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Aotearoa-NewZealandandSamoaWhoweare

NineteenthcenturydevelopmentsOurfounderOnChristmasDay,1861,FrenchwomanEuphrasieBarbier(1829-1893)foundedareligiouscongregation, Religieuses de Notre Dame desMissions (RNDM). Euphrasie, a courageousand determined Frenchwoman fromNormandy,was from a young age, attracted to theforeignmissions.Shefirstjoinedanewlyestablishedmissionarycongregation,theSistersofCalvaryinCuves,France,butpolitical,historicalandreligiouseventsinthatcountrymeanttheSisterswent toLondon toworkwith theFathersof theOratory. However,Euphrasiewas concerned that the Sisters of Calvarywere becoming too involved in supporting theOratorians'rapidlyexpandingministryandwereforgettingabouttheforeignmissions.Shealso believed that their busy apostolic lives meant little time left for prayer andcontemplation.When Euphrasie learnt that the French Marist Bishop Philippe Viard, (1809-1872), ofWellington was looking for religious sisters to teach in his diocese, she respondedpositively to thisopportunity.SheandayoungEnglishnovicecompanion leftLondonandarrived in Lyon on 15 August 1861 where theMarist priests encouraged her to begin areligiousformationprogrammeforFrenchwomenwhowantedtojointheMaristmissioninthePacific. Euphrasieenthusiasticallybegan thiswork,hoping to founda congregationofwomendeeplycommittedtoprayerandcontemplation,toapostolicworkwithwomenandchildren, and to community life. A great love for contemplation, community andmissionweretobecomedefiningfeaturesofthenewly-foundedcongregation.HerdreambegantoberealizedwhenEuphrasieandhercompanionbegantheirnovitiateinLyon on 25 December 1861. The new congregation was registered with the SacredCongregationofPropaganda inRomein1862,EuphrasiemadeherperpetualvowsontheFeastoftheSacredHeart,3June1864,andon18August1864,justthreedaysaftertheirfirstprofession,thefirstfourRNDMsistersleftFranceviaEngland,fortheirmissioninNewZealand. It is apparent that the InstitutedeNotreDamedesMissionswas committed toforeignmissionsfromitsbeginnings,andwithinashorttimeyoungwomenwereattractedtothenewcongregation.

EuphrasieBarbier,(MèreMarieduSacreCœurdeJésus),bornin

Caen,Normandy,Francein1829,anddiedinSturry,England,1893

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SoonaftertheirarrivalinNapier,theSistersinvolvedthemselvesinteachingtheEuropeanchildrenof the rapidly growing settler population andMaori girls, the latter at the schoolwhichwas firstknownas the Providence and renamed St Joseph'sMaoriGirls' College,when itwas relocated toGreenmeadowsafterthe1931Napierearthquake.

L-RSistersMariedesAngesMarieSteAnneMarieStJean MarieStMadeleine

FoundersofNapierin1865Before theendof thenineteenthcentury, conventshadbeenestablished inChristchurch,Nelson,NewPlymouth,Ashburton,Hamilton, Pukekohe,Opotiki, Leeston, Stratford andRangiora. RNDMsweresoonteachinginparishprimaryschoolsandincongregation-ownedsecondaryschools.Moreoftenthannot,theyalsocaredfororphans.

EarlydaysinOpotiki

Christchurch1882,demolishedin2012afterthe2011earthquake

SSWalterHood,thewoodenclipperonwhichfourFrenchsisterstravelledfromEnglandon2October1864,arrivinginNapieron25February1865.http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/MaritimeHeritage/researchcentre/wreckwalterhood.htm

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RNDMsinOceaniainthenineteenthcentury

In1871RNDMsfromFrancejoinedtheSocietyofMarypriestsandbrothersandlaywomenknownasTertiarieswhoworkedwithMaristFathersintheislandsofOceania.SoontheRNDMsalongwithTertiaries,someofwhomjoinedtheyoungCongregation,wereinvolvedinvariousworksinTonga,SamoaandWallisIslands.Buttherewereproblemsahead.Euphrasie'sinsistenceontheneedforacloisteredlifestyleforhercommunity and thedifficultyothermissionariesworking inOceaniahadwith thatpositionmeantthattheRNDMslefttheIslandsin1878,andwouldnotreturnuntilalmostacenturylater.

