News
February 2014
St Mary’s Parish in Blenheim is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary at Labour Weekend [24 October] this year. Planning is in the early stages but at this point, preparations are underway to offer a range of activities during the month of October, leading up to the full celebrations over Labour Weekend.
At Sunday Masses in October, we will honour the deceased, baptised and married in the parish during its 150 years, arrange a timeline of photographs and memorabilia, and a book of the deceased. A new set of Stations of the Cross is being carved by a parishioner featuring names of those baptised during the parish’s life. Outlying churches at Renwick, Havelock and the Awatere were originally part of St Mary’s, so they, too, will be included.
We hope to hold a parish concert on Friday 24 October and on Saturday will hold a pageant on the history and development of the parish. There will be a picnic Mass on Sunday and we will invite Archbishop John Dew, the Apostolic Nuncio, provincials of the Marist and Passionist congregations who have administered the parish, diocesan priests and any clergy and religious with affiliations to St Mary’s including Mercy sisters and De La Salle brothers.
Any former parishioners, clergy and religious who would like more information on these celebrations are invited to email the parish.