The Golden Jubilee of religious profession of Sr Peter Chanel Hoban RNDM was held March 9-11 at St Patrick’s Parish, Napier.
Sister has been involved in teaching for most of her 50 years in the Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions, at primary schools in Christchurch, at Ss Peter & Paul’s, Lower Hutt, and Regnier, Greenmeadows, and for 23 years as principal of St Patrick’s School in Napier, from where she retired from active teaching in 2001.
During her years in Napier, Sister was involved in two amalgamations, the first being that of St Joseph’s Junior Primary School in Nelson Cres with St Patrick’s Primary School in Barton Ave, and later, the amalgamation of St Patrick’s and Marist on the Marist site in Riverbend Rd. In both these instances Sister led the challenging task of combining two schools (children and staff) into one unified whole.
Sister Peter was an active member of the Catholic Principals Association from the time of its formation, serving on the executive and representing the Hawke’s Bay region.
Sister Peter has always taken a particular interest in the pastoral care of children and families in a variety of situations. She was boarders’ mistress at Sacred Heart Hostels in both Lower Hutt and Christchurch, as well as St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College in Greenmeadows. She was also a member of the Sacred Heart, Napier, Board of Governors, Proprietors’ Committee and Hostel Committee.
Sister has always been very involved with St Patrick’s Parish and, since her retirement from teaching, has been the pastoral assistant with special emphasis on families.
For the past three years she has also been acting manager of St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ Hostel, Greenmeadows.
The celebrations for her Golden Jubilee reflected many of these past years – the children and staff of St Patrick’s School celebrated a special Mass with her on the Friday; the official Jubilee Mass was celebrated with many Sisters attending from around New Zealand on the Saturday evening, followed by a dinner; and a Family Mass was held on the Sunday. Her sister, Sister Rosaleen RNDM of Lower Hutt, and her brother Patrick, his wife Judith and nephew James of Culverden, North Canterbury, took an active part in the celebrations, while we remembered her other sister Philomene, Sr Aroha, Missionary of Charity, at present stationed in Sri Lanka.
At the Jubilee Mass Sister Peter Chanel was presented with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Papal Award for the years she devoted to Catholic education.