TwentiethCenturyDevelopments

Aotearoa-NewZealand1900-1965ThecongregationexpandedrapidlyinthetwentiethcenturyintheyearspriortoVaticanII(1962-65),withRNDMsstaffingmorethanfiftyparishprimaryschools,andteachingintheirownsecondary schools which usually had boarding schools attached. Vocations to religious life wereplentiful.

FinalProfession,Hamilton,1956,SistersM.GenevievePunch,M.LawrenceO’Toole,M.PhilippaReed,M.CatherineCurry,M.CorneliusCrowley,M.RoseMalone,M.BeatriceHammersley,M.

PhoebeHassan,M.ChanelO'Donnell

1966-2000VaticanIImeantextraordinarychangesfortheCatholicsallovertheworld.CatholicSisterseverywherewereamongthefirsttorespondenthusiasticallytotheCouncil'scallforrenewal.ThiswasmostapparenttootherCatholicswhenSistersbeganchangingtheirhabitsordress!!Butotherchangeswereafoottoo.

ChangingHabits,1974.M.BénédicteOllivier,M.AloysiusMcCormick,M.HenryHudd

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Thecall tochangeandrenewalsawmoreRNDMsbeingsentonmissionoutsideofAotearoa-NewZealand,andembracingnewministriesathome.Thisperiodofchangealsocoincidedwithadeclinein thenumberof youngwomen seeking admission to religious life. Ministries undertakenby theSisters in the decades after Vatican II included chaplaincy work in hospitals, prisons, educationalinstitutions, ethnic, youth and refugee communities. Other RNDMs were involved in adult andtertiaryleveleducation,spiritualdirectionandcounselling,andparishministry.SamoaIn1970,theRNDMsreturnedtoSamoa,totheislandofSavai'itoteachintheprimaryschoolatFusi,and in 1971 began to build a co-educational secondary school at Logoipulotu,where they taughtuntil 1996. Between 1970 and today, more than 38Mission Sisters have worked in Samoa in avarietyofministriesthatincludededucation,theestablishmentofanagriculturalprojectthatwouldprovide young Samoan men with practical skills for working on the land, pastoral ministry andworkingwithyoungwomeninterestedinjoiningtheSistersofOurLadyoftheMissions.

LosaTofilauworkingwithStVincentdePaulvolunteersinApia,Samoa

EarlydaysinSamoa1972L-RSarahGreenlees,JoanRobertson(laymissionary),BishopPioTaofinu'u,PatriciaBarrett,CynthiaKearney,PusaFonoti,Mary

Jerome

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AnImportantTwenty-firstCenturyDevelopmentRNDMsfromVietnam,Bangladesh,MyanmarandIndiaarrivetostudyinAotearoa-NewZealandOne of themore significant developments in the twenty-first century was the arrival of youngerRNDMssistersfromMyanmar,Vietnam,andBangladeshtostudyEnglishinAotearoa-NewZealandandifpossiblegainprofessionalqualificationsthatwouldbeusefulintheirdifferentministrieswhentheyreturnedhomeortooverseasministry.NotonlydidthedifferentSistersappreciatetheirtimeinNewZealand,sotoodidolderRNDMsenjoyhavingstudentsisterssharingtheircommunitylife.

PetoneCommunity2008BackRowL-RM.PaulHodgson,ThịMinhTrangNguyễn,M.PhilomeneWalsh,TheresaGalvin,ThịBíchThuPham,FrontRowThanHtay,M.Epiphania(BenedictineSister

fromSouthKorea),SuchitraRozario

ThanHtay,RNDM,Manila

CarmelColeandEmilySoeSoeLinRNDM,Myanmar

L-RDungTranandMinhTrangNguyenwithmigrantsinaTaiwanesedetentioncentre

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ProvinceofAotearoa-NewZealandandSamoatoday

ProvincialLeadershipTeamAotearoaNewZealand/Samoa2015FrontRowBarbaraHenley,ColleenEdgecombe,CarmelCole(Leader)BackRowSusanSmith,ChristinaCathro

