ROMAN CATHOLIC JUBILEE.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 24, 30 January 1888, Page 4

ROMAN CATHOLIC JUBILEE.

IMPOSING CEREMONIES AT ST.

PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL.

The fiftieth anniversary of the introduction of the Roman Catholic creed into this colony was celebrated yesterday by the members of the Romau Catholic ChurchPractically the ceremonies commenced on Friday evening, when a solemn triduum was begun at St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Very Rev. Father Hackett officiating. This was continued on Saturday evening ; and at the conclusion of the services large numbers of people attended confession, to prepare to approach Holy Communion yesterday morning. Naturally the principal ceremonies were preformed at St. Patrick's Cathedral, which was beautifully decorated ior the occasion. At the entrance to the sanctuary the arches were draped with crimson curtains, which were looped at the corners and almost depended to the floor. Over the central arch, beneath the picture of the Crucifixion, was an excellent likeness —painted in oil colours—of Bishop Pompallier, who, with his devoted band of Catholic missionaries, was the iirst to preach the Catholic faith in New Zealand. Around the picture were wreaths of laurel leaves and nikau palms, and in gold and white letters was the inscription, " Jean Baptiste Francois Pompallier, first Bishop of Auckland," whilst lower down, upon the side drapings, were on one side the figures " 1838," and on the other "1888," the fifty years of the jubilee being those from 1838 to 1888, inclusive. The pillars and walls of the buildings were all tastefully decorated with foliage and blue and crimson hangings affixed to the window hangings were shields bearing the coats-of-arms of the Roman Catholic Bishops of this diocese. On the first window was that of Bishop Pompallier, on the second that of Archbishop Steins, whilst on the opposite windows the arms respectively of Archbishop Croke and Bishop Luck were displayed. Another shield had inscribed upon it the names of many of the priests who lived in Auckland when Dr. Jfompallier was the Roman Catholic Bishop of this diocese. Across the panels of the organ gallery was the inscription, " How beautiful are the feet of him who bringeth good tidings and that preacheth peace," worked in 6-inch gold letters on a blue ground. The altar was a triumph of decorative art, the baldacchino and humera veils and the antependium being of white satin interwoven with crimson and gold

The decorations were the work of Miss Kate Sheehan, assisted by a large staff of ladies and gentlemen, and credit is due to all concerned for the excellent taste displayed. Afc 9 o'clock yesterday morning the Very Rev. Father Hackett celebrated mass, the members of St. Patrick's Total Abstinence Society being present in regalia ; also the H. A.C.B. Society, in green sashes, and a number of men from the Opal and the Swinger, now in harbour. Father Hackett took as his text the inscription on the organ gallery. He pointed out that those words had reference to the preachers of the Gospel—men who, like Dr. Pompallier and his little band, set foot on New Zealand shores 50 years ago to plant the Catholic faith. He also spoke of the firm hold which Catholicism had taken amongst the Maoris, and said that since that noble race was fast dying, the future of the Catholic Church in these colonies depended for its success upon the Irish people who had emigrated to these lands. In concluding he congratulated the members of the Total Abstinence Society and the Hibernian Society upon the objects of their organisations, and upon their attendance that day. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by Bishop Luck at 11 o'clock in commemoration of the jubilee. The church was crowded, all the children from the convent schools being in attendance, together with the Guard of Honour. Shortly after 11 o'clock the Key. Fathers O'Reilly and W. Mahoney proceeded from the sacristy, and took up positions within the sanctuary ; and following them from the sacristy came the Very Rev. Monsignor McDonald and the Rev. Fathers Paul and O'Hara, who proceeded through the aisle to the main doorway of the Cathedral, where they met the Bishop, and the procession, accompanied by acolytes, returned to the sanctuary, where the Bishop robed for the celebration of mass, which was shortly afterwards commenced, Father O'Reilly being deacon, and Father W. Mahoney subdeacon, whilst Monsignor McDonald acted as assistant priest, and Father O'Hara and Paul as deacons at the Bishop's throne. Fathers O'Gaia and Gillan, vested in surplice and soutane, were also present within the sanctuary, the latter priest being M.C. The Very Rev. Father Hackett (Adm.) superintended the arrangements.

