Grounds read newspapers in Italian, translated religious scripture from French to English and keenly studied te reo Maori and German.

She died in Christchurch on October 21. Read more

A seismic assessment conducted earlier this year found Mission House would not perform "satisfactorily" in a severe, locally-based earthquake.

Before it was used for administration offices and classrooms, the building was the convent for the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions.

The College's principal, Maria Potter, said the building held a lot of memories.

"It's all some staff know and they're really fond of the building."

In her December newsletter, Potter said that staff would be farewelling Mission House as part of their staff-only days after the school holidays began.

She said it would be a time to reflect on the history of the building as well as the people and activities that have been part of this history.

"We look forward with huge excitement and anticipation to planning and designing a new building that will be purpose-built for our students and their requirements," she said.

The building is owned by Mission Colleges Lower Hutt Trust Board. Chairman Bill Davies said an initial assessment was completed in July.

The trust considered strengthening the building but decided to demolish it instead and to build a new two-storey administration and classroom block on the space.

Contractors plan to have the building pulled down by Christmas and the site cleared by mid-January.

Potter said having the work done over the break will mean that their usual activities will be uninterrupted and 2018 can start with a focus on teaching and learning.

To cope with the loss of teaching space, six relocatable classrooms will be moved onto the grounds for the 2018 school year.

Construction of a new building will likely begin in 2019.

Source

• Stuff
• Sacred Heart College December Newsletter
• Image: Stuff

She was formerly congregational leader of the worldwide Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions for 12 years (RNDM) Continue reading

She was elected at the sisters general chapter being held in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Sister Jo will replace Sister Maureen McBride who is also a New Zealander.

The the Mission Sisters came to New Zealand in 1864, three years after the foundation of the Congregation, by Euphrasie Barbier.

They now work in 23 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Pacific.

Their newest missionary insertions are South Sudan, Laos, Orissa in India, Thai-Myanmar borders, Kazakhstan and Taiwan. Our priorities in mission are among the poor and marginalised, especially women and children.
Source

• Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission
• RNDM Collections