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Pentecost,Ellerslie MoanaKingiandSusanSmithRNDM,BackRowAleiLeilua,GeraldineDonovan TeHotuManawaoRangitaaneoFrontTwoMoyraFoster,RoseMalone ManawatuMaraeforNZBudgetingElizabethBeeler Conference

PentecostEllerslie MaryMaitlandRNDMwithparishionersBeeDanksElizabethBeeler,ChristinaCathro, andCathyTorvik,McLeodBay,WhangareiHeadsLeoneMarkham,GeraldineDonovanElizabethBeeler

AleiLeiluaRNDM,CatholicChaplain,AucklandPublicHospital

• InWaikatothereareseventeensisterslivingindifferenttowns–Cambridge,Hamilton,

Kiwitahi,Morrinsville,Opotiki.FivesistersliveattheAtawhaiAssisiHomeandHospital

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RaewynHoganRNDMandElizabethWoodhouseatMaryKatarina'stangi

• InTaranakieightRNDMsliveinNewPlymouth,fiveofthemintheMissionRestHome.TwosistersliveatOpunake,whileanotherlivesatWaverley

After15yearsinPeru,BarbaraCameronRNDMreturnedtoNewZealandwhereshededicatedherself,herlittlehome,andgardentopeaceandcontemplationfortheindividual,thecommunityandtheworld.Barbarawrites:"ThePeaceSanctuaryoffersawayofmakingtangiblethecontemplativedimensionofourlifestyle.Calledtobecontemplativesattheheartoftheworld,wearechallengedtomaketangiblethecontemplativedimensionofourlifestyles.”Theflockofwhitedoves,universalsymbolsofpeace,whichliveattheSanctuaryareaconstantandbeautifulreminderofourdesireforandcommitmenttopeace."

PentecostinTaranakiMaryLidwinaVanBeers,MaryWyss,PatriciaMaryFord,JuneWalsh,PatriciaBarrett,MargaretMonaghan,VeronicaKeaveney,MargaretMullin

OrianaDriver,residentatMissionRestHome,andMargaretMonaghanRNDM

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RNDMscelebratingwithEllenMahoneyRNDMBackRowMaureenDuncan,MurielKivell,RosaleneHoban,MaryPeterChanelHoban,CarmelCassin,JeanetteMcRae,MargaretMaryHunterFrontRowCarmelCole,MaryJohnBosco,EllenMahoney,SarahGreenlees,ColleenEdgecombe

RNDMsrelaxingatAhuriri,NapierJeanetteMcRae,CarmelCole,MaureenDuncan

RNDMsintheWellingtonRegion

BackrowTheresaGalvin,ValerieLawson,PaulineLeonard,ColleenEdgecombe,MerleHiscock,MoiraRoss,MaryPaulHodgson,ConnieHurleyFrontrowThiBichVanDangVietnam,NguyenVuKieuVanVietnam,EmilySoeSoeLinMyanmar,AnnetteYoung,CarmelCole

InHawkesBaythereisonesisterlivinginDannevirke,oneinGisborne,andoneinPalmerstonNorth.TherearesevenRNDMsinNapier.

WellingtonThetwofull-timemembersoftheProvincialLeadershipTeamliveinLowerHutt,anothersisterlivesinWaikanae,whiletwoliveinPetonewhichalsohousestheProvinceArchivesandtheProvinceOffice.AnothersixsistersliveinLowerHutt,andbothPetoneandNelsonoftenhaveyoungAsianstudentsisterslivingincommunitywhiletheystudyatWeltecortheNelsonMarlboroughInstituteofTechnology.

