Sale of Star of the Sea Chapel and Stella Maris Retreat and Conference Centre, Seatoun

The sale of Star of the Sea Chapel and Stella Maris Retreat and Conference Centre in Seatoun, announced this week, will enable the Sisters of Mercy to direct further resources to their mission of education, health care and community development.

Sister Denise Fox, the Congregation Leader of the Sisters of Mercy comments, “Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh have bought Star of the Sea Chapel and Stella Maris Retreat Centre and the Sisters welcome their intention to preserve the chapel and original building. The result is a positive outcome for all involved.”

The Sisters of Mercy ran Star of the Sea School on the site from 1909 until 1976. When the school closed the buildings were used as a conference and retreat centre. The chapel has been closed since 2002 as it does not meet the Council’s earthquake code. The other buildings on the site would have required significant upgrading in the near future for continued use as a retreat and conference centre.

The nature of the use of the centre has changed in recent years. Less than 20% of its current usage is by church-related groups. The re-emergence of parish based retreats and spirituality programmes has paralleled a decrease in the demand for residential retreats. This change is a world-wide phenomenon. While the desire for assistance to deepen a relationship with God continues, many people now seek this in the midst of their daily commitments.

Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy to work alongside the poor, sick and uneducated. Sisters continue to adapt current ministries to meet changing needs. The Mercy Congregation supports a variety of well-established ministries, including spiritual direction, as well as providing resources for significant new developments. One such project is the recent relocation of Te Korowai Atawhai Mercy Hospice Auckland to a completely renovated and refurbished facility.

Sister Denise says, “The sale has come as a welcome relief, in fact a blessing, saving the congregation from the onerous burden of preserving land and buildings that would hold us back from pursuing our mission and consume resources better spent on works of Mercy.”

ENDS

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