Marist clubrooms site blessed after catastrophic fire

There’s a glimmer of hope for the Marist Saints Rugby League community, as members gathered for an intimate blessing at Murray Halberg Park. The clubrooms were destroyed in a fire in November last year.

Marist old-boy and rugby league great Willie Poching says the occasion brought a sense of closure for the club.

“It was always gonna be with a tinge of sadness, seeing how the club has been for the last couple of months. But it’s the start of the process and us moving forward.”

The blessing was officiated by Pa Peter Tipene of St Mary’s Parish in Avondale, who’s blessing acknowledged the hundred-year history of the club, and the new beginnings the club will take.

“We gather here as a whanau thanking God for the memories this place has given us. To bless this place for the new memories this place will give us.” said Tipene at the blessing.

“To honor all those who have gone before us, but we also anticipate the joy, the hope, the memories we look forward to creating.”

The blessing was given before the remainder of the clubrooms would be demolished, which Willie Poching says was a unique experience.

“The blessing was awesome to be part of, and my first experience of it. When you knock down a building in any part of the world, you just bring your tools, your diggers and knock it down.

“But it’s really nice, a nice service and ceremony to be part of to bless the land, and bless those who went before us and built the building.”

Poching says the focus for the club is paving a new future that honours those who went before.

“It was a home for so many of us, that was built from all those players, parents that went for us. I suppose our job now is to build a new house, build new memories, a new home and new memories too.”

Memoribilia salvaged from the Marist clubrooms. Photo/Marist Saints Rugby League Facebook