Church

Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
The Puhoi pioneers brought the Catholic faith with them from Bohemia, and it was very important to them in their struggles in those early years of hardship. When people asked how they survived, and achieved success they invariably responded "We had the faith, and we helped each other". Cardinal SCHWARZENBURG had urged them to keep their faith in the land of their adoption, and upon arriving in Puhoi, a room in one of the two nikau whares was set aside as a chapel. It was eighteen months before a Priest was able to come and say mass for them. The pioneers said the Rosary together and prayed in their families.
The first priest was Fr D'ACKERMANN, and was much loved. He understood their language, which few people did. He, and following priests visited Puhoi every few months until Fr ADELAAR was appointed Parish Priest in 1877. Up to this time, babies to be baptised were carried to Auckland, and later walked there to be confirmed. The people built a presbytery for their permanent priest, at a cost of 134 pounds, and services were held in the school. Fr ADELAAR suggested that a church should be erected, and planning began. John WENZLICK threw his whole heart and soul into the project, collected what each family could give, organised labour and materials. Auckland firms also contributed, and the building was completed at a cost of 264 pounds.
The Church was blessed and opened on 10 August, 1881 and was so named because the pioneers arrived on the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul. The altar painting was commissioned by the people of Puhoi from an artist in Bohemia, van HERZOG, and is an exact copy of the one in Littitz church in Bohemia. The statues were a donation from the Paul STRAKA family. Church 1891
The church was enlarged, and a bell tower added when Fr BRODIE was priest, around 1900. Fr SILK organised the stained glass windows, and the scrolls commemorating Puhoi families, to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the settlement. The Puhoi Town Band donated the statue of St Joseph and the marble plaque as a war memorial.
The altar was simplified in 1963, because of the changes recommended by the second Vatican Council. Mass is celebrated every Sunday and Wednesday, and the church is well-loved and cared for by parishioners and visitors.

Parish Priests
1865-71 D'ACKERMANN	1889-90 J.J. HACKETT	1925-27 M. O’CARROLL
1871 Fr GOLDER	1891 J GOLDEN	1927-30 W. DORE
1871-77 Fr CARRA	1896-97 J SMIERS	1930-34 D.LEEN
1877-81 Fr ADELAAR First resident Parish Priest	1899-1900 M. BRODIE	1934-70 F.SKINNER
1877-81 Fr ADELAAR First resident Parish Priest	1901-03 W.H. COCHRANE	1970-76 M .BRADY
1881 J.S. BREIKAN	1903-08 M. MEAGHER	1976-80 F.SHANAHAN
1881-83 J.P. CASSIDY	1908-14 J.P. O'HARA	1980-83 B.MUNDAY
1883-84 F.A. LUCK	1914-16 J. KIRRANE	1983 D. TONKS
1884-85 W. McDONALD	1916-22 T.P. LYNCH	1984-93 N. ALLEMAN
1885 W. RAPHAEL	1921 E.J. LYONS	1993- 2007 P.COLLINS
1885-99 W.H. MAHONEY	1922-25 D.V. SILK	2007-.... S O'CONNOR

Fr SILK: As well as being guide, philosopher, and friend to the people of Puhoi for three to four years, Fr SILK arranged the building of the Convent, and Convent School, and the coming of the Sisters of St Joseph to teach. He compiled the first written history of Puhoi, set up a library in the disused Roads Board Building and re-introduced cricket to the area.

Fr Theodore van LEISHOUT: An assistant priest at Puhoi at the time of the Centenary Celebrations, Fr LEISHOUT did much of the work entailed in producing the family trees, and engaged Mrs K.MOONEY to write the Commemorative booklet on Puhoi 1863-1963. He had a great affinity with youth, became Commissioner of the Orewa Sea Scouts, set up a Venturers Troup, and a Catholic Womens Club.

Fr ALLARDYCE: He is Puhoi's first descendant to become a priest. His great-great-grandparents, Anton and Margaret RUSSEK, came on the ‘War Spirit’ in 1863. He was ordained at St Patricks Cathedral on 4 July, 1964.

Mr Thomas Dominic RICE: Master of the Puhoi Public School, is the youngest son of Mr Stephen Daniel RICE, late of Lisloughton Abbey, Tralee, Kerry, Ireland. He was born at Hakaru, in the Rodney County, Auckland, and was educated at various public schools as well as privately. In 1887 he entered the service of the Auckland Board of Education, as a pupil teacher, and was subsequently appointed master successively at Redhill, Northern Wairoa, and at Hobsonville, and in November, 1898, he received his Puhoi appointment. Mr RICE took an active interest in cricket, was the captain of the Puhoi Cricket Club for some years, and also Secretary of the Waitemata Cricket Association.

