Menu
Hokitika Sisters of Mercy celebrating the centenary of their arrival.
Expand/collapse
About this image
DescriptionHokitika Sisters of Mercy celebrating the centenary of their arrival.
My aunt, Sister Callista (Elizabeth Kelly, from Denniston/Westport), is second from rightMap[1] ContributorJoe Kelly
My aunt, Sister Callista (Elizabeth Kelly, from Denniston/Westport), is second from rightMap[1] ContributorJoe Kelly
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)HokitikaOrganisation (eg business)Hokitika Sisters of Mercy
From Facebook
Date Created20th March 2023CommentsDel Godfrey
Does anyone know the names of any of the others sisters or postulants?
Wendy Oats the centenary of the founding of the sisters was 1950. I think this must be a little after that?
Bernadette Havill
Wendy Oats 1977
Joe Kelly
Del Godfrey Almost all West Coast women - from the left - Mary Wood, Clare Pierson, Celestine Wright, Anne Cullen, Ambrose O'Connor, Anselm Fitzgerald, Veronica Paget, St John Williams, Betty Kelly and Peg Flaherty.
Reply21h
Sue Dando
Joe Kelly I see Str Veronica and ? Str Gregory. Str St John and Aloysius were my Grandfather's sisters
Clare Pierson
Joe Kelly all from the West Coast
Clare Pierson
Del Godfrey the "postulants," in the photo were professed Sisters dressed up.
Del Godfrey
Clare Pierson thank you, I was too young and not in Hokitika to know the year or purpose of the photo but it has been confirmed in earlier comments, perhaps you could add to the happenings on that day?
Clare Pierson
Del Godfrey I have other photos of the event . I will find them and add them to the collection with some information.
Del Godfrey
Clare Pierson that would be awesome, thank you
Reply5h
Kath Stopforth
They must've been dressing up for the part, as those nuns were teaching at the primary school in the 70's. Sister Margaret Flaherty was a good sort, so was sister Mary Woods. Lots of fun! I was expecting to see sister Du Cheyne in there somewhere.
Mary Edwards
Sister Mary Callista used to teach me at St Joseph’s Papanui. Sister Eugenia is on the right Sister Colombia could be the one on the left of SM Callista.
Matthew Kelly
You’re right, Joe.
Bev Freitas
Thank god they don’t wear all those heavy clothes now,
Wendy Perkins
Does anyone remember Mother Cornelius? She was lovely. 1963/4’ish.
Bernadette Havill
This photo was taken about 1977 outside St Mary’s Primary School , the dates are inside the St Mary’s Hall , it was a very big occasion for Hokitika to celebrate
Wayne Cannan
Taken out the front of st mays school by the looks of it.
Any one remember sister Dora ,she was one you didn’t pissoff
Shirley Phibbs
A great photo. Betty Kelly looks exactly as I remember her.
Margaret Lawson
Lovely lady
June Williams
I learned music at the convent in the 1950s and 60s and was taught by Sister Channel and Mother Mercedes. I also remember Sister Dominic and Sister Aloyisius. (Spelling?)
Lei-Anne Gaby
Sister Callista taught my younger siblings at Sacred Heart Cobden, Sister Anselm was my 4th form teacher at St Mary's Greymouth, had a photo of JFK on the classroom wall because of her delightful pride in the Fitzgerald connection...and if Sister Dora was originally Sister Bernardine who taught at Cobden also....she was a firm taskmaster but an excellent teacher, remember her most fondly
Tony Mundy
Sister Callista was my first teacher at Sacred Heart, Cobden in 1957.
Frances Keating Helen Warwick Jess Jefferies
Paula Vercoe
Lovely to see my cousin Peg Flaherty - Paula Vercoe (nee flaherty)
Trish Briggs
Linda Griffin Cushla Ellis Cindy Briggs Sister Callista. And Mary Wood in there also Linda. 1st on
Morrie Waddell
I went to st Mary’s in hokitika 1966 bunch of frustrated females
Dea Minehan
Sr Peg's an awesome lady! Diane Tapp Chris Manera show your mum!!
BronnieandRoss Minehan
Mine also Tony, 1956,
Clare Pierson
All dressed up! I remember Sr Elizabeth Well.
Kevin Searle
I went to school at St Mary’s Hokitika for a very short time before we moved over to Christchurch.
Reply16h
Sheri Wright
I took Elizabeth as my confirmation name after Sister Elizabeth, Sister Peg is a darling- Sister Mary Wood was great too, she left the convent..not sure where she is now
Anna Anderson
Oh I remember sister Bernadine well. Anna Keating here. Standard six class, up at the black board doing long division or something. My Little bro Michael chewing on a piece of paper and flicking it up front and hitting Bernardine in the little part of her face that was showing. If I remember correctly, you Mr Tony Mundy, told on Michael when Bernardine asked who did it. Anyway, Michael was called up, she started beating him around the legs with the ruler so of course I had to grab it away from her,run from the room and go home. I can remember her yelling, I'm telling your father about this. Right, like that would bother me. He would always take my side. Brenda Climo
Sister Carmel was a blessing
Bob Adele Johnston
i was at hokitika boarding school at the age of six parents lived in greymouth while i was there me and other children were getting warm by the heater nun opened the door and my nightey when up on fire nun rolled me in a mat that was there on floor cannot remember her in 1953 i was called into office and was told by head teacher that my father had been killed in a mine accedient she told me i could play outside i asked if heather crow could come with me and she did please dose anyone know of the young girl i am talking about thank you for reading this
Tony Foster
I think that's peg first right
Does anyone know the names of any of the others sisters or postulants?
