OTAHUHU CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 5 July 1926, Page 10

OTAHUHU CATHOLIC CHURCH.

LAYING FOUNDATION STONE. Great interest was manifested yesterday afternoon in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Catholic J church at Otahuhu. The weather was ' very fine and there was a large gatherI ing," including clergy from the city and ! surrounding districts, as well as the ! Mayor of the borough and members of I the council i The Rev. Father Skinner, the parish I priest, in welcoming the visitors, euloI gised the services of his predecessors, especially mentioning Father Sarrin (1848), who built the old church, and I Dean Murphy, who, five years ago, I inaugurated the new church fund, and i the late Mr. Gallagher, who kindly ! donated £1000. ! Dr. Cleary congratulated the people of ' the parish on their enterprise in build- ' ing such a splendid church to replace the present one, which had served the parish for such a lengthy period. He also j referred to the excellent work of the I architect, Mr. G. E. Tole, and the 1 builders, Messrs. A. Liddle and Sons. The Mayor congratulated Father Skinner on his energy, and added that at no time within his memory had the creeds in Otahuhu worked together in such harmony. Bishop Cleary blessed and laid the foundation stone of the new church, which is of Gothic design, and the first portion alone is to cost £GSOO. Dr. Cleary said one of the happiest features of the : gathering was the presence of a number of the pioneers, such as Mr. J. Murphy, i Mesdames Tickard, Baker and Plumley, ; who had worshipped in the old church in ■ IS4B, and had lived to see the new build- ' ing to mark the progress of the district. I The new church was in its scaffolding ! stage, and when completed would be a ! symbol of the triumph of the living God ;in the souls of His chosen ones. After the intellect and will had been moulded according to God's plan their souls would i cast away the scatfolding that now ob- ' scured the perfection of His work, and would be ready to possess the everlasting temple in which they would enjoy Him in the splendour of His majesty for ever. Dr. Cleary congratulated the i Mayor on the evidences of the progress of the Otahuhu district. He concluded iby wishing the Catholics of the parish [ success in tb.eir new undertaking, and the people of the town generally a con- | tiimance of the present happy progress. Rev. Father Eceleston, S.M. said that Father Sarrin, S.M., went to Nelson in the early 'fifties and established the lirst school there, which was attended by the children of the pioneers, irrespective of creed. One of his pupils whs the present Archbishop Redwood. Mr. James Murphy spoke on behalf of j the jiionei-rs. He is the only male survivor of the ship Ann. in which most of I the early settlers of Otahuhu arrived at Auckland in IS4S. I Father Skinner thanked all those who ! were present, and also others who had j assisted to make the building possible, ! after which the Bislmp gave Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in I the old church building. i The offertory was a good one. which I added to tile £lf>o donated at (lie gather- : ing last week, will augment the biiild--1 ing fund.