Sister Patricia Jocelyn Barrett (Sister Mary Alphonsus )

Sister Patricia Barrett was a loyal, helpful, generous, caring and prayerful woman who faithfully lived her commitment as a Sister of Our Lady of the Missions for over 66 years.  Patricia Jocelyn was born in Opunake in 1930, the second daughter of John and Margaret Barrett. There were seven children in the family: John RIP, Aubrey RIP, Marie, Stan RIP, Lawrence RIP, Patricia and Karol. The Barrett family lived on a farm just outside of Opunake and Patricia enjoyed the freedom that country children have.  She loved riding horses and enjoyed the countryside and this is where her love and care of animals began.

When Patricia was just 8 she said goodbye to her mother, Margaret, as she left for school not realising that this would be the last time she saw her.  Margaret died having developed blood poisoning from a rose thorn while she had been gardening. She left a young family and it was Marie who stepped up and acted as mother to Patricia and the rest of the family.

Patricia was educated at St Joseph’s Primary School in Opunake.  In 1948 she headed to Christchurch and on entering the Novitiate Patricia was given the name Sister Mary Alphonsus.

After her profession in 1951 Mary Alphonsus taught in several catholic primary schools including Cambridge, New Plymouth, Waitara, Eltham, Opunake and Opotiki.  In Opunake she taught infants and middle classes at St. Joseph’s school and she also cared for the boarders in the Maori primary boarding school. There her love overflowed for the children away from home who were particularly dependent on the Sisters for mothering. Patricia’s love of singing, her quick adoption of Maori songs, and her very active promotion of Maori culture in the boarding school also endeared her to the children. They called her Sister ‘Phonsus’, and it was Sister ‘Phonsus’ who made homework, piano practice and house-work fun. Patricia was a firm, caring and much loved teacher and boarders’ mistress.  She is remembered with love by many past pupils who have kept contact with her for forty or fifty years.

Patricia came from a very sporting family and she was always interested in all sorts of sporting activity.  When she was teaching around the mountain, she was renowned for her netball (basketball) coaching and it has been said that whichever school Patricia was at would win the catholic basketball competition.

In 1971 Patricia was missioned to Samoa where she spent 5 fruitful years teaching; firstly at Logo’ipulotu College then later as the principal at St Theresa’s school in Fusi and teaching Form 2.  She was a dedicated teacher who, while on holiday in N.Z, would spend hours making charts for her classes in Samoa because she had time and materials available. On her return to New Zealand she took up the role of principal of St Joseph’s school in Waitara from 1976 to 1985. In 1983 Patricia attended a course of study and refreshment in Australia at the Pacific Mission Institute at Turramurra in Sydney.

In 1986 Patricia’s life moved in a different direction when she began parish ministry in her home town of Opunake.  Over the next 20 years Patricia was very mobile and adaptable, moving around several communities: Petone, Eltham, Waverley, Morrinsville and taking on new roles such as hospital chaplain, parish worker, infirmarian, and chaplain at the Mission Rest Home.

In July 2009 Patricia moved to Mission Rest Home as a boarder where she stayed for over 8 years.  During this time she kept herself very active and continued to be of service to many different groups.  As well as being chaplain in the rest home, she was very involved in the Faith and Light Community and would attend various meetings around the country with this group. Being a woman of prayer with a great devotion to the rosary and the Divine Mercy she prayed every day for her family and the sisters.   Every year she would make the journey to the Monastery at Kopua in the Hawkes Bay for a time of retreat.

Patricia went to hospital on the evening of Thursday 5 October having suffered a heart attack.  During the night, her condition deteriorated and she died peacefully at 8 am the following morning.

About 70 sisters, family and friends gathered in the Mission Rest Home Chapel on Wednesday night, 11 October, for her rosary and a sharing of memories.  Many people shared stories about the way Patricia had touched their lives during her 87 years.

The funeral was held at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Fitzroy, New Plymouth. Father Simon Story concelebrated mass with other priests from the area.  In the homily, he spoke of the goodness in Patricia and her striving for love and union with others and of the faith that had carried Patricia all her life.  The Faith and Light group formed a guard of honour as she was taken from the church.  Patricia was buried in bright sunshine in Opunake.

Patricia was a prayerful and generous woman who will be sadly missed.  May she rest in peace.