With only 36 hours until the nation went into lockdown, a French couple visiting their family in the Ruapehu District found themselves with nowhere to stay, and no way home. That is until our Ruapehu parish whānau swung into action. Wardens Jane Sherrit and Alison Seifert knew the perfect place - the former St Mary’s vicarage in Raetihi, which had been lovingly converted into bach accommodation.

Jane’s plan was to offer the French couple somewhere peaceful and relaxing to stay for their time in Aotearoa, and Alison agreed, noting that it fit perfectly with the parish’s mission to offer Christ-like hospitality and faith, and realising that the parishioners’ dream of the facility becoming a haven for those in need was coming true.

The French couple’s New Zealand family were offered the chance to inspect the property for suitability, and they were overwhelmed with the kindness offered to them. Jane and Alison arranged for firewood to be delivered, and the couple responded with a text message saying “thank you so much for your help at this time of virus crisis. The St Mary’s Vicarage Retreat is such a wonderful house to spend the weeks of lockdown. We would not have expected a better place to be. Our days are going to be peaceful and safe.”

This accommodation has been offered as a gift to the French couple.