15th August 2007

Official Opening and Blessing Ceremony for Marist Primary, Herne Bay

Marist School, Herne Bay, Auckland had a dedication for their newly refurbished Rev Monsignor Paul Cronin Building on Wednesday, 15th August, Assumption Day, this year. The blessing was officiated over by Bishop Patrick Dunn.

This occasion saw the completion of the second stage of the re-development of this inner-city parish school. After many years in the former Marist Sisters convent and boarding establishment, four new classrooms were established on site as the first stage of re-developing the school. The second stage was to establish new administration facilities so that the school could vacate the old building, which was taken over as a centre for the Chinese Catholic Community.     The choice was made to remodel the original school building to provide for the necessary administration and staff areas, together with a library. One classroom remained, and this was enlarged and refurbished.


Under the guidance of Eclipse Architects who have played a major role in thetotal Development Plan of the school, and with the excellent work by M F Astley Construction Ltd, the project was finally completed after the inevitable trials of working through a very wet winter. The task of taking an old building and transforming it for new use, and giving it a new life into the future, was undertaken with dedication and co-operation of all on site. The many un-expected problems that arose were handled without drama, and the students and teachers managed to live and work amidst the disturbance of construction. The end result was well worth the wait.

A bonus for the school was the allocation of the parish hall, which forms an integral part of the building at the lower level, to the school as their multi-purpose teaching space. The way in which this has been restored and brought to new life is astounding, and is really a jewel for the school and parish community.

The Assumption Day occasion was a very special one with pupils singing, dancing and offering prayers in many different languages. Official guests were there from the architects and builders, and from the Catholic Schools Office of the diocese. A large number of parents also attended this special occasion. Many favourable comments were made on the outcome achieved.

The Bishop later wrote to the Principal, Mrs Robyn Pivac, stating, “The behaviour of the children and the prayerful beauty of the liturgy, made me proud to be a Catholic and extremely proud to be the Bishop. I congratulate you on all that Marist, Herne Bay, is doing to support your children and their families.”

The ceremony left few dry-eyed and people commented not only on the outstanding organisation by the DRS, Ms Katherine Kelly, but the soulful and beautiful singing of the pupils. It was a memorable celebration for the school and the Marist community.

Msgr Cronin is delighted with the final outcome of years of planning and working towards this day for the school and the parish. He has seen a transformation of a school building in which he himself was educated into a modern educational facility for the children of today.