The founder of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, Mary MacKillop spent several months in Port Chalmers in 1898 establishing St Joseph's School.
During this time, she and her fellow Josephite sisters lived in a cottage provided by Mr and Mrs Michael O'Halloran until their first convent (a rented house) was ready.
In appreciation of this kindness, Mary MacKillop - who was canonised by Pope Benedict XIV in 2010 - gave a silver kettle to the O'Halloran family. The kettle remained in the family ever since, eventually being handed down to Vince Connelly, of Christchurch, a great-grandson, and his family.
A lifelong Port Chalmers resident, Mrs Meikle discovered the kettle's existence during her three-year research into Mary MacKillop's time in the district.
''I have had a lot of fun sharing her story with cruise-ship visitors, to the extent that I have been planning to start running tours,'' Mrs Meikle said.
''I was thrilled to discover that the kettle was residing with Vince Connelly and his family, and invited them to come to Port for a visit sometime,'' she said.
Mrs Meikle was delighted when Mr Connelly, his wife Audrey, son Dion, and sister Paula Campbell, contacted her to say they were bringing the kettle ''home'' to Port Chalmers.
''It was a dream come true.''
Dion Connelly, the great-great-grandson of the O'Hallorans presented the silver kettle to Saint Mary's Star of the Sea Church during a Mass on April 27.
Plans are now being made for a suitable means of preserving and displaying the silver kettle.
Through her research, Mrs Meikle has become intrigued by Mary MacKillop as a strong and determined woman, whose work benefited thousands of children.
The saint's favourite saying was ''Never see a need without doing something about it''.
''She believed children must have an equal opportunity for education and dedicated her life to that aim,'' Mrs Meikle said.
