DUBLIN TO PORT CHALMERS

Accompanied by Bishop Moran, they set out for New Zealand on 5 October 1870.  On 9 October,

they boarded the “Glendower”, a sailing ship bound for Sydney.  Unfortunately, this vessel was

shipwrecked off Torbay;  two anchors were lost, and in the midst of a violent storm, the Bishop

prepared to give the last Absolution.  They were delayed at Plymouth for a month and on

29 October, departed from England via the Cape of Good Hope into the “roaring forties”, arriving

at Sydney on 2 February 1871.  The tiresome journey was completed on the “Gothenburg” via

Melbourne and Bluff on 18 February 1871 at 7:25am.

 1876 Standing: Sisters di Ricci Kirby, Vincent Whitty, Francis Sullivan, Peter Jordan,

Raymond McGrath,Lucy Tracy, Joseph Neylon, Gertrude Dooley, Bertrand Mclaughlin,

Catherine Hughes.  Sitting: Mother Gabriel Gill, Sister Agnes Rooney

A large crowd from Dunedin greeted the Sisters.  Early in the morning, excited Catholics met at

the Octagon and “proceeded overland in coaches and buggies” to await their arrival at Port Chalmers. 

Sisters were escorted from the Port to the town and many citizens joined in the procession to the Church. 

Father Moreau presented an address on behalf of himself and the parishioners emphasising the

straightened finances from which the small community suffered After sitting through several

formal addresses and still feeling the effects of a long sea voyage, all departed for the

presbytery and a “sumptuous banquet”.

DIFFICULTIES

In Ireland, the Sisters entered into an agreement with the Bishop to the effect that, provided

they paid their fares and own expenses to New Zealand, a suitable residence and school would

be provided for them.  The Sisters performed their task most faithfully.

After the “banquet”, an immediate problem presented itself:  where were the arrivals to be lodged?

Previous assurances had come to naught, through no fault of the Bishop.  Father Moreau

and committee selected the vacant “Robin Hood Hotel” for them.  To Mother Gabriel’s dismay,

it proved to be “just a shed, offering no protection against bad weather”.  When Bishop Moran

found it was heavily encumbered by mortgages, the building was promptly rejected.

The solution:  the clergy vacated the presbytery and rented a cottage on Bell Hill,

handing over the presbytery after it had been sumptuously furnished.  The day after they took

up residence, Bishop Moran approached Mother Gabriel with a sheaf of bills in his hand, and

a look of despair on his face.  Mother Gabriel said:  “Give them to me, My Lord, and I will quickly

settle them”.  She went through the house, dismantled the elaborate arrangements, mirrors, etc. 

Keeping only the bare necessities, everything else was sent back to the dealers or sold off, and

the Bishop’s bills were paid!

PRIMARY SCHOOL

 The school was established in 1863.  Old wooden provincial government buildings were used. 

One large room was put on the side of the Rattray Street gully below the Church and divided into

two parts - for boys and girls.  Other rooms served as coach-house and stables.In 1860, girls

were taught by Mrs Conway who later taught the children in Lawrence.  The Sisters took

charge of the girls’ school on Monday 20 February 1871, two days after they arrived! 

Parishioners used spades to form steps up the muddy hill. 

HIGH SCHOOL

On 27 February, a high school for day pupils was opened.  Subjects included pianoforte, singing,

the harp, painting, flower-making, art, needlework and languages - French, Spanish, Italian and German.

Sister Alphonsus Owens -  1849 - 1918

Agnes Owens was born on the 26 September 1849 near Colchester, Essex. England.

She grew up in Limerick ‘a member of a well known and highly gifted Limerick family’.  Agnes lived abroad

with her family in her early years, and her exceptional brilliancy enabled her to benefit fully by the educational

advantages which fell to her. Nature had bestowed on her a very beautiful voice; modern languages were no

trouble to her; her literary attainments were of a very high order.  Two of her brothers entered religious Orders

the elder who died young became a Dominican Friar. She had one sister.

Agnes entered Sion Hill and received the name of Sister Henry Suso.  It is not clear when she came

to be known as Sister Mary Alphonsus. She was received on the 23rd April 1872 and made profession

on the 1st of September 1874 leaving for New Zealand the same year. Father Coleman being present at

the profession enquired if any of the sisters had been asked individually if they had thought of going to the

missions. The answer being ‘no’ he requested that this be done. The newly professed and Sister Raymond

McGrath, two years professed, responded. Also with them were two postulants and all set sail on the

“Janet Cowan”. It was to be a hazardous journey indeed. The captain as well as being addicted to drink

had never been to New Zealand before and the ship carried a cargo of 100 barrels of gunpowder. Too late

was the discovery made: they had left Gravesend so must continue.  Arriving off the East Coast of New

Zealand in fog, the ship nearly founded near Waikouaiti and had to be rescued by a tug from Port Chalmers.  

Among many of Sister Alphonsus’  talents was that of writing.  She edited The Dominican Star. 

One of the wits in the community, Sister Malachy O’Neill remarked ‘we are now making money out of the

stars’. Sister died in Rosary Convent in Oamaru on the 25th of April 1918.