Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy in New Zealand - UC Research ...

1 5
G-ustavus Radou, from Sydney, the 21st Uarch.
Passengers: Bishop Pomp allier 10 (sic) Sisters of Mercy ... "
11
The New alander, 11 a contemporary Auckland Newspaper,
bearing like date gives the names of those Sisters: "
Iv!esdames I.larie hlaher, Elizabeth Hughes, Mary Pages, Mary
Franklin, Mary Maher, Elizabeth Taylor, MaryBannox and
Mar·y Slattery."
Thus after braving the rigours of the
Atlantic and Pacific for eight months in a (1) 533-ton
sailing vessel~
Mother Cecilia Maher and :per seven companions
reached Auckland, then but a small struggling village,.
where they were to establish themselves as the first
religious community of women to set foot upon New Zealand
soil. 1
'The outhern Cross 11 has the following account of
their landing and welcome:
11
0n Tuesday afternoon a large
assembl
was gathered together at Smale's Point to
witness the arrival of shop Pompallier, The wor>thy
gentlel:ian had, however, debarl\:ed in private, and the crowd
was gratified with a sight of the Sisters of Charity (sic),
and several members of the Roman Catholic priesthood.
As
the bell was tolling, a rush took place and the church·was
speedily thr•onged by an eager auditory..
Mass was celebrated
and a 11 Te Deum" chanted with no inconsiderable ability by
the choir especially considerj.ng the crowded state of the
church and the excitement of the occasion. 11
1. "The Southern Cross" April 12th, 1850, as recorded in
The Seventy Fifth Annivel"say (Bishop c::.eary) P·age 5.