Wendy Oats the centenary of the founding of the sisters was 1950. I think this must be a little after that?
Bernadette Havill
Wendy Oats 1977
Joe Kelly
Del Godfrey Almost all West Coast women - from the left - Mary Wood, Clare Pierson, Celestine Wright, Anne Cullen, Ambrose O'Connor, Anselm Fitzgerald, Veronica Paget, St John Williams, Betty Kelly and Peg Flaherty.
Reply21h
Sue Dando
Joe Kelly I see Str Veronica and ? Str Gregory. Str St John and Aloysius were my Grandfather's sisters
Clare Pierson
Joe Kelly all from the West Coast
Clare Pierson
Del Godfrey the "postulants," in the photo were professed Sisters dressed up.
Del Godfrey
Clare Pierson thank you, I was too young and not in Hokitika to know the year or purpose of the photo but it has been confirmed in earlier comments, perhaps you could add to the happenings on that day?
Clare Pierson
Del Godfrey I have other photos of the event . I will find them and add them to the collection with some information.
Del Godfrey
Clare Pierson that would be awesome, thank you
Reply5h
Kath Stopforth
They must've been dressing up for the part, as those nuns were teaching at the primary school in the 70's. Sister Margaret Flaherty was a good sort, so was sister Mary Woods. Lots of fun! I was expecting to see sister Du Cheyne in there somewhere.
Mary Edwards
Sister Mary Callista used to teach me at St Joseph’s Papanui. Sister Eugenia is on the right Sister Colombia could be the one on the left of SM Callista.
Matthew Kelly
You’re right, Joe.
Bev Freitas
Thank god they don’t wear all those heavy clothes now,
Wendy Perkins
Does anyone remember Mother Cornelius? She was lovely. 1963/4’ish.
Bernadette Havill
This photo was taken about 1977 outside St Mary’s Primary School , the dates are inside the St Mary’s Hall , it was a very big occasion for Hokitika to celebrate
Wayne Cannan
Taken out the front of st mays school by the looks of it.
Any one remember sister Dora ,she was one you didn’t pissoff
Shirley Phibbs
A great photo. Betty Kelly looks exactly as I remember her.
Margaret Lawson
Lovely lady
June Williams
I learned music at the convent in the 1950s and 60s and was taught by Sister Channel and Mother Mercedes. I also remember Sister Dominic and Sister Aloyisius. (Spelling?)
Lei-Anne Gaby
Sister Callista taught my younger siblings at Sacred Heart Cobden, Sister Anselm was my 4th form teacher at St Mary's Greymouth, had a photo of JFK on the classroom wall because of her delightful pride in the Fitzgerald connection...and if Sister Dora was originally Sister Bernardine who taught at Cobden also....she was a firm taskmaster but an excellent teacher, remember her most fondly
Tony Mundy
Sister Callista was my first teacher at Sacred Heart, Cobden in 1957.
Frances Keating Helen Warwick Jess Jefferies
Paula Vercoe
Lovely to see my cousin Peg Flaherty - Paula Vercoe (nee flaherty)
Trish Briggs
Linda Griffin Cushla Ellis Cindy Briggs Sister Callista. And Mary Wood in there also Linda. 1st on
Morrie Waddell
I went to st Mary’s in hokitika 1966 bunch of frustrated females
Dea Minehan
Sr Peg's an awesome lady! Diane Tapp Chris Manera show your mum!!
BronnieandRoss Minehan
Mine also Tony, 1956,
Clare Pierson
All dressed up! I remember Sr Elizabeth Well.
Kevin Searle
I went to school at St Mary’s Hokitika for a very short time before we moved over to Christchurch.
Reply16h
Sheri Wright
I took Elizabeth as my confirmation name after Sister Elizabeth, Sister Peg is a darling- Sister Mary Wood was great too, she left the convent..not sure where she is now
Anna Anderson
Oh I remember sister Bernadine well. Anna Keating here. Standard six class, up at the black board doing long division or something. My Little bro Michael chewing on a piece of paper and flicking it up front and hitting Bernardine in the little part of her face that was showing. If I remember correctly, you Mr Tony Mundy, told on Michael when Bernardine asked who did it. Anyway, Michael was called up, she started beating him around the legs with the ruler so of course I had to grab it away from her,run from the room and go home. I can remember her yelling, I'm telling your father about this. Right, like that would bother me. He would always take my side. Brenda Climo
Sister Carmel was a blessing
Bob Adele Johnston
i was at hokitika boarding school at the age of six parents lived in greymouth while i was there me and other children were getting warm by the heater nun opened the door and my nightey when up on fire nun rolled me in a mat that was there on floor cannot remember her in 1953 i was called into office and was told by head teacher that my father had been killed in a mine accedient she told me i could play outside i asked if heather crow could come with me and she did please dose anyone know of the young girl i am talking about thank you for reading this
Tony Foster
I think that's peg first right
Editing is temporarily disabled
Cancel EditClick on the image to add
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
West Coast New Zealand History (22nd Mar 2023). Hokitika Sisters of Mercy celebrating the centenary of their arrival.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 1st Apr 2026 12:55, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/32116