Our History
Founding Orders of John Paul II High School, who started Catholic Education in Māwhera.
Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy
McAuley (born in Ireland), dedicating her life to caring for the poor, particularly women. She opened the House of Mercy, which was built to house and educate poor women and girls. In 1831 Catherine made her Profession of Vows and created the Order of the Sisters of Mercy. At the heart of Catherine’s spirituality was her trust in the providence of God, expressed in her prayer, the Suscipe.
Marcellin Champagnat and the Marist Brothers
Champagnet’s concern for the education of children and young people was rooted in his own educational experience. His legacy is the Marist charism which is the essence of the Marist school community – a family and an accepting place where all students, teachers, parents and helpers work together for the common good. He believed that to teach children you must love them, secular subjects should be well taught including the basic elements of their faith as well.