Before the Credo was recited Bishop Luck announced that Monsignor McDonald would preach, but the latter gentleman had found it impossible to do so, such was his fatigue after the labours of the day. He (Bishop Luck) could not, however, permit the occasion to pass by without a few words of congratulation, and he asked them therefore to unite in thanksgiving upon the attainment of the jubilee of the faith, it would have been a- genuine satisfaction to have seen in their mid&t the fftoe of him in whose house the first mass was offered in New Zealand by Bishop Pompallier—[Mr Foynton, now living at the Lake, district] —but his great age had prevented him from being present. The Bishop then referred to the importance of the work, and paid an appropriate tribute to Bishop Pompallier. He also said that it was not a little part of his pleasure that he, the successor of the first Bishop of Auckland, was celebrating mass that day surrounded by those whose hairs were white with age, and who had borne the heat and burden of the day — the venerated priests who had worked in this diocese when Dr. Pompallier was bishop. Amongst the ministers there that day were also, so to speak, the first fruits of the episcopate in New Zealand—the colonial-born priests who were assistingat mass—[Fathers O'Reilly and W. Mahoney]. At the conclusion of the Bishop's address, Fabher Gillan announced, in the usual form, that Bishop Luck had granted 40 days' indulgence to those present. The celebration of the mass was then proceeded with.

At 7 p.m. Bishop Luck assisted at pontifical vespers, after which he preached from the text, " The kingdom of Heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed " (verse 13, chapter xxxiii., St. Matthew). He drew a comparison between the first struggling existence of the Roman Catholic faith in NeAv Zealand when preached fifty years ago by Bishop Pompallier in a little hut at Hokianga, and the flourishing condition of the faith at the present time as instanced by the progress which the faith had made in these colonies, and the groAvth of the societies connected with the Church, especially the schools of the Marist Brothers and the Sisters of Mercy. When the sermon concluded procession of the Blessed Sacrament took place. It was headed by the crossbearer and acolytes, followed by about seventy members of St. Patrick's Total Abstinence Society, carrying the banner of the organisation. The Children of Alary to the number of 20 followed, also carrying the pretty banner of white satin; after these came a large number of children of various parishes, the Guard of Honour of the Blessed Sacrament being next. Then came a number of acolytes; Monsignor McDonald, Fathers O'Reilly, Mahoney, O'Hara and Paul were next, and they preceded the Bishop, who carried the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament, the canopy being borne by four Marist Brothers. As the procession passed down the aisle the choir chanted the "Te Deum." The benediction of the Blessed Sacrament concluded

the services. The musical nn k^Ps day's services was rendered w£** under the direction of th 6Ye tT'W Egan, 0.5.8., tho organ J*2 being played by Mr £ BeS^ morning during the'celebration J^ Mass, the choir sang Dr. Richmond the soloists being :—Misses M Tit 8 C. Knight, sopranos; Mrs HisJw.olll^ Dr. Egan and Mr P. LorrJ'*»• and Messrs Munro and Grafi During the offertory Dr. E«o2 S well-known "Silver IrumpeJ^ Mr Bernard contributed as a „fH Beethoven's "Hallelujah" f rn l°S Mount of Olives," and in the Z -"^ played Batiste's " Offertoir e in 631. -The War March of the Prii^> Rev. Father Lenihan assisted ti during the day, and in the evening h the tenor solo in Murphy's <i*>*>t Ergo,' an »O Salutaris" beL JS by Dr. Egan and the Misses Knigh?^ St. Benedict's.

At St. Benedit's Church referee also made to the jubilee yesfcerdTJ &M Rev. Father O'Gara, O.S.B^preaS 51' course in the evening from tie text ''I*'' are called, but few are chosen " ff of the want of earnestness amonLh 110115 Christians, and contrasted the M faith of modern Catholics with the ri examples given- by the pioneers o"?' Catholics in these colonies. He snoi ? the self-sacrificing spirit of the M ' Brothers, who were the first to ■' to these colonies to jilant tho cJffii Church, and said that such men aq TV i*? ' Pompallier, Viard, and BatailCSi 1: ' every sense of the word true apostles ny preacher referred in eulogistic terms tot": eflorts of the Very Rev. Dr. McDonM brotlier of Monsignor McDonald fc: choir sang Zingarelli's "Laudate" tii good effect, and solos were renderedl'' Misses Stephenson and Lorrigan andv'fe Knox. tt'«;:.