Napier’s new combined parish to sort out buildings

Tuesday, June 16th, 2015

Now that Napier’s three parishes have been combined decisions have to be made about the use of the buildings.

The four lay staff and three priests, who previously worked within the three parishes of St Mary’s, St Patrick’s and St Thomas More, are presently working out of the unified parish’s temporary site at St Mary’s in Greenmeadows.

As parish pastoral council member David Marshall said, the location for the staff will eventually be be at the more central St Patrick’s Church but money would have to be spent.

The Parish House in Napier is now vacant and two options for its future were now on the table.

It can either be converted and refurbished up to earthquake-risk levels or demolished to make way for a new office building.

“That is the challenge we have to take on,” Marshall said.

He says services will continue at all three parishes and a “hub” of volunteers will be at them each morning to deal with parishioner inquiries and provide hospitality “for visitors from wherever they might come”.

He said the unification mass on May 24 as probably the most significant event in the 165-year history of the church in Napier.

Last month the unifying of the three parishes was celebrated by Bishop Charles Drennan, the Bishop of Palmerston North Diocese and the three priests of the new parish Father Peter Head, Father Mike Wooller and Father John Mori. The event saw the Municipal Theatre in Napier packed with about 1000 people.

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