NEW BRIGHTON.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14223, 11 December 1911, Page 9

NEW BRIGHTON.

OPENING CEREMONY. > Yesterday afternoon, at New . Brighton, hia Lordship Bishop Grimes blessed and formally opened the new Roman Catholic Church in Lonsdale street, in tho vicinity of the Domain. The new church is named The Church of the Immaculate Conception, and is a handsorno edifice of brick and stone, capablo of accommodating over two hun-r dred peoplb. At yesterday's ceremony there, were about -three hundred present The clergy present deluded the Rev. Father Price, administrator of the Cathedral, Rev. Father Hills, tho ncv.' Vicar-General and Rector of St. Mary's (in .which parish New Brighton -ia> situated), .Father . Hoare. Father D'gnah, curates of isE. M'ary'e, Father Graham, and Father Quinn of St : Bede's College, and Father Barlow, of tho Sydney diocese; Father Hoart* ■was Master of Ceremonies. After tho blessing and formal opening of tho new church, his Lordship Bi'shbp ; Grimes preached an eloquent and ftppropriate sermon, in •which' he developed the idea that the Church was a continuation of the Incarnation. The preacher, after* referring to Christ's fife and mission on earth, spoke of the incident which culminated in the conversion of Saul, when on his way to persecute the Church in Damascus, and said that Saul (afterwards St. Pnul) recognse<l ; tho voice from the clouds that asked him "Why persecutest thou Mc?" as that of Christ's, and thus tha connection between Christ . and . the Church "was made plain. A the conclusion of"" the service a collection ■was i taken up, tho sum of about £70 being contributed. In addition, a number of promises of financial assistance were received. The Rev. Father Hills suitably thanked tho people for their generous response, and: hoped that, with their assistance in the future, the debt on .the new church would soon be r* moved. The benediction and the Blessed Sacrament concluded the service. Mass will be celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at 8 a.m. nest Sunday.