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Nelsoncommunity SpiritualDirectorsKarenMoynagh,IleneBackRowJosephineMoses,MariJosefPark,AllenmeetwithMariaJosefParkRNDMRosaleneHoban, toplanretreatdaysFrontRowHelenNewNiOo,RosyWin

BarbaraHenleyatWaikanaeBeachwhereshewalksregularly,swimsinsummer,collectspipiforthepastaordriftwoodforart

InChristchurchthemajorityofthesistersliveindifferentpartsofthecity,whileGaelHenrylivesinKaiapoiandisaparishworkerintheWaimakaririPastoralArea

ClareMurphyRNDMandMargaretPurdieRNDMwith"RosaryGroup"parishionersfromtheFerrymeadPastoralArea

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KathleenPrendergastRNDMwithpupilsatStAnne'sSchool,Woolston

GaelHenryRNDM,parishworker, Anna-MariaPersicoRNDM,StPeterChanelParish,Kaiapoi, teachingmusic,ChristchurchWaimakariri,PastoralArea

RNDMsfromAotearoaNewZealand/SamoaworkingoverseasEuphrasieBarbier'sdreamforherSisterswasthattheyweremissionaryeverywhere–intheirowncountriesandinthe'foreignmissions'. ContemporaryRNDMsarefoundworkinginAotearoaNewZealandwithotherPakehaandwithpeopleofdifferentcultures.TwoSamoanRNDMs,LosaTofilauandMonikaVaipunabothworkinApia,Samoa,LosaattheTheologicalCollegewheresheteaches,andMonikaattheVictimSupportSchool.CurrentlytwelveRNDMsareworkingoverseasalthoughnotasmanyareinvolvedinmissionoutsideofone'scultureandcountryaswasformerlythecase.NeverthelessitispossibleforRNDMswiththenecessaryaptitudes,qualificationsandskillstoworkoutsideofAotearoa-NewZealandifrequired.

AustraliaFrancesWilson,MaureenDwan,ColleenKing-TurnerFrancePatriciaBoyd,Mary-RoseHolderness,MaureenMcBrideIrelandHelenO'SullivanItalyJosephineKane,CongregationalLeaderKenyaElizabethMolloy,SalotaAimalefoa

SouthSudanMargaretScott,DorothyDickson

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RNDMsaroundtheworld

MargaretScottreportsfromSouthSudanIn 2007, RNDMs became part of the UISG (International Union of Major Superiors) initiative,Solidaritywith South Sudan anNGO set up toworkwith theworld's newest nation South Sudan,struggling to recover from years of civil war and famine. Today, two RNDMS fromNew Zealand,MargaretScottandDorothyDicksonworkintheareasofeducationandhealthinSouthSudanalongwithRNDMs,otherreligiousandlaypeoplefrommanypartsoftheworld.Margaret Scott, a past pupil of Sacred Heart College, Napier, is Principal of Solidarity TeacherTraining College in Yambio, Western Equatoria, South Sudan. The College provides a two yearprogrammefortrainingprimaryschoolteachers.StudentscomefromalloverSouthSudan,includingthe Nuba Mountains and Abyei. The staff come from USA, Ecuador, Ireland, Australia, Ghana,Nigeria, Kenya, South Sudan, and New Zealand. Margaret writes that the Teacher College "is awonderfulinitiativeandwearepleasedtobestillrunningiteventhoughthecountryisatwar.Thewarcontinuesthoughthenewsdoesnotimpactmuchontherestoftheworld.Millionsarestarving,thousandshavebeenkilledandtheSouthSudanesepoliticalclassesarefightingamongthemselves.Weprayforpeace".

MargaretScottRNDM,withHenryScotttheirSolidaritybaby.HewasbornwhilehismotherfromtheNubaMountainswasstudyingattheTeacherCollege

HelenO'Sullivan,RNDM,whoisstudyinginIrelandpreparingforherministryintheRNDMInternationalMissiondevelopmentOffice

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MaureenDwanRNDMofChristchurch, ColleenKing-TurnerRNDM,currentlyworkinginInternationalMission CentreofEcology,Victoria,AustraliaDevelopmentOffice,Melbourne

SusanSmithRNDM,Manila2014,withstudentsfollowingtheDuquesneUniversityMastersinLeadershipprogramme

BackrowAdrienneDunlopRNDM,PatriciaBoydRNDM,FrontrowReginaTripuraRNDM,MaryRoseHoldernessRNDM

PatriciaBoydandMaryRoseHolderness,twoRNDMsfromAotearoa-NewZealand,liveatCharenton,Paris,wherePatriciaisinvolvedinschoolministryandprovinceleadershipwhileMaryRoseisinvolvedintranslationworkforthecongregation.BothofthemarealsoinvolvedinofferinglovinghospitalitytothemanyvisitorswhocometoParis.

