A NEW PRESBYTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1926, Page 10

A NEW PRESBYTERY.

HOME FOR MARIST FATHERS.

OPENING CEREMONY AT MOUNT

ALBERT

Standing as it does in picturesque surroundings ■' in Mountain Road, Mount Albert,.the .first presbytery of the Marist Fathers to be built in Auckland was opened with ceremony yesterday afternoon by Biehop Cleary.

Father Gondringer, in introducing the speakers, said he came .to the parish knowing it would be a very small one for some years, but buoyed up by hope and by the example of those who had gone before him. Always he would do his best to develop the Roman Catholic faith, and aid the general uplift of the community It was hoped that a Roman Catholic school would soon be built, and that it would be ready by the beginning of next year.

In declaring the building open, Bisliop Cleary said the work of the early Marist Fathers was like that of the divers who worked on the waterfront preparing the foundations of a building. They worked.in the depths of the forests and among lonely tribes unknown to civilisation, but they laid strong and solid foundations on which others had built up. the ..spiritual edifice' of the Church J, tb-day. Bishop Cleary congratulated -Father Gondringer, the parishioners and tie builder .on the excellent presbytery which they TJad.,. produced. A , tribute was ' paid by Archdeacon Holbrook to the public service of the Hon. George Fowlds, who was present on the platform. Mr. Fowlds, he said, was the only Minister of Education who had yet been big and manly enough to visit the Roman Catholic orphanges during his term of office. He was the ablest .and best Minister of Education this generation had known. (Applause.)

fir, reply, Mr Fowlds eaid he was glad to be-present to show his appreciation of the work ot Bishop Geary and Father Gondringer, and also to show his neighbour liness. _He believed that what the world most to-day was friendliness, bxother-liness and neighbourliness. He did not see any reason why he should look with a scowl on anyone who held a different faith from himself.

Mr. H. G. R. Mason, M.P. for the district, Mr. W. R. Fallon, representing the old boys of St. Patrick's College, Wellington", and Mr. J. Foy, representing the parishioners of the district, also spoke.