Stories

In our early years as a family, we lived in Ardmore, which was also our mother’s background, then moved to Papakura where the ten of us grew up.

The first connection we had with Pukekohe, and a Catholic School was with  the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions.  My sister Anne, the eldest in our family, had a strong desire to attend a Catholic Secondary School.  Anne’s desire was granted. Both she and Colleen, who followed the next year, travelled daily by public bus from Papakura and enjoyed their new school with its Catholic background.

Our father grew up in Ararimu, which was settled originally in 1867 by three Catholic Irishmen; Laughlin Kearney from Co. Leitrim, grandfather of Sister Mary Lucia (Garth Nobbs); John Dunn from Co. Limerick and John Markham from Co. Clare.  They named the valley Ararimu, meaning ‘the way through the rimus’ because of the density of these beautiful trees.

The first church was built by Catholics before 1876, followed by a more permanent one on the same site in 1880.  At this time Ararimu was part of the Pukekohe parish.  The priest would ride on horseback on a Saturday (probably monthly), stay overnight at Markham’s or another Catholic home and celebrate Mass on Sunday.  In 1912 Father Molloy was assigned to Pukekohe.  He was known to love horses and always had a beautiful one; so much so, that the Markham boys would vie with one another to care for it as soon as Father arrived.  After the evening meal Father would say, ‘Girls, hurry up and do the dishes and we’ll have a game of ‘bobs’ (rather like poker)’.  He would then select all the best players for his team adding, ‘And may God be on our side’. 

 Ararimu became part of the Papakura parish in 1927. Our father inherited the homestead farm in 1946 so, to our delight we moved there  after his mother’s death at the age of 94.  Our family’s connection with Pukekohe was to continue.  First with me, then Kath, Mary, and later our youngest sister Margaret, all attending St Mary’s which became Sacred Heart.  The early means of transport from Ararimu was the Pukekohe High School bus.  All went well until 1949 when my sister Kathleen joined me in travelling to St Mary’s Convent School.  Early in the year, as the bus driver let us off at the corner of our farm, he said, ‘The High School Principal asked me to tell you that you may travel on the bus tomorrow, Friday, but not after that unless you change to attending the High School.   Because of the increase in numbers, they are already sending taxis for some students.’  Kath and I and our parents, were devastated.  Mum and Dad asked us to tell the sisters, adding that they would try to find a solution.  By Saturday, Sister Mary Anthony, the local Superior of the Convent phoned with a suggestion.  The Sisters needed help in the kitchen , so asked if Kath and I would fill this need, before and after school and in the weekends?   This could be payment for boarding.  Our parents, and we, were greatly relieved and appreciative. 

From the beginning of my schooling at Pukekohe, I felt a difference.  The Sisters had a simplicity, a warmth, a personal relationship with and love for God which touched something within me.  Sisters Mary Alexius and Mary Constance in the kitchen were warm – hearted and helpful; our teachers and boarders’ mistresses also were caring and wanted the best for us.  Gradually, I was drawn by this atmosphere, and became aware that I too wanted to live for God, with God, and for those who did not know and love God, to be a missionary, wanting to go wherever God called me.

I am truly grateful to all the Sisters who were in Pukekohe at that time, for living their call to such a degree that I felt it, and came to know that I too was being called to our Congregation of contemplation and mission; to the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions.  What an amazing gift!  What a humbling privilege!