Pompallier College celebrates 50 years!

Srs Gemma Wilson and Lorraine Campbell joined the celebration of the 50^thJubilee of Pompallier College, Whangerai on 4-5 June.

Pompallier Catholic College is named after Bishop Jean Baptiste Francois Pompallier who led the first group of Catholic Missionaries who belonged to the Society of Mary, from Lyons, France, to New Zealand.

The College was founded in 1971 and its foundation staff were Marist Fathers and Brothers.

Responding to local needs and changing circumstances, the College became co-educational in 1977. This is also the year the Marist Sisters arrived to help staff the College. It was the first venture for the Marist Sisters into co-education in New Zealand

Sr Gemma was one of the pioneers along with Sr Patricia Bowley in 1977. Srs Genevieve Laxton (RIP), Noelene Simmons, Anne David, Lorraine Campbell, Marie O’Reilly, Francine McGovern and Margaret Cross also ministered at Pompallier College. The other sisters in the community were engaged in pastoral work or in the parish – including Srs Sabina Carmody (RIP) Margarita Bourke (RIP) Xavier Dunne (RIP Anne Saunders, Antonia Avey (RIP) Gemma Pearson. The Marist Sisters concluded their mission to the people of Whangarei in 1988.

Srs Gemma and Lorraine were happy to meet again with our ex-students and some of their parents as well as the Marist Fathers with whom we taught. We found that one of the houses had been named Chavoin. To mark the occasion the Unit of New Zealand made a donation to the Religious Education Department for resources for students and staff.