Our Church

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St. Joseph’s School is an essential part of the Opihi Parish, and our faith is celebrated through our connection with St. Mary's Church in Pleasant Point. The original St. Mary's Catholic Church was built in 1889. It was severely damaged by the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes, and because it was regarded as structurally unsafe, it was demolished in July 2021. A new church was constructed, and it was blessed and opened on October 8, 2022. The new church honours the history of the previous building by incorporating salvaged elements, including the altar, pews, statues, and three stained-glass windows. This close relationship with the parish and church is central to our school's identity.

To strengthen our faith and community bonds, we celebrate Mass as a whole school every Tuesday at 9:15am. We also gather with the wider community for a special parish Mass once a term. This close relationship helps us uphold our Catholic values and nurture the spiritual growth of our students.