The story of Sacred Heart is a captivating tale that unfolds in 1861 France, centering around the remarkable young woman, Euphrasie Barbier who founded the congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM).
Our Founder
Euphrasie Barbier was born in Caen, France in 1829. At 19 years of age she set off to Paris to join the congregation of the sisters of Calvary. In 1861, she founded a new congregation, Institute de Notre Dame des Missions, in Lyon. The first foreign missionaries, all French, left France in late October 1864 for New Zealand where within the year they were busy teaching children of the European settlers and young Māori girls. Life was not easy for the young foundress. In spite of difficulties the congregation flourished and allowed the establishment of new foundations.
Zeal for the glory of God is our special distinctive spirit.
Before she died in 1893, Euphrasie had built up 16 self-sufficient communities in New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, England, India, and France. We are fortunate to continue to have the presence of Euphrasie’s Sisters in our Community.
Our College History
The arrival of the RNDM Sisters in July 1884 to provide a Christian education for the children of early settlers (30 girls and boys!) paved the way for Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Hamilton. The Sisters were inspired by a daring and courageous vision that led them to take risks and reach out to the margins of society. The harsh conditions of the Waikato, after the bloody land wars of the 1860s, were the setting for the Mission of the four pioneer Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM).
From modest beginnings in 1884, Sacred Heart Girls’ College in Hamilton has grown with faith and vision into the modern learning academy it is today. We carry through the educational mission of our founder, Euphrasie Barbier, by offering our unique Catholic Character and Charism to our ākonga and provide innovative, flexible spaces to facilitate highly effective learning and teaching.
Initially known as St Mary’s College, the only Catholic girls’ school in the Waikato region, the school’s name changed to Sacred Heart Girls’ College in 1946. Later, a move across the road to the site on Clyde Street, and an ever-increasing roll, meant that additional outdoor facilities and netball and tennis courts were added.
In 1980, the school became integrated, and in 2012, the boarding hostel (Euphrasie House) was closed as the buildings did not meet the new earthquake safety regulations. In 2014, the school added a new Library and Arts block, and following a fire in 2017, an extensive rebuild began — culminating in the establishment of a new Student Centre and Innovative Learning Environments (ILE), which opened in 2021.
At the end of September 2025, for the first time in more than 75 years, the College transformed its main entrance — creating an arrival experience that reflects not only who Sacred Heart is today but also why it continues to endure. At the heart of the renewed space is Te Puna Wai Ora, a contemplative area inspired by the Gospel narrative of The Woman at the Well, inviting the Faith community into moments of stillness, reflection, and encounter.
As Principal Catherine Gunn reflects:
"This is about more than bricks and mortar. It is about creating places that embody who we are, honour our story and affirm our vision for the future."
The story of Sacred Heart Girls’ College is one still being written – built on the courage of those who came before, and opened wide for the generations to come.