Good Shepherd Parish

Nestled in the heart of Auckland, the Good Shepherd Parish has witnessed over a century of history. It has seen Auckland grow and change around it. The parish’s story begins in 1911. Monsignor Gillan of St. Benedict’s Parish purchased land at the end of Telford Avenue in the then-emerging suburb of Balmoral. This land would become the home of the Good Shepherd Parish. A small two-classroom church opened in 1912 on Pine Street. The Sisters of St. Joseph, traveling daily from Newton, staffed it. The church was later moved to its present location on Telford Avenue. In 1915, Monsignor Gillan blessed the new church. Good Shepherd Parish officially separated from St. Benedict’s in 1921. Reverend William John Murphy, later known as Dean Murphy, became the first parish priest. Dean Murphy, a man of vision and energy, spent countless hours shaping the parish grounds. The foundation stones for the school, presbytery, and convent were laid in 1922. These brick structures, with roughcast facing, were built to accommodate 200 pupils. However, the initial roll was already 260. The presbytery was finished in 1923 and the convent a year later. The Sisters of St. Joseph finally had a home in Balmoral. During the 1930s depression, Dean Murphy added a concrete structure to the parish hall. This provided a space for unemployed men. It housed a billiard table and fostered networking. Later, this space became a hub for dancing, games, and social gatherings. The current church, a steel-framed structure with Glenburn cavity brickwork, was opened in 1959. This new church, designed by Nyall Coleman, cost £40,000. The old church building was renovated into a hall in 1963. It now bears the name of Mary MacKillop, founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The parish has always been a melting pot of cultures. In the 1960s, a significant influx of people from Tonga and Samoa helped shape the vibrant community we see today. Good Shepherd Parish also houses the GIFT (Grow in Faith Together) Centre. Opened in 1978 in the former convent, it offers residential care for adults with intellectual disabilities. From its humble beginnings as a two-room schoolhouse, the Good Shepherd Parish has blossomed. It continues to serve the community of Balmoral, embracing its diverse cultures and rich history.