Our Lady of the Way

WelCom December 2020 Elizabeth Minato Members of the Westport Parish of St Canice and Greymouth Parish of St Patrick met in October in Charleston at the statue of Our Lady…

WelCom December 2020

Parishioners of St Canice and St Patrick at annual gathering. Photos: Elizabeth Minato

Elizabeth Minato

Members of the Westport Parish of St Canice and Greymouth Parish of St Patrick met in October in Charleston at the statue of Our Lady of the Way. We gather here at about this time each year to pray the rosary and sing then chat over a cup of tea at the hall. Charleston is the southernmost piece of the Wellington Diocese and this pilgrimage is rare chance to join with parishioners from the Christchurch Diocese for a Catholic purpose. 

Our Lady of the Way was erected in August 1955 at the now mostly closed Catholic cemetery. The statue is generously re-painted each year by a non-Catholic Charleston resident and is a wonderful monument appreciated by many as they travel the coast road. ‘Our Lady of the Way – pray for us and keep us safe on our journey.’