Robert Young, the vendor, says he has researched the history of Claremont Castle.

But he hasn't traded on any ghost stories as has the former owner, Mr West.

In 2001, West offered $100 to anyone who could spend two consecutive nights in the castle's supposedly haunted shower block.

The ghost story is believed to have followed the decades in the mid 20th Century when Claremont castle used to accommodate St Joseph's Noviate (sic)," according to Colleen Hawkes writing on Stuff.

"It was a silent order that was entirely self-sufficient, growing all its own food in the grounds.

"The chapel was built and there were old graves on the property, but these were subsequently moved off."

Some of the surviving brothers, now in their 90s, have visited and talked about the good times they had when it was St Joseph's Novitiate, Young says.

"I give them a cup of tea and a scone and we have a lovely time. They tell me stories."

But stories get longer as the years pass: The Marist Brothers Novitiate was located at Claremont in 1932.

Claremont House built was in 1884.

Additional buildings on the property include two two-bedroomed units for visiting clergy, now used by staff.

Stables have been turned into garaging and the former 40-roomed dormitory is now a reception hall.

The centre used the chapel as a gymnasium only and held Christmas carol nights in the main foyer below the wooden stairway.

The property is currently used as a wedding venue, bed and breakfast, conference facility and as Young's private residence.

However, he has reluctantly decided to sell as he is looking to downsize and retire.

The property has been on the market for some time.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

They are treasured relics, saved from a disastrous fire which took place more than 100 years ago. Continue reading

The App will provide for GPS coordinates, accommodation options, prayers, historical information and recorded talks by people of Te Tai Tokerau.

This development has been inspired by a pilgrimage led by Wiga Autet from the Auckland Diocese Religious Education Team.

The party of 8 visited the significant Catholic sites in Te Tai Tokerau to learn more about their faith and to pause ponder and prayer at them.

The sites visited included:

• Tane Mahuta: Maori gatekeeper to spirituality and Te Tai Tokerau
• Omapere Heads: Kupe's and Bishop Pompallier's entry to Hokianga
• Our Lady of the Highway - Our Lady of Passchendaele - Omanaia
• Totara Point: Site of the First Mass Bishop Pompallier
• St Gabriel's Church at Pawarenga
• Hata Maria - St Mary's Church, Motuti: where Bishop Pompallier's remains are kept.
• Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Motukaraka.
• The National Shrine of St Peter Chanel: Russell

Look out for news of the App on the Auckland Catholic Diocese's website.

Source

• aucklandcatholic.org.nz
• nzcatholic.org.nz
• Image: hokiangapompallier.org.nz

51 elders from the North trekked across the ditch to Parramatta for the celebrations, which recognise an enduring relationship between their ancestor Ruatara and the Anglican minister Samuel L Marsden.

Early in the 19th century Marsden set up a school and farm to be used by his Maori visitors.

The site he chose was in the area surrounding what is now the the Rangihou Reserve, originally the territory of the Barramattagal clan of the Darug people.

As early as 1805, Maori were coming to Australia, such as Te Pahi, so regularly it was noted that "The Colony is never free from some of those Natives".

Another chief Kawiti Tiitua was perplexed and dissapointed by the general lack of engagement and hospitality offered by Europeans in Parramatta.
Source

• Discover Parrematta
• rangihou.wordpress.com
• MaoriTelevision
• parramattaheritage.blogspot.co.nz
• Image:arc.parracity.nsw.gov.au

Two events will take place at Rangihoua Heritage Park. The first on 21st December will be the formal commemoration attended by the Governor General who will also officially open the park.

The second on 25th December will be a Christmas Day service marking the bicentennial of Marsden's sermon which occurred on the site where the Marsden Cross now stands.

The Marsden Cross was unveiled at Rangihoua, Oihi, in the Bay of Islands in March 1907 by the Governor General, Lord Plunket. The monument is a large Celtic stone cross with the inscription:

On Christmas Day, 1814
the first Christian Service in N.Z.
was held on this spot
by the Rev. Samuel Marsden.

The accuracy of this description has been questioned as Christian services were held in New Zealand before this date.

It is very likely that Father Paul-Antoine Léonard de Villefeix, a Dominican priest and ship's chaplain on board Surville's Saint Jean-Baptiste, conducted Mass on board ship in New Zealand waters in 1769.

London Missionary Society missionaries on their way to Tahiti were in New Zealand waters in 1805.

During the exploratory voyage of Thomas Kendall and William Hall to New Zealand in 1814 Kendall recorded that they had prayers on deck the first Sunday they were in New Zealand. One week later, on 18 June, Kendall read "the prayers of the Church" on board ship

He commented that "Two or three chiefs were also with us, and the behaviour of the natives during Divine service was very decent and commendable. It was a new thing with them to see our way of worship and to hear of a day of rest from labour, and they seemed to enjoy the idea very much. service was very decent and commendable."

The organisers of the commemoration have set up a website where you can track their plans as they develop; see http://www.gospel2014.org/

Source

The Anglican church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia

Image: gospel2014.org