Lay servant Maurice left a fine lifetime legacy

by LYNDSAY FREER
AUCKLAND — After an outstanding life of service to family, Church and community, papal knight Maurice Boland died in Auckland on August 26. While suffering from cancer for the past
three years, Mr Boland continued to serve on diocesan organisations to within days of his death.

For 20 years he was on the bishop’s Administration Board and its finance and property committees.
He chaired the project for the relocation of Holy Cross Seminary from Mosgiel to Auckland, raising some millions of dollars, as well as the rebuilding of the historic St Columba
Centre and the building of St John Vianney House for retired priests.
Mr Boland was also involved in youth activities and in Catholic education, chairing the
diocesan World Youth Day project in 2008. He was chair of the board of governors of Rosmini
College before “Tomorrow’s Schools” and at the time of his death chaired the new schools projects for the successful Stella Maris Catholic Primary School and the future Stella Maris College in Silverdale. He was on the Supporters’ Council for the Young Enterprise Trust — an education in business for secondary schools.
In business, Mr Boland worked for 37 years as senior executive and director of 3M. He was made a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors in 2003.
In international business operations, he was president, director and a life member of the American Chamber of Commerce, and locally was chair of Enterprise North Shore — a development
agency to assist sustainable economic development for North Shore City.
Sport was another of his enthusiasms.
He played rugby for St Bede’s College First XV for two years, going on to play senior rugby
for the Marist Club.
He played squash for a number of years, and golf and tennis until shortly before his
death. He was tournament director for NZ Golf Interprovincial in 1998 and was elected president and chair of the Board of Directors of the North Shore Golf Club from 2001 to 2003.
Mr Boland and his beloved wife, Helen, were married for 57 years and were blessed with six children and 15 grandchildren.
They have been parishioners of St Joseph’s, Takapuna, for 48 years.
Shortly before this death Mr Boland wrote the following: “After praying the Rosary for many years and three Hail Marys morning and night, I had not realised the impact of those last words
of the Hail Mary — ‘now and at the hour of our death’. These last words are very appropriate as I am confronted with cancer, and having such a prayer is a fantastic solace.”
In the New Year Honours of 2005 he was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit, and received a Papal Knighthood of the Order of St Gregory the Great in 2012.
At his requiem Mass on August 30 at St Joseph’s, Takapuna, attended by three bishops and many priests of the diocese and beyond, Mr Boland’s favourite prayer was prayed — a prayer that well describes the essence of the life and faith of this great man.
“Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous, to serve you as you deserve to be served; to give without
counting the cost; to fight without heeding the wounds; to work without seeking rest; to spend
my life without expecting any other return than the knowledge that I do your Holy Will. Amen.”