Fr B Fitzpatrick is believed to be the first parish priest of Coromandel and is said to have been in New Zealand from 1861 to 1867, he probably began work in Coromandel in 1865. He didn't appear on official lists whilst in NZ and was found in 1874 to be in Armidale, New South Wales.
Bishop Croke visited Coromandel on Jan 19 1871. At that time the church had no parish priest and as a result of this visit, Father Patrick O'Reilly was appointed on March 2. On June 15th 1871 Bishop Croke again visited Coromandel and dedicated St Colman's Church the following Sunday, assisted by Father O'Reilly. The gold wealth in the district was thought to ensure the well being of the parish. Bishop Croke had a sister Isabella who was a superior of the Sisters of Mercy and it may have been this connection which led the Sisters to open the hospital at Coromandel.
In 1879 the Freeman's Journal said that the 'new convent building recently begun at Coromandel will be completed in about two months.
Archbishop Steins, of the Jesuit, order arrived in Auckland on Dec 23 1879 and made some changes, Fr James Cassidy replaced Fr James Mahoney as Parish priest of Coromandel. Fr Cassidy became a great favourite at Coromandel and was described as very energetic in his duty towards his flock.
There was an eight year old boy in Coromandel at this time, Matthew Brodie, who was destined to become the first bishop born in New Zealand.
In August 1881 Fr Fox replaced James Cassidy and in a report by Fox in October, he said that the opening of the convent was delayed because the presbytery was in such poor condition that Fr Cassidy and now himself were forced to live in the future convent. He also reported that he had found the women of the church were mostly absent on Sundays.
In 1882 the Mercy Convent and school became established in Coromandel.
The sisters of Mercy who tackled the roaring settlements full of red-shirted goldminers and bushmen were obviously no pious shrinking violets. They tamed them using the school and their skill as nurses. The bushmen and others responded by paying their expenses and they had the esteem and respect of all.
In later days when Coromandel became tattered and torn, Fr Golden was parish priest , a man with a great sense of humour, he once, when filling in an official document put 'the Palace, Coromandel', and under the date of death he put,'not dead yet, thank God.' Read Fr Golden's book
Source 'In Cruce Salus' by E. R. Simmons.