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TheSpiritualityofRNDMs

Spirituality is the inner strength or source that allows disciples of Jesus to fulfil the greatcommandmentsofloveofGodandloveofneighbour.OneofthefruitsofEuphrasie'sgreatloveofGodandneighbour,alovethatmotivatedhertosendhersisterstotheendsoftheworld,wasthatshebelievedthatallmissionhaditssourceinthemysteryoftheTrinity.WhatdidEuphrasiemeanwhenshetoldhersisterstimeandtimeagainthattheirmissionhaditssourceinthemysteryoftheTrinity?ForEuphrasiebelief in theTrinity, Father, SonandHolySpiritmeant that sheunderstoodthatcreationwastheworkoftheFatherwhothensenttheSon,theLogosorWordintotheworldwhichGodsoloved.AfterthedeathandresurrectionofJesus,FatherandSonsenttheSpiritintotheworld.TheideaofsendingwasinseparablefrommissionforEuphrasie.Euphrasie'ssistersweretogrowintheirloveofthismysteryatworkintheirlivesthroughcontemplativeprayer.RNDMSpiritualitybeforeVaticanII(1962-1965)Liturgical prayer or prayer of the churchwas important for all RNDMswhowere usually at dailyMass intheparishchurchormorefrequently intheirconventchapels,andwhoprayedtheOfficetogethereveryday.MuchoftheirprayerlifeinthedecadespriortoVaticanIIwaswhathascometobecalled"devotional".Thismeantpraying incommunity,oralone, such traditionalprayersas theRosary, Stations of the Cross, novenas toMary or the saints. Such prayerful devotions sustainedRNDMsintheirdemandinglives.RNDMSpiritualityafterVaticanIISincetheVaticanCouncil,thespiritualityoftheRNDMsinAotearoaNewZealand/Samoahasbeenenriched by a growing appreciation of God'sWord in our prayer life. For example, RNDMs havebeenabletoenhancetheirunderstandingof themissionof theSpirit intheirown lives, insocietyandinthosewithwhomtheyinteractintheirministries.Whatdoesthismean?Euphrasie's understanding of mission as being sent was deeply influenced by her prayerfulmeditationonJohn20:21"Jesussaidtothemagain,"Peacebewithyou.AstheFatherhassentme,soIsendyou'."Theywerehappytobesenttotheendsoftheearthtobringthegoodnewstothosewholivedindarknessandtheshadowofdeath(seeLuke1:79).AsRNDMsturnedtotheBible,studiedandprayedmore,theygainedfreshinsightsabouttheroleoftheSpirit, andwhat shape theirmission should take. In Luke4:16-18 theauthor reveals that theSpiritwastherewithJesusinhismissiontoliberatethepoorandoppressed:"WhenJesuscameto

SalotaAimalefoaRNDM,Samoa,workingwithWidows'GroupinMachakos,Kenya

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Nazareth,wherehehadbeenbroughtup,hewenttothesynagogueontheSabbathday,aswashiscustom.Jesusstooduptoread, andthescrolloftheprophetIsaiahwasgiventohim.Heunrolledthescrollandfoundtheplacewhereitwaswritten: 'TheSpiritoftheLordisuponme,becausehehasanointedmetobringgoodnewstothepoor.Hehassentmetoproclaimreleasetothecaptivesandrecoveryofsighttotheblind,tolettheoppressedgofree'."RNDMswerealso challengedby texts suchasGal 3: 28which taught that through thegift of theSpiritreceivedatbaptism,"thereisnolongerJeworGreek,thereisnolongerslaveorfree,thereisno longermale and female; for all of you areone inChrist Jesus". These andother texts helpedthemtoseethattheirmissionshouldalsoinvolvethemwiththepoor,withthosewhoexperienceddiscriminationorinjustice.Morerecently,textssuchasthosefoundinGenesis1,thestoryofcreation,revealthatallthatGodcreatedisgood.RNDMslearnttoofromWisdom1:7thatthe"SpiritoftheLordhasfilledtheworld,and that which holds all things together knows what is said.” These and similar texts served toremindRNDMstocareforGod'sgiftofcreationsoseriouslyharmedbyhumanexploitation.

