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Our Story CONTINUED
A visit to De Paul House for the blessing of the CLC and ECE in 2013. Sisters Margaret Hine (centre) and Marie Westblade (second from right) of the Daughters of Charity pictured with (L-R): Alan & Rosemary Blackie, original supporters of DPH, Maureen O'Brien, Catherine McClintock, former GM and Brian O'Brien, former Chairperson.
Sister Marie Westblade (left) and Sister Miriam (right) with the children and mums at Playgroup. New Zealand Tablet March 25, 1992.
Sister Van Cullen of the Daughters of Charity with families residing at DPH, 1990s.
18th March 1986, the first family moved into De Paul House.
The
Daughters of Charity, 1986. Sisters Val Cullen (back, far-right), Jane Ablett (centre-right), Margaret Hope-Johnstone (front-right),
Christine Lanigan (second from left).
"The social welfare intake was 1000 families in Auckland for 1984... six percent of these were from the North Shore". Zealandia February 2, 1986.
The first stage of renovated accommodation blocks consisting of 4 self-contained 2-bedroom units (1986).
"St Dominic's convent in Onewa Rd had not been in use since the Dominican Sister moved to Henderson in 1967."
A visit to De Paul House from Sister Carmel Walsh (second from right) and the Dominican Sisters, 2015. Pictured with Jan Rutledge, GM (second from left), Alan (far left) and Rosemary Blackie (centre).
18th March 1986, the first family moved in. The Daughters of Charity managed the service and renamed it De Paul House,
to reflect their affiliation to St Vincent de Paul and the work of the Society of St Vincent de Paul.
In March 1985, planning approval was received from the Northcote Borough Council. Stage one saw the establishment of
six bedrooms able to house 22 people, a communal lounge, dining, kitchen, and laundry facilities.
In November 1984, the management committee included members of the local Society of St Vincent de Paul, The Daughters of Charity, St Mary's School and the Regional Pastoral Council. Some of these original members continue to be great supporters and volunteers of De Paul House even today.
In the early 1980’s, the members of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Northcote became deeply concerned about the
number of families on the North Shore who were either living in overcrowded circumstances or were homeless. These families were on low
incomes. The Society members subsequently approached Bishop Denis Browne, the Bishop of Auckland at the time and requested the use of
St Dominic’s as an emergency housing facility, similar to that established by Monte Cecilia House which was set up the Sisters of Mercy
in 1983.
The building housing De Paul House today, began life as a Catholic Boarding College in 1934 run by the Dominican Sisters.
