Four Founding Sisters
Sister Marie Ste Madeleine
(Alexandrine Niel, 1830-1913) came from Toulon in France. She was the Superior at Napier for six years and then moved on to Nelson to be the Superior there in 1871. She returned to Lyon in March 1878 and was Assistant General there from 1888-1906. She died in Sturry, England.
Sister Marie des Anges
(Marie Moreaux 1824-1890) was a Sister of Compassion in Cuves and taught in the boarding school there. She moved to London with her community when it had to leave France then later joined the newly-founded congregation of Our Lady of the Missions. Having taught for 12 years in London she was fluent in English which was helpful in the community. She was a capable organiser and headmistress of the new school in Napier until she moved down to Christchurch to be the superior there in 1868. Marie de Anges returned to Lyon to attend the General Chapter in 1870. In 1876 she went to the Islands and made her Final Vows there. She returned to New Zealand in 1880 and died in Nelson.
Sister Marie Saint Jean
(Antoinette Dufour, 1834-1929) was the first head teacher of the Maori Providence and worked in New Zealand for 33 years. She returned to Lyon in September 1893 and died in Deal, England.
Sister Marie Saint Anne
(Élise Déat) 1827-1889) was 38 when she arrived in New Zealand. She had been a housekeeper for her uncle and a country parish priest in France and was a capable manager. She spent 21 years here in Aotearoa and then returned to Lyon where she died.
Coming to New Zealand
In 1865 the first four Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions were sent out on mission from France to New Zealand. They left England in October 1864 on the “Walter Hood” and after calling in to Sydney where they rested for a few weeks they set sail on the “Lord Ashley” along with several Marist Fathers for New Zealand. After calling in to Nelson and Wellington they arrived at Napier on February 25 at 8 pm that evening.
Father Forest was not able to meet them as he had a bad cold so the Harbour Master, a Catholic, came on board and welcomed them in his name.
Father Poupinel SM who had sailed on the boat with them later described this event in a letter:
“Finally, we left on the “Lord Ashley. It was not easy as the sea was surging. Sister Mary John did not relish the thought of transferring to the smaller vessel especially as she watched the boat leaping and plunging in the heavy surf. However, she put a brave front on and seizing the arm of one of the Fathers, she took the plunge. We reached the shore without incident. Father Forest was there to receive us and Mrs. Murray, the Harbour Master’s wife, welcomed us kindly.”