RNDMEarthCommunity,Weareone,wearelove,athome

SusanSmith,caringforendangered ElizabethBeelerwithSouthernAlps grey-facedpetrelsonMatakoheIsland,inthebackgroundWhangarei

Whangareigardenproduce MaryMaitlandwalkingaroundNelsonLakes

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2015News,Events,PhotosProvinceYahoogroupAtthebeginningoftheyear,itwasdecidedthattheProvincewouldbenefitfromhavingitsownYahoogroupsothatRNDMslivinginNewZealandandoverseascouldmoreeasilyandinformallybeintouchwithoneanother.Sistershavebeenappreciativeofthisinitiative.150thcelebrationofarrivalofRNDMsinNapieron25February1865

150thAnniversaryoftheArrivalofthefirstfourRNDMsinNapier,NewZealand

On 26 February 2015, RNDMs gathered on the beach near Port Ahuriri in Napier to recall andcelebrate thearrivalof the first fourFrenchsisters toNewZealand in1865.Thesevaliantwomenhad braved the unknown to spread the good news through their involvement in education. TheRNDMswerejoinedbymembersofothercongregations,friends,pastpupils,principalsandstudentsofSacredHeartCollege,StJoseph'sMaoriGirls'College,andStPatrickandReignierparishprimaryschools.Afterakarangaandsong,theassembledpeoplewenttoSacredHeartCollegetocontinuethestoryof the sisters settling into the convent home on the "Holy Hill" as it was called. Prayers ofthanksgivingfortheworkoftheSistersandallthosewhohadsupportedthemweresaid.There were likewise gatherings to remember and to celebrate in other parts of the Provinceparticularly those in which RNDMs had long been an important presence, such as Christchurch,Nelson,NewPlymouth,LowerHuttandAuckland.

Anne-MarieShineRNDM,BarbaraHurleyRNDM,AnneGrossatChristchurch150thcelebration

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JubileesRNDMsinAotearoa-NewZealand/Samoacelebratedimportantjubileesthisyear.AsSistersgatheredto celebrate the lives of those sisters–75th Marcella Roach, 70th, EllenMahoney, 60th BernadetteFletcher, 60th Veronica Keaveney, 60th Clare Turner, 60th Mary Martina Burke, 60th Mary DavidRichards, 50th ClareMurphy–reaching importantmilestones as religiouswomen, therewas indeedmuchtorememberandforwhichtothankGod.

Eco-WalkApril2015The2008RNDMGeneralChapterdocument,RNDMEarthCommunity:WeareOne,Weare Love,askedallSisterstoacknowledgetheirresponsibilitytonotonlycareforthepoorandneedyofourworld but also to care for Planet Earth. There are a number of ways in which the Province hasrespondedtothischallengeandoneofthemwastoinviteRNDMstospendtimetogetherenjoyingoneanother'scompany,andjustasimportantlycomingtoappreciatemoredeeplyGod'swonderfulgiftofcreation.Since2009,smallgroupsofRNDMshavespentsometimetogether intheKawekaRange, Hawkes Bay, at Opunake exploring Mount Taranaki and its environs, at Owhango nearNationalPark,atLakeWaikaremoana, inWellington,atOtakiwhich includedawonderfulclimbtothetopofKapitiIslandandthisyearatRedBeachwhichmeantamongotherthings,meetingpateke,anendangeredduck,andtakaheatTawharanui.Such times of deeper engagement with all of creation are important. Barbara Henley, RNDM,summed it up when she said: "Every evening we gathered to reflect on our day and praise ourCreatorGodforthegiftsallaroundus,fortheeyestoenjoythemandtheenergytoexplore. Wewereremindedagainofallthewonderfulpeoplewhotrulycareforourcreationandrenewedourowncommitmenttopreserving,restoringandcaringforourMotherEarth.‘MaytheGodwhodancesincreationblessuswiththegiftofseeingalltheearthasGod’stempleandtherivers,lakesandoceansasholywater.Amen’

