Story

Dominic Guzman

Knowing Dominic Guzman’s story helps us to get to know and understand who he truly was – his life, his relationships, his work and how we can carry it on today. Dominic’s story has a lot to teach us about our own story, who we really are, what values we live by, and how the gospel of Jesus influences our lives.
The purpose of this resource is to provide background information for teachers and students to support their teaching and learning about the life and charism of Saint Dominic de Guzmán, and what it means for us to be members of the Dominican Family.

Bishop Patrick Moran

The first Bishop of the Diocese of Dunedin, Patrick Moran was an energetic defender of Catholicism. He believed that the churches (especially the Catholic Church) were the proper teachers of religion and valid moral standards, and he argued that Catholic schools were entitled to government support for their educational work.

Bishop Moran instigated the Dominican sisters’ mission to Dunedin in 1871 and was their chief supporter.   Mother Gabriel and Bishop Moran worked hand in hand for nearly 25 years until his death on May 23 ,1895. Bishop Moran is buried in the Southern Cemetery overlooking Dunedin city.

Gabriel Gill and Founding Sisters

Mother Gabriel possessed great foresight. She insisted on high standards in teacher training and practice in her schools, which were centres of culture and learning. Many New Zealanders still speak of the benefits of the excellent religious, scholastic and musical training they received from the Dominican sisters. Their visionary pioneer leader, Mother Gabriel, will always be remembered and honoured as a courageous, resilient woman and religious leader, a dedicated Dominican sister and teacher, and the passing years endorse the legacy she passed on to future generations.