St Joseph's Convent closed

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 31, 24 December 1985, Page 18 (Supplement)

St Joseph's Convent closed

After 67 years in the Waimarino community, the last of the Sisters of St. Joseph's Convent in Ohakune left on Saturday and their convent is now closed. The three sisters who have been at the convent for several years are all going to different parts of the country to continue their work. Sister Carmel Orange RSJ, has spent three years engaged in parish work, religious instruction for children, visits to the sick and elderly and involved with the church liturgy and parish councils. She has moved to Tawa to continue parish work.

Senior sister at the convent, Sister Andrew Lysaght RSJ, has been at St Josephs for over four years, during which she has tended the convent garden. She will continue to help the community in Waipukurau. Sister Carmel Brady RSJ, who was the main cook, also made parish visits and helped sister Carmel Orange. She will be working in W anganui from now on. The sisters were all very sad to be leaving and sad that the convent was closing, however they realised that their time had come to move on and help people in other areas.

At the farewell for the sisters, which was held in the Ohakune Primary School Hall on Sunday 8 December, a large group of sisters who had previously lived at the convent returned. Parish Priest Father Neil Wilson SM, thanked the sisters for their generosity and told them that what they were was more important than what they did and in terms of who they were they were irreplaceable. Other speakers included Rev. Bob Peck, for the Anglican Church, Rev. Don Bater for the Presbyterian and Ritchie Mareikura for Maungarongo Marae.