L-RChristinaCathro,LeoneMcIndoe,LizBeeler,CynthiaKearney,GeraldineDonovan,SusanSmith,BarbaraHenley

MaryMarcellaRoachewhomadeherfirstprofessionasaSisterofOurLadyoftheMissionson6January1940

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InJune2015AnneSklenarsRNDMflewtothePhilippineswhereshefacilitatedtheRegionalchapteroftheSistersoftheCenacle.WhentheChapterconcludedAnneflewwithtwoCenacleSisterstoMacauandthenfurthernorthinChinatomeetwithreligiouswomenworkinginthatvastcountry.

PeoplemakingtheirwaytotheurupaaboveTapekaMarae,Waihi,Tokaanu,toburyMaryKatarina

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RNDMsandSchools

EuphrasieBarbier saw theeducationofwomenandchildrenasapriority for themembersof thecongregation she founded. The variousRNDMhistories all demonstrate thatwithin a fewdays oftheir arrival in a new country, RNDMs were busy teaching in primary schools, and establishingcongregation-ownedsecondaryschools,faithfultowhatEuphrasiehadincludedintheConstitutionsshehadwrittenforhersisters:"[TheSisters']specialend istoaidhumblyandtothebestoftheirabilitytoextendtheKingdomofGodinsoulsbydevotingthemselvestotheinstructionandChristianeducation of children and women, above all in infidel and non-Catholic countries" (ConstitutionsapprovedbytheVaticanin1890).InAotearoa-NewZealand, the integrationofCatholicschools fromthe1980s intothegovernmenteducation systemmeant fewer sisters andmore lay people were involved in teaching. However,RNDMs have continued their involvement in both the secondary and primary schoolswithwhichtheyhavehistoricallyandcontemporaneouslybeenassociatedinthefollowingways.

• providingprofessionaltrainingprogrammesforteachersontheethosoftheCongregationofOurLadyoftheMissions;

• settingupcollegearchives;• membershipofBoardsofTrustees;• involvement in volunteer remedial literacy and maths programmes in primary and

secondaryschools;• BoardmemberfortheTafesilafai(Samoan)Community'sEarlyLearningprogramme;• ensuringtheinvolvementofschools–teachersandstudents–insupportingdifferentRNDM

missionsinAsia,AfricaandthePacific;• providingmission-awarenessprogrammesforstudents;• organisingmeetingsfortheprincipalsandDRSpersonnelstaffworkingincollegesbegunby

RNDMs;• responsibleforstartingtheannualMissionCup(Netball)tournamentbetweenthedifferent

secondaryschoolswhichtheCongregationhadfounded.Thisinturnencouragedthestartof theannualTeToahockey tournament for thedifferent collegeswhileValerie LawsonwasPrincipalofSacredHeartCollege,LowerHutt;

• Involvementin2006programmeinwhichprincipalsandotherstaffmembersvisitedFrancewheretheCongregationwasfounded

• providing work experiences for teachers with RNDM secondary schools in India andVietnam

• the appointment of an RNDM to visit schools on a regular basis. Hamilton-based AnneSklenarscurrentlyisinvolvedinthisimportantworkwhichinvolvesherwithbothstaffandstudents inavarietyofways.Most importantly sheworkswith teachersand students sothat theygrow in theirunderstandingof theRNDMwayof lifeandmission.Annecanbecontactedat07.856.6583,asklenars@yahoo.com

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SomephotosfromSchoolsestablishedbytheCongregationofOurLadyoftheMissions

MargaretMonaghanRNDMwithgirlsfrom MurielKivellRNDMwithmathsSacredHeartGirls'College,NewPlymouth studentsatHatoHohepaPrayerGroup

ColleenEdgecombeRNDM,TheresaGalvinRNDM,ConnieHurleyRNDM,atSacredHeartCollegeLowerHuttcelebrationoftheCollege'spatronalfeast.BehindtheSistersaremembersoftheCollegePolynesianClubwhowelcomedintheBookoftheGospelswithaculturalchant

60threunionatStMary's,Papakura,CathieSorraghan,AnneCoufts,MaryMaitlandRNDM,MaggieMcCaughan

