Society of Mary Crest
Mission Opening and Blessing
 

On 28 February 2002 the new Mission Winery was officially opened and blessed. It was a wonderful occasion at which about 40 Marists and 300 other invited guests were present. The Marist Provincial at the time was Fr Allan Jones and he blessed the building, while Fr Grahame Connolly, a former Rector of Mount St Mary's Seminary, delivered a splendid the speech of re-dedication. Dame Malvina Major sang three songs including Ave Maria.

This impressive transformation marks a new phase in the history of the Mission

The Mission helps fund the charitable purposes of Society of Mary in New Zealand. To further cement the relationship between the Mission and the charitable purposes of the Society, the Mission's Board of Directors and the Society of Mary's Finance Committee met at the Mission in February.


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Mr Peter Holley CEO Mission Holdings Ltd welcomes everyone. Fr Allan Jones reads the prayer of blessing. Fr John Walls and Mr Phil Hocquard (Chairman Mission Holdings Ltd) look on.
 
Fr Grahame Connolly re-dedicates the Mission. Fr Allan Jones blesses the building; shown here blessing Mr Peter Holly's office.
 
Dame Malvina Major graces the occasion. Brothers Stuart Cuttance and Matthew Morris (former winemakers) along with around 40 confreres and and 400 invited guests similarly grace a splendid occasion.

 

 

  

Established in 1851 by the French Marist religious order, Mission Estate Winery is New Zealand’s oldest established winemaker.

 

In 1838 a group of French Missionaries arrived in New Zealand to help establish the Catholic Church. Besides being a missionary order, the Fathers and Brothers followed the tradition of making fine wine for sacramental (Church) use and to drink at table.

Mission has never lost sight of its French Heritage, and over the years the Brothers who made the wine, travelled to France to study and learn viticultural and winemaking skills.

Today, Mission Estate has a well-respected reputation in both the New Zealand and international markets as a producer of consistent quality, value for money wines and early in 2002 a selection of Mission's fine wine was given to the descendants of New Zealand's first Bishop, Jean Baptiste Pompallier to take with them on the journey back to France.

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Society of Mary, New Zealand. 2005.