CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 30, 6 February 1933, Page 9

CATHOLIC SCHOOL

NORTHCOTE OPENING.

WORK OF DOMINICAN ORDER.

BISHOP WHYTE'S ADDRESS.

The new Roman Catholic school at Northcote, built to accommodate nearly 200 pupils, to be conducted by sisters of the Dominican Order, who recently arrived from Dunedin, was blessed and opened yesterday afternoon by the Bishop of Auckland, Dr. J. M. Liston. The ceremony was attended by nearly 800 people, and on the platform were present the Right Rev. Dr. J. Wliyte, Bishop of Dunedin', Monsignors Cahill and Ormond, Dr. L. T. Buxton, A.D.M., the Rev. Fathers Doyle and O'Farrell, of the Dominican Order, from Australia, the Rev. Father M. O'Leary, of the Redemptorist Order, and many other piriests from the Auckland Province. The Rev. Father J. T. Taylor, parish priest at Northcote, was chairman, and in welcoming the visitors, who included the Mayor of Northcote, Mr. R. Martin, and the Mayor of Birkenhead, Mr. George Mills, referred to the generous action of an anonymous parishioner, who had given a considerable sum towards the cost of the new school. Dr. Liston congratulated the parishioners of St. Mary's on their courage, zeal and enterprise in establishing the schooL Their efforts were worthy of the highest praise, but the sacrifice was well worth while for the sake of the children of whom they had the care. The parish was very fortunate in obtaining the services of such excellent teachers as the Dominican Sisters, an order founded by St. Dominic in Ireland 700 years ago. The sisters, said the Bishop, were justly proud of their long and noble lineage. Work for 60 Years. Bishop Whyte outlined the history of the Dominican Order, whose headquarters in the Dominion had been in his diocese for the past CO "With my intimate knowledge of their work in the South," he said, "I have no hesitation in foretelling that the influence of the sisters will be. wholesome and will be felt in their successful work in the cause of Catholic education. The Dominican Sisters, proud of their ancestry, treasure their traditions, 'look to the rock whence they are hewn,' and derive strength and inspiration from the fact that numerous sons and daughters of the Holy Founder have written their names large in the history of- the Church and are. honoured with the distinguished places in the catalogue of the saints. The new arrivals will do for Northcote what their sisters have been doing in the diocese of Dunedin for over half a century. You will not have to wait long to realise the excellence of their work in your parish." Bishop Whyte said the head of the Dominican Sisters in New Zealand, the Mother Prioress, had arrived to see the work of the sisters begun. ' Not only would the sisters teach the scholars in the new school, but they would gi ve instruction iri music, elocution, voice production and the other arts. • Tributes to Enterprise. Father Doyle, of the Dominican Order, said the Dominican fathers were proud to be even remotely associated with the glorious work the sisters were doing for education. Father-O'Farrell also referred to the work accomplished by the Dominican Sisters during their long stay in the Dominion. The Mayors'of -Northcote and Birkenhead both paid warm tributes to the great enterprise,shown by the Catholic Church in the great cause of education. An appeal for funds, which was made by Father O'Leary, resulted in £120 being collected. After the ceremony visitors were entertained to afternoon tea by the Dominican Sisters at the convent opposite the school.