Chronology
In 1861 Phillip Callan gifted to Bishop Pompallier 3 acres of land – this land became the Birkenhead Catholic Cemetry. Originally the North Shore was serviced (looked after) by the Cathedral.
The first North Shore parish was Devonport which was established in 1904 and the first parish priest was Fr M. Furlong. Fr Furlong celebrated monthly Masses in North Shore areas and his mode of transport was a four wheeled buggy! Fr Furlong served in Devonport until 1914 when Fr Patterson was appointed.
In 1916 Local Northcote people purchased the District Hall and 4 ½ acres in Onewa Road for a total of 500 pounds. This hall was converted into a church, hence becoming the first church at Northcote and was used for monthly Mass.
In 1921 Fr Doyle was appointed as PP at Devonport.
In 1928 Hato Petera was established as a catechists school.
On 06 April 1930 Northcote parish was established as St John the Baptist. The presbytery was a rented house in Fairfax Avenue.
The first Northcote baptism was celebrated on 20th April 1930.
The first Wedding was celebrated on 15th February 1933 and in March 1933 the convent and primary school were established by the Dominican Sisters.
In 1945 Hato Petera established as a Maori Boys College.
The present St Mary’s Church was completed and opened on 7th June 1964. The church seated 500 people and the total cost was 31,750 pounds. Each Mosaic panel was installed at the cost on 100 pounds each. The parish priest at the time was Fr Philip Purcell.
On 23rd March 1969 the Solemn Consecration of St Mary’s Northcote was celebrated by Archbishop James Liston.
Priests who have served in Northcote
1930 to 1932 Fr John Brennan (Parish Priest)
1932 to 1936 Fr John Taylor (Parish Priest)
1936 to 1949 Fr Maurice Hunt (Parish Priest)
1949 to 1963 Fr Francis Terry (Parish Priest) (1972-1983) 1963 to 1972 Fr Philip Purcell (Parish Priest)
1973 to 1983 Fr John Lyons (Parish Priest); Fr Brian Wilinson (Assistant)
1983 to 1990 Fr Lawrence Sakey
1985 to ……… Fr Ivan Lunjevich (Assistant)
1984 Fr Paul Rankin OP ordained at St Mary’s by Bishop Denis Browne
1986 to 1987 Yvan Sergy Swiss Seminarian (Dec 1986 - May 1987) 1990 to 1992 Fr Patrick Dunn (Parish Priest) (now Bishop of Auckland)
1991 Seminarian Bernard Kiely
1992 to 1994 Fr John Dunn 1993 Seminarian Malo Nun Toon
1994 to 1996 Fr Dennis Horton (resigned Dec. 1996)
1996 Seminarian Gerard Mackle
1997 Fr Bernard Kiely (Administrator) (Feb - Aug)
1997 to 2005 Fr David Tonks (Parish Priest) (Nov1997-June2005)
2003 to 2004 Fr Iosefa Euese (ordained 9/11/2002) (Junior Assistant)
2005 Fr Craig Dunford (Administrator) (June); Fr Benedict Francis Assistant;
Fr Ivan remains
2006 Fr Benedict Francis moved to Hibiscus Coast
2008 to 2009 Deacon Samuel Pulanco (ordained priest Dec 2008)
(Moved Feb 2009)
Timeline
1861 Three acres of land gifted to Bishop Pompallier by Phillip Callan –
Birkenhead Cemetery. North Shore was originally serviced by the
Cathedral until 1904.
1904 Devonport parish established. Parish Priest - Fr Furlong
1914 Parish Priest - Fr Patterson (Devonport)
1916 District hall in Northcote purchased and converted to church
Parish Priest - Fr Kelly (Takapuna)
1921 Fr Brady World War I Padre. Parish Priest - Fr Doyle (Devonport)
Parish Priest - Fr Eugene O’Connor (Takapuna).
1928 Hato Petera established as catechists school.
1930 6 April - Northcote parish established – was St John the Baptist -
to cover territory to the west. Presbytery was a rented house in Fairfax Avenue.
Parish Priest - Fr John Brennan (1930-1932). First baptisms done 20/4/1930.
1931 Parish Priest - Fr John Taylor (1932-1936)
1933 15/2/1933 - First wedding. March 1933 - convent and primary school
established by Dominican Sisters.
1936 Parish Priest - Fr Maurice Hunt (1936-1949)
1938 19/8/38 - Convent burnt down (cause trying to rear chicks – heating area by
kerosene heater).
1945 Hato Petera establish for Maori Boys College.
1949 Parish Priest - Fr Francis Terry (1949-1963)
1953 Primary school extended and secondary school opened (St Dominics)
1955
1960 Planned Giving Programme established in Northcote. Parish Dinner 24.7.98
1963 Big drive to boost PG. Parish Priest - Philip Purcell (1963-1972).
1964 7 June - new church blessed and opened (present church) to seat 500.
Cost 31,750 pounds. Mosaics cost 100 pounds each fitted to church.
1967 Dominican Sisters moved to Henderson. Mercy Sisters took over convent and
school.
1969 23rd March - Solemn Consecration of church by Archbishop James Liston.
1972 Parish Priest - Fr John Lyons (1972-1983). Beachhaven parish established.
1973 Glenfield parish established.
1983 Parish Priest - Fr Lawrence Sakey (1983-1990).
Assistant Priest Fr Ivan Lunjevich.
1984 18/8/84 - Fr Paul Rankin OP ordained by Bishop Denis Browne at St Mary’s
1970
1986 20/4/86 - De Paul House opened.
1987 Yvan Sergy – Swiss Seminarian served in Northcote (Dec 1986 to May 1987).
He was ordained in Switzerland 1988.
1988 15/5/1988 - Parish hall opened.
1990 Parish Priest - Fr Pat Dunn (now Bishop Pat) (1990-1992). Fr Ivan remains
1992 Parish Priest - Fr John Dunn (1992-1994). Fr Ivan remains
1994 Parish Priest - Dr Dennis Horton (resigned Dec 1996). Fr Ivan remains
1997 Administrator - Fr Bernard Kiely (Feb-Aug). Parish Priest - Fr David Tonks
2003 Fr Iosefa Euese (Samoan Priest ordained 9/11/2002) joined the parish team
as junior assistant priest (July 2003) - Current ordained staff.
Parish Priest - Fr David Tonks, Senior Assistant - Fr Ivan Lunjevich,
Junior Assistant - Fr Iosefa Euese.
Neighbouring Parishes were established in: