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Local Story
The Maori people have a custom that when they speak on the Marae (meeting place) they first address the ancestors of the tribe. They pay tribute to them and recall their strength, courage and prowess. In the spirit  of that tradition, and with deep gratitude and thanksgiving, we pay tribute to the six Brigidines who brought the Word of God to Aotearoa New Zealand.
They were:
- Sisters Gertrude Banahan
- Claver Cooke
- Brigid Desmond
- Joseph Flahavan
- Teresa O’Flynn and
- Patrick Phelan.
On 1st February 1807 Daniel Delany, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, established the Congregation of St. Brigid with six women as foundation members. He gave us St. Brigid as our patroness and model, a woman of strength and gentleness.
In 1883 six Brigidine Sisters came to the Southern Hemisphere to open a foundation in Coonamble, Australia. It was the first Convent to be established outside Ireland. Young Father McKenna, on his way to New Zealand from Ireland, travelled on the same boat. He promised that if ever he became a parish priest he would invite Brigidines to come to New Zealand. In 1897 he was in a position to honour that promise made in 1883. On 16th December 1898, six Brigidine Sisters arrived in Masterton to begin their apostolate.
 The New Zealand ‘branch’ of the oak tree, planted in Tullow by Daniel Delany in 1807, is now 107 years old. During that time, 111 Brigidine Sisters opened 7 Convents, established 11 primary schools, one secondary college and co-founded two others. The Sisters have carried the Word of God, in the spirit of St. Brigid and Daniel Delany, to all those people whose lives they have touched. Back and forth across the North Island of New Zealand. The Sisters have travelled. This tapestry, with threads strong and vibrant, now forms a backdrop for our Regional, Bicentenary celebrations.
In the spirit of our motto “Strength and Gentleness” we are challenged to trust in the Lord, live in hope and be open to surprises.
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