Sr Joan Timpany

How Clare and I Came To Set Up a Community At Waiheke Island

Since 1981 my sister Clare and I had occasionally been to Waiheke Island for a few days break, staying at the Dominican holiday house in Goodwin Avenue. They were times of renewal for us, both as sisters and as religious, and we appreciated being together. The magnificent natural beauty of the Island held us spellbound and gave us energy and peace. How we would love to live together here. Just a dream? Our Mother in Heaven truly was requesting this to Jesus!

In February 1995 I left Paremoremo Maximum Security Prison after nearly ten years service there as chaplain. I was ‘burning out’ and needed a change. It was agreed that I go to Baulkham Hills, Australia to do a six month spiritual renewal course called “Crossroads”, to discern where my future apostolate would be. Clare, a Dominican Sister, had been ten years at St Benedict’s Parish as a Pastoral worker, and was also in need to a change.

There was to be much prayer and waiting. Religious congregations were welcoming new initiatives forming communities and exercising a common mission. Clare and I had a vision with a difference. We wished to form a community together, but where? Our respective leadership teams were agreeable that we should step out together in faith. We sought spiritual direction, and on my return I went to live with Sister Rosalie at Manuwera for four months.

Clare and I made an appointment with Pat Dunn, the Bishop of Auckland. Clare had an idea that Waiheke might need our apostolate. When Bishop Pat asked us where we would like to go, we wholeheartedly agreed it was Waiheke. Then we made an appointment with the island’s parish priest Father Liam Shannahan (since deceased), and Sister Loretto who worked as an Ecumenical Sister on the Island. Both agreed that Clare and I would be a welcome asset to the people of the Parish, and to Waiheke Islanders.

It was now November, which proved to be a difficult time to find a house to live in. There were few available, and rents were high with the holiday season coming up. Clare and I came over and stayed at Goodwin Avenue, while we made inquiries with land agents. We viewed many houses, but none were suitable. Finally Clare went over to Auckland for a meeting, while I stayed back to view some more houses. Returning on the ferry, Clare met up with Elizabeth O’Flaherty, a Franciscan Sister who was a friend of our mothers. When Clare told her of our purpose in Waiheke, Elizabeth said that she and her husband (since deceased) were caretakers for a house at Palm Beach, as the owners live in Hawaii. The place was vacant, but booked for six weeks over the Christmas holidays. On viewing we decided it was the best yet.

We became tenants of 16 Matapana Road, Palm Beach on the 20th November 1995. This was truly an answer to our prayers, our dreams were to become reality. We booked on the vehicular ferry, and brought over our gifted car and our possessions. Our niece Jan and her husband Bill also came over in their truck, bringing all the other cartons and goods we had to set up house. The house was rented as furnished, but sparsely, so the extras added to our comfort. This was mostly thanks to the generosity of our Sisters, both from St Benedict’s and Maryland Street, and friends who decided to give to our mission.

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