AS PART OF ST. THERESA’S PARISH’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY A trip back in time… WE WILL BE SHARING SOME OF THE STORIES F R O M O U R PARISH ISSUE 2 M A Y 2 0 1 5 C O L O U R F U L P A S T The early years of a parish remembered.. St. Theresa’s parish was established in 1940, Both churches were built in the hope, but not with ninety six years after the establishment of the the immediate expectation, that there would parent parish (at Otaki in 1844). Our parish was eventually be a resident priest. However, neither SCENE SETTER: the twenty-fourth of the forty-nine parishes in the had one until Irish born Father Jeremiah McGrath PARISH PRIESTS OVER Archdiocese to be established. was appointed as the first parish priest at St. T H E F I R S T Theresa’s parish when it was finally established in 2 0 Y E A R S There were two Catholic communities, at 1940. 1 9 4 0 - 1 9 5 2 Plimmerton and Pauatahanui, that persisted FR. JEREMIAH MCGRATH (ASSISTED BY FR. through difficult times to finally join into one Before St. Theresa’s church was built Plimmerton WILLIAM CLANCY parish. The churches of St Joseph’s and St. School had been made available to Catholics in the 1 9 5 0 - 1 9 5 4 ) Theresa’s were built over half a century apart district for Sunday worship. In Pukerua Bay Mass 1 9 5 2 - 1 9 5 9 (1878 and 1931 respectively) and both were built was also celebrated “in a tiny two room cottage FR. JOHN KAVANAGH (ASSISTED BY FR. KEV I N at a time when there were still too few priests to with the central wall removed” and later at the H Y L A N D 1 9 5 5 - 1 9 5 9 ) go around. Both communities had felt the need Anglican St. Mark’s Church (Mass continued to be 1 9 5 9 - 1 9 6 0 for communal worship and, with transport not celebrated there until 1980). FR. BRIAN FOX easy, the decision was made to erect a new church—St. Theresa’s—more central to the The cost of £1,700 for the church was offset to growing community. This consolidated future some extent by the gift of the land for the church communal worship at Plimmerton. and school by the Walker family. James Walker, and his family had arrived from Scotland in 1842 With the main trunk line already in place in 1939 and set up a boat-building company in Paremata. the main road north (which had been through His son, also called James, became Paremata’s through Pauatahanui over the Paekakariki hill) most extensive land owner, owning an area was built to run parallel with the railway line. stretching from the whaling station to Whenua The location of a new church on the new main Tapu. James Street, on which the church and road seemed like a logical choice. school is sited, is named after him. St. Theresa’s Church in Plimmerton sits alone on farmland, 1930’s A trip back in time—the first 20 years— continued... When the church was built in 1931 it was part of the Johnsonville parish. The Plimmerton parish, established in 1940, included within its Magic moments and boundaries the church at Pauatahanui, extending also to Pukerua Bay, Porirua and Titahi Bay. memories... While Father McGrath was appointed as the “I made my first communion at first resident parish priest the presbytery was Plimmerton and I was present at the not built until the following year. Father McGrath slept for a year in the vestry! blessing and opening of St. Theresa’s church in 1931. In the Nine years after Father McGrath arrived he, early days the priest, Father Lane, together with Archbishop O’Shea, proudly opened St. Theresa’s School. The school, Fr. Jeremiah McGrath, St. rode on horse back from Lower Hutt, opened on 30 January 1949, was built at a cost Theresa’s first Parish Priest then later came on the train from of £8,000. A major part of the Church’s mission Johnsonville. He would arrive on the in the early years was the employment of religious Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth for the education of local Catholic children (until Saturday evening, hear the school opened Catholic children had attended the State schools in confessions, sleep in the sacristy, Pauatahanui and Plimmerton or the Catholic school in Tawa.) say the Mass on Sunday, then Father McGrath remained as parish priest at St. some of the parishioners Theresa’s for nearly 12 years until February would take him out to 1952 when he was transferred. Father Kavanagh took his place, assisted by Father Bill Clancy as Pauatahanui.” curate, then later by Father Hyland. Father Brian Mary Bryce Fox was parish priest from 1959-1960. So right through its first 20 years the parish was led by Irish priests (it wasn’t until 1976 Father Stieller, in conjunction with Father Leo Curry, Next edition! were the first New Zealand-born priests in residence.) Fr. Bill Clancy was curate at Plimmerton during the 1950’s 1960-1980 The church location at Plimmerton was certainly fortuitous with a handy location close to transport links and central to the parish. Land had also been purchased in Whitby early on with the The second 20 years of intention of eventually building a church there but St. Theresa’s was seen to be meeting its parish’s needs so that St.Theresa’s parish ... land was sold off and the planned Mass Centre in Whitby did not go ahead. Acknowledgements: Much of this historical text has been sourced from “Parish with a Mission”, a jubilee 2000 project by the parish, and in particular by writers and researchers Maurice John Harris and Geoff Pryor (with additional research by Russell Norris, Marie O’Leary and Helen Reilly). Do you have a story to tell about St. Theresa’s parish, or know anyone who does? If you can help with stories, photos or records over any decade speak with one of these people at Church: Rusty Norris, Jude McKee or Eleanor Cater (email [email protected] or phone 233 2389). Contact us, we would love to hear from you! .