Just over two weeks since the amalgamation of Napier's three Catholic parishes into one, the church is facing a second notable event - the future of its centralised parish house.
The four lay staff and three priests, who previously worked within the three parishes of St Mary's, St Patrick's and St Thomas More, are presently working out of the unified parish's temporary site at St Mary's in Greenmeadows. As Parish Pastoral Council member David Marshall said, the new location would be at the more central St Patrick's Church but money would have to be spent.
![Lucy Greaney from Napier holds the book of readings for Bishop Charles Drenna.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/4TVUCCWWNOVJ6AR2EZAL6QR5UI.jpg?auth=821cd28f8b2c19bb1baef5eb58629fb810daff8a8ca344fcdb7f28d47e395fdd&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
The Parish House at the church was now vacant and two options for its future were now on the table. It would either be converted and refurbished up to earthquake-risk levels or demolished to make way for a new office building. "That is the challenge we have to take on," he said.
Both options would be investigated, including the respective costs, and a meeting would be organised this month or early next month with parishioners to go over them. The amalgamation had also sparked the formation of the Parish Pastoral Council which Mr Marshall said would result in greater church involvement by lay members.