On Sunday 29 September Br Pius SM celebrated his 70th jubilee as a Marist Brother. He has had a long connection with the RNDMs. At the age of 4 months, he was placed with the Sisters of Compassion, Island Bay. This was his home for 9 years before he moved the care of the Mission Sisters in Nelson and then in 1944 to “Sunnybank” when the sisters moved the orphanage to 7 miles out of Nelson. This was to be his home for 4 years and he has never forgotten the love and care that he received from both the Mission Sisters and the Sisters of Compassion. So, it was fitting that over 75 years later as he celebrated his jubilee members of both congregations were with him for the celebration. In his speech he referred to both congregations as his family and thanked them for nurturing him and setting him “on the straight path”.