VeronicaKeaveney,RNDM,celebratingher80thibirthdaywithpupilsofStJoseph'sparishschoolatOpunake

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RNDMPastPupils,AssociatesandFriends

FromthearrivalofthefirstRNDMsinAotearoa-NewZealandin1865,theSistershavealwaysreliedonthesupportoflaypeopletohelpthemintheirdifferentministries.RuralcommunitiesinwhichRNDMslivedandworkedgenerouslyensuredsteadysuppliesofmeatandfarmproduce,orwoodforfires,whileschoolcommitteesensuredthatschoolswerewellmaintainedandkeptspicandspaninthepre-integrationera.PastpupilstoocontinuedtobesupportiveoftheschoolsandcollegesinwhichtheyhadbeeneducatedandhadcometoknowtheRNDMs.Today friends,oftenenoughpastpupilsof theschools inwhichtheRNDMstaughtcontinuetobepartoftheSisters' lifeinAotearoa-NewZealand.Fromthe1990sonwardsRNDMAssociategroupswere formedwhichmetwith theSisters inplaceswhere theyhadbeen longestablished–Napier,Hamilton,LowerHutt,NelsonorChristchurch.Aucklandhasalwayshadastrongpastpupils'group,Sisters of the Mission Past Pupils and Friends Association, who see financial support of thecongregation'soverseasmissionsasimportant.RNDMAssociatesarethoselaypeoplewhobelievethatourwayoflifeoflivingincommunity,ourcommitment to contemplative prayer and ourmissionary outreach are realitieswithwhich theywishbeassociated.ContactsforPastPupilsAuckland SistersoftheMissionPastPupilsandFriendsAssociation HelenHowley,12StanawayAve,Northcote,Auckland.ghowley@ihug.co.nz, 09.4865517Napier ConventPastPupils'Association JeanetteDriebergs,driebergs@clear.net.nz,06.845.1365 Greenmeadows StJoseph'sMaoriGirlsNationalPastPupilsAssociationInc ThePrincipal,PrivateBag6031,HawkesBayMailCentre,Napier4142 stjomaori@sjmgc.school.nz,06.844.8461Nelson ConventGirls'PastPupils YolandaPersico,58WekaStreet,Nelson7010,y.s.persico@hotmail.com 03.035390011ContactsforRNDMAssociates Napier CarmelCassin,RNDM,carmelcas@clear.net.nz,06.843.2111 SarahGreenleesRNDM,sarahgrndm@xtra.co.nz,06.844.6085

AnneSklenarsRNDMwithpupilsatStaroftheSeaSchool,Sumner,attree-plantingceremony

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Nelson MariaJosefPark,RNDM,mjparkmaria@gmail.com,03.548.8578Christchurch MartinaBurke,RNDM,martinaburke@hotmail.com,03.389.7445

MissionRestHomeInthelate1980s,theProvinceLeadershipTeambegantheprocessofprovidingafacilityforthecareofolderRNDMs.Aftermuchdiscernmentandmanyconversationsthedecisionwasmadetorefurbishexistingaccommodationat10PukakaStreet,NewPlymouth,sothatitcouldaccommodateuptotwenty-threepeople.In1990theMissionRestHomewasopenedprovidingawelcomingmilieuforRNDMsandotherpeopleinneedofmoresustainedcare.

MissionRestHome,NewPlymouthJennyTodd,MissionFacilityManager,MargaretMonaghanRNDM,Chairpersonof BoardofDirectorsandResidents'Advocate

ContactsandLinks

Ø ProvincialOffice,POBox30-575,LowerHutt,5040Tel.04.939.1231Fax04.939.1233Emailoffice@rndm.org.nz

Ø SistersofOurLadyoftheMissions,ReligieusesdeNotreDamedesMissionshttp://www.rndm.org/Thiswebsiteintroducespeopletotheworld-widelifeandworkoftheCongregationofOurLadyoftheMissions

ChristchurchAssociatesandSisters,2004,BackrowAnna-MariePersicoRNDM,

M.MartinaBurkeRNDMandBarbaraHurleyRNDM