 24 February 1913 with a promised attendance of 40 children. The church became the school during the week with a curtain separating the sanctuary area. Read More
ST MARY’S SCHOOL, MILTON
In 1869, a Baltic wooden church in Gothic style that seated 280 people was built in Milton. As was common, initially the Church was also used as a school. In June 1873, Bishop Moran visited Milton, and before returning, examined the 42 children attending the school in Catechism (Religious Education), reading, writing, tables and spelling. Classes were taught by lay teachers at this time.
Bishop Moran and Father James O’Neill were anxious to have the nuns in the Parish but they had to wait several years before this happened. It was not until Friday 9 January, 1891 that Mother M Gabriel with the first community of Dominican Sisters arrived to take over the school in Milton. Read More
ST THERESA’S SCHOOL, INVERCARGILL
St. Theresa’s School in Invercargill has a rich history that began with the arrival of the Dominican nuns from Ireland. These dedicated women, driven by the Dominican charism of preaching and teaching, travelled by ship to New Zealand and arrived in Bluff in 1871. Initially based at St. Joseph’s School, Invercargill, the nuns would journey to St. Theresa’s School via horse and cart in the early days, showcasing their commitment to education and faith.
The school on its current site, was officially opened on February 1, 1931, by the Bishop of Dunedin, Bishop James Whyte. Read More
ST TERESA’S SCHOOL, BLUFF
The local Catholic families were keen to have Catechism on Sundays and were prepared to pay the travel costs for the Dominican Sisters to come out from St Catherine’s Convent Invercargill to run this. The Bishop was consulted but he refused on the basis that he believed a permanent school should be set up as soon as a house could be provided for the Sisters.
So, it was agreed that three sisters, Sister M Rose OP, Sister M Jordan OP and Sister M Josepha OP, would establish a community at Bluff and they arrived in February 1900. The sisters travelled from Invercargill to Bluff on Monday and returned on Friday so they could attend Sunday Mass.
ST PATRICK’S SCHOOL, INVERCARGILL
St Patrick’s School consisting of two classrooms was opened and blessed by Bishop J O’Neill on 2nd February 1944 with an initial roll of 30 pupils. The school was built to serve the suburb of Heidelberg and to relieve congestion at St Joseph’s School. By the end of that year, the roll had risen to 40.
The school was originally staffed by the Sisters of the Dominican Order under the direction of Mother M. di Pazzi. Read More
VERDON COLLEGE, INVERCARGILL
Invercargill’s first Catholic school, situated in Conon St, was St Mary’s School for both boys and girls founded by Father Belliard S. M. during his time in Invercargill from 1867 to 1871.
St Mary’s closed for holidays at the end of 1881, and reopened under the care of the Dominican Sisters in January 1882 with a roll of 124 children. A room at the convent in Tyne St was used for older girls and this was the beginnings of the girls’ secondary school, St Catherine’s. Read More
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