Father Aimé Martin, Parish Priest of Hokitika, on the West Coast of the South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand, wanted three or four Sisters of Mercy to staff the parish school.

On July 23, 1878, Father Martin's persistence paid off when eight sisters and two postulants set out from St. Xavier's Convent, Ennis, Ireland, led by 34-year-old Mother M. Clare Molony.

The sisters arrived in Hokitika on October 15th, the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, after travelling via Plymouth, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

These Pioneer Sisters later supported new independent foundations in Greymouth in 1882, Lyttelton (over the Southern Alps) in 1890, and then Christchurch in 1894.

In the next 40 years, all foundations were led by sisters who were the founding Pioneer Sisters of 1878.

Each of these foundations established branch houses. In addition to visiting the sick and those in prison, the Sisters of Mercy were well-known for their outreach and educational initiatives.

Mother M. Clare Molony was born Elizabeth (Eliza) in Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland, on May 9, 1844, to Richard and Mary Molony.

She was raised in a large family. She entered the Convent of Mercy in Ennis at the age of seventeen. She was professed on August 23, 1864, taking the name Clare.

Mother M. Clare Molony was a woman of exceptional talent and character.

She was versed in classical studies and had an excellent grasp of Irish history.

From the very beginning, Mother M. Clare Molony had a deep affection for Hokitika and the people of Westland.

Mother M. Clare was a born leader with a strong sense of integrity.

Moreover, she was a gifted teacher who taught for many years. She was knowledgeable about classical studies and had a passion for history. She made friends easily, particularly with the sisters in the new foundations.

After arriving, Mother M. Clare lived out her entire life on the West Coast.

She was highly respected by many, and the Māori people of Arahura frequently came to her for advice. Their regard for her is best summed up in their message of sympathy at her death on October 20, 1931, at 87 years of age: ‘The rata flower has fallen at last, and we grieve for her.’ In Westland, New Zealand, the Rata is a radiant and royal tree that reddens the hillsides with a stunning glow when in flower.

After the gold rush years, when Hokitika's population increased dramatically, Mother M. Clare and the Pioneer Sisters arrived. There were many social needs. The challenging circumstances that ruled in the 1880s and beyond made it difficult for the sisters to oversee and manage the Catholic schools they created or took over.

The sisters' living conditions were no better than those of the impoverished in the larger community. Their success was mostly a result of their dedication and faith, the sisters' ability to adapt, and the kindness of the Catholic community, which accepted the sisters' presence.

The establishment of a single congregation on January 16, 1918, was the result of a request for amalgamation made by Bishop Matthew Brodie of the Christchurch Diocese to the Vatican. The four foundations became known as the Sisters of Mercy Diocese of Christchurch.

Over the years, as many young women joined the Congregation in the service of Mercy, the works of the sisters expanded throughout the Diocese of Christchurch.

In 1964, the Sisters of Mercy, Diocese of Christchurch, were invited to Tonga to establish a community in Lapaha. In 2005, the congregation became part of the Ngā Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.

In 2023, the New Zealand Sisters of Mercy launched Whānau Mercy Ministries, which is a “Ministerial Public Juridic Person (MPJP) of Pontifical Right” that will own and oversee incorporated ministries established by the Sisters in this country over the last 150 years.

“Hokitika to Christchurch 1878: Ten valiant women”, Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand, accessed 10 May 2024. https://www.sistersofmercy.org.nz/christchurch-1878/

M. Declan Burke “Mercy Through the Years. The Centennial History of the Sisters of Mercy Diocese of Christchurch” Ngā Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand, 1978

Pius O’Brien, “The Sisters of Mercy of Ennis” © 1992, published by the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, Diocese of Killaloe, Irelan, 1992..

Seán Brosnahan “Mercy Women. The Villa Maria Story”, Villa Maria College, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2018.