Palmerston North
Jackie Harrigan
1 October 2011
Building a community space was the impetus behind the Feilding Passionist Family Groups developing the courtyard behind Feilding’s new St Brigid’s church.
The groups have spend the past year fundraising and running working bees to concrete the floor of the north-facing courtyard, reflecting the church’s cross motif in the concrete, build wooden seating around the perimeter, plant gardens and erect a shade sail for the summer months.
Picnic tables were donated by members of the local Bible Chapel and a new barbecue was purchased.
The development was made possible with a generous interest-free loan from a group member, fundraising initiatives to repay the loan and many hours of labour from the members.
The development has made a more user-friendly and welcoming space, a warm, sunny and all-weather area for parishioners to enjoy after Mass as well as such groups as the Passionist family groups with their regular social gatherings, BBQs and movie nights.
Fr Marcus Francis formally opened the courtyard at the end of April, saying that the warm and welcoming space would be an asset to the parish.