Priests Of Thames

The First Priest At Thames

Fr Nivard Jourdan O.S.F.
1868-73

He was baptised Jean-Louis Jourdan in Puy di Fenestrelle, high in the Italian Alps, in 1836. When he became a Franciscan, Father Jourdan took the name of St Bernard's younger brother, Nivard.

He came to Auckland in 1870. Until 1867 he worked in the Bay of Islands. He arrived in Shortland (now Thames) on 18 October 1867 with seven pounds seven shillings in his pocket. By now he was fluent in both English and Maori.

He stayed with Mr Joseph Mulligan who was building the Victoria Hotel, near the wharf, and it was there that the first Masses were said.

The Italian saint, John Bosco, had said that the church of Thames would be completed without difficulty! Within a few months the church building was finished. One third of it was paid by people who did not belong to the Roman Catholic Church.

Fr Jourdan left for the Chinese Mission in 1873. He died there in 1882.