A joint statement from Bishop Michael Gielen and Steve Hart August 21, 2026

It is a with a deep sense of gratitude that we announce the future of St Thomas of Canterbury College has been secured, with the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch to take over as proprietor.

For more than six decades, St Thomas’ has been an integral part of Catholic education in Christchurch, with the Christian Brothers serving as custodians of the site the then-Bishop of Christchurch transferred to them.

Earlier this year, the Christian Brothers asked the Court for permission to be able to sell the College’s land and buildings and exit as custodian. We are pleased to announce that the legal case has now been amicably resolved.

We have both been very vocal in recent weeks about our commitment to the future of St Thomas’ as a Catholic college, forming young men of faith, character and intellect.

The Bishop will assume the role of Proprietor for the College once necessary approvals have been obtained, and we will all work together with the Ministry of Education to facilitate the smooth transfer of the Proprietor responsibilities. The Bishop already serves as Proprietor of other state integrated Catholic schools, and is committed to the continuation of Catholic education in the Edmund Rice tradition at St Thomas’.

The College will therefore continue in full operation and provide complete ongoing education of its students, and the promise of many more decades of Catholic education has been sealed.

The connection between St Thomas’ and the Diocese has been strengthened through this time. Through the transfer of proprietorship, that connection is solidified in governance.

We thank the students and families connected with St Thomas’ for your support, your resilience and your patience. We have delivered the outcome we all wanted, with no change to the day-to-day operations of the College.

Together, we will continue to pursue the College’s aspiration of Educating Hearts and Educating Minds.

Bishop Michael Gielen is the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch
Steve Hart is the Principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College