Kopua
Location
Official Name Southern Star Abbey
N° 69
Country New Zealand
City Hawke's Bay
Address 533 Kopua Rd - RD 2 Takapau
Postcode 4287
Contact Information
Telephone [64] (6) 855-8239
Community Email [email protected]
Guesthouse Email [email protected]
Website kopuamonastery.org.nz/
Superior Dom Niko Verkley, Superior ad nutum 2016
Other Information
Juridical Status Abbey
Diocese Dioecesis Palmerstonaquiloniana (Palmerston North)
OCSO Region ORIENS
Founded/Restored 1954
Origins
Founded by Mt Melleray. Erected as abbey April 1960.
History
1954 Authorized by the General Chapter of 1953 to begin the foundation, the six founders leave Mt Melleray on 1 May 1954. They arrive in New Zealand in June to begin the regular life.
On 6 November the novitiate is opened.
2000 – The community commences a program of discernment about its future. Eventually a Vision for the Future is articulated.
2003 – Rosalie Prescott – patron of the monastery – dies at the age of 103.
2004 – The community celebrates the Golden Jubilee of its foundation.
2008 – The new Guest House is opened in June.
Father Immediate
Mount Melleray / Delegate of the Father Immediate to Tarrawarra from 2016 to 2017 ; Tarrawarra since 2018
Lay Associates
Associates of Southern Star Abbey
Past Superiors
Basil HAYES — Superior — 9/06/1954 – 08/04/1960
Joachim MURPHY — Abbot — 08/04/1960 – 30/09/1986
Basil HAYES (2) — Abbot — 20/10/1986 – 20/06/1989
John Kelly — Sup.ad nutum 15/02/1990 – 19/03/1992
John Kelly — Abbot — 19/03/1992 05/03/1998
Brian Keogh —Abbot — 05/03/1998–19/03/2015
John Pettite — Sup.ad nutum — 2015-2016
Work and Sources of Income
Dairy Farm
Guest Facilities
For 12 persons One hermitage
Transportation
Airport : Napier.
