Philippe Viard, first Catholic Bishop of Wellington, blessed and opened a convent and school on 1 September 1850.

[3] The building served as a temporary school by day and the sisters residence at night.

[3] This establishment was the beginning of the present day St Mary's College as well as Sacred Heart Cathedral School.

Each boy received a scholarship which paid for weekly individual vocal tuition and theory lessons.

The situation will be reviewed when the restoration of the Cathedral is completed and all the parish masses are resumed there.