Thursday, March 11, 2010 » History
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/\Parish History
A Brief History of St Thomas More Church

Abbreviated from "A History of Mount Maunganui" by Maurice McGill

1840: The history of the Catholic Church in Mount Maunganui has its origins in March 1840, shortly after the Church was established in New Zealand, when Bishop Pompallier visited Tauranga at the invitation of Maori chiefs of the district. In July 1840 Father Viard established a mission at Otumoetai. After the Land Wars, when the township began to develop, the mission was transferred to the Tauranga settlement on the Te Papa Peninsula. From there it served pockets of Catholic families at Te Puna, Matakana, Te Puke and Mount Maunganui. It was to be as late as 1956 before Mount Maunganui was to be established as a separate parish.

1934: Mrs Margaret Best came to the Mount in 1934 and recalls that a Mr Larkin purchased a section at 229 Maunganui Road which was sold for funds towards a new church. It was Mr Larkin who suggested that the new church should be named 'St Thomas More'.

1949: The late Father Trevor Hayes could see the need for a permanent church and room to expand. The Catholic community owes much to his foresighted vision that a site of four acres bounded by Maunganui Road and Terrace Avenue was purchased.

1952: To the great joy of the Catholic Community the new Church of St Thomas More was erected, first used in December and officially blessed and opened in January 1953.

1956: The Mount was detached from Tauranga Parish and Father Desmond McGovern was appointed the first Parish Priest.

1962: The rapid growth of Mount Maunganui Borough was reflected in the parish roll and a move of the centre of population towards Arataki. Consequently in 1962 a second church was opened: Saint Bernadette's at Taupo Avenue/Girven Road. From 1972 until his sudden death in 1979 Father Jeremiah O'Sullivan served as Parish Priest.

1980: Such was the growth of Mount Maunganui and Papamoa that by the 1980's it was obvious that the centre of population had shifted to the Omanu-Arataki area. Father Frank Scott, Parish Priest from 1980 to 1984, took up residence in Taupo Avenue.

1985: A farsighted decision was taken to consolidate all church activities on gifted land in Gloucester Road with the erection of a new church and education centre. Father Leonard Danvers was Parish Priest at the time.

1987: On Sunday 7 June 1987 the new Church of Saint Thomas More was consecrated to serve the whole Mount Maunganui-Matapihi-Papamoa district. The church embraces the spirit of Vatican II of Mass being a celebration of the Eucharist by the community with their Pastor. Included in the complex is the main church, a chapel, a conference hall, and meeting rooms.

1991: Bishop Edward Gains arranged for the Society of Mary to supply priests to St Thomas More.

1995: In January 1995 Diocesan Priests took over the Parish once again with the appointment of Father Theo Hoogeveen.

2001: January 2001 Father Richard Pipe was appointed Parish Priest, replacing Father Hoogeveen who had been transferred to St Mary's in Gisborne.
The Catholic Primary School of St Thomas More opened on January 29, 2001 and is located adjacent to St Thomas More Church.
Bishop Denis Browne officially blessed and opened the school on February 11, 2001.
The founding Principal is Miss Kathleen Joblin, formerely Principal of St Josephs Catholic Primary School in Te Aroha.

2007: In February 2007 Father Michael Gielen became the parish priest, after returning from two years study in America and Rome.  He replaced Father Richard Pipe who moved to the Whakatane parish.
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