According to the Catholic Parish of Napier newsletter, since the demolition
of the old presbytery and office in 2015, there has been no day-to-day physical presence of clergy or office staff on the St Patrick’s site in Napier, on Munroe Street/Dickens Street, near Clive Square.

Faithful parishioners have been a presence at the site and have welcomed visitors to the city at the foyer of the church on weekday mornings in summer.

But the absence of clergy and office staff day-to-day has “had a real effect on the St Patrick’s community and also on our Catholic presence in the city”, a newsletter stated.

“At the moment we do not have a facility to welcome and offer hospitality to
. . . visitors [to Napier and Clive Square], as well as to the many local groups who meet in the Hannigan Centre.”

The aim is that the new facility will be not only an office, but “a mission
centre where people are offered hospitality and are missioned to be ‘Christ’
in our city”.

Concept plans were presented to the three Napier parish communities earlier this year and some 250-300 people attended the presentations.

According to the October 6 parish newsletter, the concept design seems to have the support of all parishioners. The diocese is also “very happy” with what is being proposed.

A project manager has been engaged, discussions have started with the local council on resource and building consents and work has been done on assessing the site for ground-works.

Work is also being done to arrive at an estimate of cost. When this work has progressed, another parish meeting will be appropriate, the newsletter stated.

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