The Very Rev Theophilus Le Menant Des Chesnais, L.M., Vicar General and Administrator of the Diocese of Christchurch, was born 6 November 1836 in Brittany, France ...

From the above link (read for more) ... In 1882 he came to the arch-diocese of Wellington, where he was appointed to do missionary work. The archdiocese then included the present diocese of Christchurch, and Father des Chesnais held mission services in every parish throughout that large district. It was he who established the parish of St. Mary's in Christchurch, where he built the present church and schools, and introduced that noble band of workers, the Sisters of Mercy

6 March 1885 St. PATRICK'S COLLEGE, WELLINGTON
... Father Le Menant des Chesnais begs to acknowledge, with thanks, the following subscriptions fron Christchurch towards St Patrick's College, Wellington:

? Luke ARCHER

? Mrs BAGLEY
? Henry BAKER
? John BARNETT
? Edward BARRETT
? Mr J. BARRETT
? John Joseph BEATY
? Annie BEHAN
? Patrick BIRMINGHAM
? Miss BOYLAN
? William BRICK
? Jane BRIGGS
? Mr J. BURKE
? Miss BURKE
? Henry BURROWS
? Mrs BURROWS
? James BUTLER
? Richard BUTTER

? Thomas CAHILL
? Mrs CARR
? Peter CASSIDY
? Hugh CASSIN
? Michael CASSIN
? Mrs CLOSE
? John CONDON
? Miss Annie COOK
? Mrs COOPER
? John CORBOY
? Miss Mary COSTELLO
? J. CUMMINGS
? Michael CUMMINGS
? Miss Alice CUNNEEN
? Mr CUNNINGHAM
? Michael CURRAN
? Daniel CURTIN
? Mrs CUTTS

? Ellen DALY
? Mrs DAVIS
? John DAW
? Miss Julia DEMPSEY
? Miss Kate DEMPSEY
? Patrick DEMPSEY
? James DENEGHEY
? Mrs DEVINE
? Mrs DOBBS
? Peter DOHERTY
? Patrick DOLAN
? Miss DONNELLY
? Mr J. DOYLE
? Thomas DOYLE
? Miss Jane DRURY
? Mrs DUFFY
? Miss Mary DUFFY
? John DUGGAN
? John DUMPHY

? Mr J. ENNIS, junr
? James ENNIS

? Stephen FAMMIMG
? John FINN
? Edmond FLAHAVAN
? John FLYNN
? Richard FITZFERALD
? Mr J. FUSS

? John GALLON
? Patrick GARRIGAN
? Miss Bridget GAVIN
? George GAYNOR
? Mr T. GOING
? Mrs GOING
? Robert GRANT
? Thomas GREANY
? Mrs GREGORY

? Michael HAMILTON
? Edward HARMSTON
? James HERLIHY
? James HENDRON
? John HENDRON
? Patrick HENDRON
? C. HICKEY
? John HICKMOTT
? Thomas HYNES

? James JONES

? John KELLY
? Miss KELLY
? Mrs Mary KELLY
? Patrick KELLY
? James KENNEDY
? Mrs James KENNEDY
? Joseph KENNEDY
? J. W. KENNEDY
? John KEOGH
? Miss Delia KERRINS
? Miss Mary KEVIL
? Mrs KIRK

? John LAFFERTY
? Miss Mary LAVIN
? Michael LAWLOR
? Patrick LEAHY
? Mr LYSAGHT

? Miss Mary MACKLE
? Mrs MAHER
? Miss Johanna MAHONEY
? Mr MAHONEY
? Thomas MAINDONALD
? Mr J. MANNIX
? Fortunata MARCHIONI
? Denis MARKHAM

? Mr McAVANUE
? Cornelius McBARRON
? Miss M. Mary McCARTHY
? Miss Ann McCLEARY
? John McCURRY
? Miss Catherine McDONALD
? John McDONALD
? James McGEE
? Mrs McGILLIGAN
? Mr McGRALE
? Miss Winifred McGRALE
? Peter McGRATH
? Henry McGROGGIN
? J. McINTYRE
? James McKAY
? Peter McKEGNEY
? Mr E. McKINDRY
? Archibald McKINLY
? John McLOONE
? Thomas McPHELAN

? Mrs MILLER
? Thomas MILNER
? Mr MOORE
? James MORAN
? John MORRISEY
? Bridget MULKERRINS
? William MULLIN
? Mr T. MULLINS
? William MULROYAN
? Thomas MURPHY
? Mrs MURPHY

? Patrick NOLAN
? Francis NUGENT

? Mr S. O'BRIEN
? Thomas O'BRIEN
? James O'DONNELL
? Thomas O'GORMAN
? Daniel O'KEARNEY
? Andrew O'MALLEY
? John O'MALLEY
? Julia O'REILLY
? John O'REILLY
? Patrick O'REILLY
? Peter O'ROURKE
? Florence O'SULLIVAN
? John O'SULLIVAN

? Peter PACCI
? Miss Kate PERCEVAL
? Miss Ellen PHELAN
? Miss Lizzie PHELAN
? William POWER
? Miss C. PRENDERGAST

? Michael QUINN

? James REDMOND
? Mr D. ROBERTS
? Miss Mary ROCK

? Mrs SABY
? Mr SAUNDERS
? Mr J. SHELLY
? Mr SHERIDAN
? John SLATTERY
? Miss Mary Ann SMITH
? John STEVENS
? Mrs SUTTON

? Barth TAAFE
? Charles TOLLAN
? Neal TOLLAN
? Mrs TORRINGTON

? Francis WALSH
? Patrick WYNNE

? Mrs YOUNG


PHOTO
Father Le Menant des Chesnais c1903