NEW CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 232, 2 October 1933, Page 3

NEW CHURCH.

ST. MICHAEL'S OPENED

DEDICATION CEREMONY.

MISSIONEJt'S ADDRESS. In the presence of over 1000 parishioners and visitors, with the solemn ritual and dignity of the Roman Catholic Church', St. Michael's Church, in Beatrice Road, Remuera, was dedicated and officially opened yesterday at 11 a.m. by the Right Rev. Bishop J. M. Liston. The Mayor of Newmarket, Mr. S. Donaldson, and Mrs. Donaldson were present. Before the service a procession, headed by the Rev. Father J. J. Bradley, left the presbytery and passed through a guard of honour of boy scouts to the big main doors of the church. Bishop Liston, assisted by the Very Rev. Monsignors Ormond, Caliill and Lane, and the Rev. Fathers L. T. Buxton, Doyle, Terry and Archdeacon Holbrook, blessed the church at the main doors and later inside the building. In dedicating the church Dr. Liston remarked that the city of Auckland was adorned by the lofty purpose and achievement of Father J. -T. Bradley and the parishioners of St. Michael's. ''Let the lirst words spoken in this church utter praise to the Almighty, in W hose honour it has been built," he said. "It is something more than a room in which the faithful might assemble —it is a royal palace to which tile Saviour comes to live and reign. In the name of the parish and of the diocese of Auckland, we all offer thanks to your pastor, Father Bradley, for his great labours and achievements, his devotion for several years past, and his insatiable energy to bis holy task. He will have his reward in the deep gratitude of the parishioners." Bishop Liston paid a warm tribute to the work accomplished by the parish committee and to the architect and builder for their line work. "The House of God."

" 'The Lord is in this place and I knew it not. This is no other but the House of God and the gate of heaven. . These words," said the Rev. Father A. Goodman, a visiting Sacred Heart missioner from Australia, who preached the. sermon, "take us back (<> the beautiful event recalled by the Holy Scripture of God in the beginning of human history, concerning Esau and Jacob. The same words we're uttered by Bishop List on when the foundation stone of St. Michael's was blessed and laid. These words had been resounding down the centuries wherever a building was dedicated to the worship of the one and only true God. St. Michael's was indeed the. house of God to the people of Remuera. It was the achievement of their dreams and hopes. Menace of Communism. "There are many well-meaning men outside the Catholic Church to whom this building means something very definite, as do all other buildings of the Catholic Church," said Father Goodman. "Statesmen and men in high places have been formulating plans for the alleviation of human misery and the solution of modern problems of the age that are vexing the minds of man. But all these plans are bound to fail unless they subscribe to the principles laid down by the Catholic Church. 'Seek yc first the Kingdom of God. and His justice, and all things else will be added to you.' To tho many thousands of these wellmeaning non"-Catholic men this glorious temple has a definite meaning. Within these walls is Christ's plan, which will succeed if they did but realise what is taught within these walls. Tho menace of tho age is Communism. We see this hellish monster tearing thousands upon thousands from the worship of the one true God. The only way to meet this menace or this frightful grip of materialism upon the world is by standing lirm and loyal to the principles enunciated by Christ himself, which are found in all their splendour in the Holy Catholic Church."

Father Goodman paid a tribute to the untiring efforts of Father Bradley and the parishioners of Remuera. The Romanesque designed building was unequalled in Australia or New Zealand, and stood out as a wonder of architectural beauty. "I see many strong faces of faithful Catholics before me," he said. "But do not forget, don't be Catholics merely in name, but in deed and in very truth. Come here when the world seems against you and you are oppressed. You will depart from the church feeling better. You must also realise that something has yet to be done to make this church a worthy edifice for the King of Kings. The church cannot be consecrated until every penny of debt has been paid for." The original plans of the church were prepared by Messrs. G. E. Tole and 11. L. Massey. The detailed drawings were later executed by Mr. Tole, who supervised since tho commencement of building operations.