Father SKINNER: During Father SKINNER’s 47 years in Puhoi he endeared himself to every man, woman and child in the district, and guided them all through life. He married couples, baptised and married their children, and baptised their babies, as well as giving help and sympathy in times of sorrow, and through the war years. He loved children and children loved him. A quiet, modest man, with a ready wit, and a simple, straightforward devotion to his God, his church, and his people. He was born on 11 th February 1895 at Tuapeka Mouth near Balclutha in Otago, one of eleven children. He grew up on a farm, knew what it was to be poor and work hard. Educated at a small state school, he learned his faith from his parents, Robert and Ellen SKINNER. He entered Mosgiel seminary at the age of fourteen to follow a secondary course until he matriculated three years later. He then began his studies for the priesthood and was ordained on 8 December 1920. His first mass as a priest was at the Convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor. At Oamaru and Invercargill, Father SKINNER relieved for short terms and then for two years was a curate at Christchurch. After that he came to St Benedict's in Auckland. There he was given the task of chaplain to the hospitals, mental asylum and prison. He then went to Taumaranui for a short time before being appointed to Puhoi, a huge parish spreading from Whangaparaoa to Wellsford. Times were tough in the wake of the Depression, and Fr SKINNER had no car. He covered his territory on foot, sometimes travelling between 50 and 60 km a day. The years brought changes in the Parish, the convent school closed but Fr SKINNER stayed on. As he said, "I have become part of Puhoi and Puhoi has become part of me". He was awarded the B.E.M in the New Years Honours List 1977. He died at St Josephs Home, Ponsonby, on 28 November, aged 87, his funeral held at St Patricks Cathedral. May he rest in peace.

Auckland Sisters of the Puhoi Convent.

1923 Sisters Kevin, Cletus, Pelagia, Sisters Linus, Olive, Reginald, Sisters Agatha, Bertha, Benezette, Sisters Odrian, Joan, Pacificus, Sisters Teresa Vincent, Therese Carmel, Sisters Ursuline, Dorothea.

Constance Sisters Leona, Wilfride, Adella, Sisters Norbert, Lenore.

Catherine Sisters Alonso, Kieran, Aubert, Sisters Peter, Sixtus, Pius

(Ref Encyclopedia of New Zealand Volume 2}

Sisters of Puhoi Descendants

Sisters of Mercy

Sister Mary Marie (FORSMAN) Sister Mary de Sales (KARL) Sister Mary Paulinus (KARL) Sister Mary Camillus (STRAKA) Sister Mary Stephen (BAYER) Sister Mary Grace (TAYLOR) Sister Mary THEODORE (RAUCH)Sister Mary Claver (SCHOLLUM)

Sisters of St Joseph of the Most Sacred Heart

Sister Mary Veronica (WENZLICK), Sister Mary Cecilia (WENZLICK),Sister Mary Matilda (BAYER), Sister Mary Benedict (BAYER), Sister Mary Edwina (BAYER) Sister Mary Agnita (WENZLICK), Sister Mary Helen (DAHLBERG),Sister Mary Frances Marie (KARL), Sister Mary Germaine (SCHOLLUM).

Order of Our Lady of the Mission Sister Mary Annette (DAHLBERG)

Sisters of Our Lady of Compassion SisterMary James (STRAKA)

Little Sisters of the Assumption Sister Mary ( BECHER)

Puhoi Cemetery
The graves of many of Puhoi's pioneers are found in the cemetery which is located on the outskirts of the village on the road to Ahuroa.

The Government Authorities had allocated the land for the cemetery right from the first days of the settlement. However it was unfenced and the very early graves were becoming lost in undergrowth and the original simple wooden crosses were deteriorating and becoming illegible by the time a public meeting was called in Puhoi in 1892 to have it tidied up and to adopt proper bylaws. William BILLING, Vincent WENZLICK and Eric DAHLBERG made simple coffins in the wharf shed or in outbuildings bending kahikatea planks for the sides. In most cases the interior was lined with white satin and the outside was usually covered in black crepe to disguise the rough sawn woodwork. Wakes over the body were not held although the rosary was said in the church the night before. The next day, after the church service, the coffin would be carried by the pall bearers without pause to the cemetery a mile (1.6 km) away followed by the procession of mourners reciting the rosary. There was no undertaker and the family attended to all that was required. Robert SCRIVEN held the position of gravedigger until 1911. He was replaced by Martin TOLHOPF as the sexton followed Adalbert BAYER and his son James who dug the graves for 35 years. Later a tip dray (cart) pulled by ordinary farm horses conveyed the coffin and in 1922 a long desired hearse was obtained resplendent with brass knobs and railings, plumes and glass doors which was drawn by the two horses normally pulling the Puhoi to Ahuroa mail coach.


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