NAZARETH HOUSE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17691, 17 February 1923, Page 2

NAZARETH HOUSE.

ITS WORK AND NEEDS. ■ ' "The needier they are, the warmer will be their welcome here." This is a sentiment heard too seldom nowadays, but it is the burden of the reply given, not once, nor twice, but many times every month by the Reverend Mother in charge of Nazareth House, to those seeking admission to the Home. A representative of "The Press" who called at Nazareth House one very hot morning this week, saw, resting in the shade of some fine old trees, a number of old women, one crocheting, a few knitting, and others "just sitting," while many old men were strolling contentedly in the grounds. On reaching the house, a big, red brick building, whose grounds adjoin Sydenham Park, the, visitor. was received by the Reverend Mother, and conducted through the building. Every room, and corridor, and recess was a model of neatness and shining cleanliness. In the spacious, airy schoolroom, modernly equipped, were assembled the girls of school age. Each year the school is inspected and examined by the Government inspectors, and after a pupil has gained a proficiency certificate, she is specially trained for whatever calling she has a taste or aptitude —commercial work, domestic duties, teaching, or sewing. After she leaves the Home, the Sisters continue their motherly interest in her welfare. She is, at any time, a welcome visitor, and the Sisters never lose touch with her. In times of sickness or of unemployment, she may, and frequently does, return to the kindly shelter of what, to her, is home. In the sunny nursery are forty bonnie babies, such engaging, winsome little ones, who look with friendly eye on the visitor who knows that tiny girls like sweets and love to hold a ticking watch against their ears. The children's spotless dormitories were next visited, and then the old people's quarters. Here are seventyfive old people—forty men and thirtyfive women—suffering from the infirmities and ailments that so often sadden old age. All are poor—some .ire deaf, some blind, some paralysed, many are lame and walk with the assistance of f ticks or crutches, some are invalids confined to their beds and unable to do anything for themselves; almost every one needs special skilled attention. All creeds are represented within those sheltering walls—Anglicans, Catholics, Wesleyans, Lutherans — all are welcome, and all are free to worship as they please. In answer to a question,, the visitor, who, at every turn, seemed to be confronted with fresh evidence of the manysided activities of the Sisters, learnt that at Nazareth House there are one hundred and thirty girls, and seventyfive indigent aged, while at St. Joseph's Home, Middleton, there are one hundred and five bovs. "How are they fed and clothed?" was the next question. "Entirely by charity and voluntary contributions," was the reply. Verily, here we are face to face with the faith that moves mountains. In all weathers, in city, suburbs, and country, the Sisters beg from door to door for food for their big family, and they meet with the greatest generosity and kindness. But only the fathers and j mothers of growing boys and girls can j realise, even in small measure, the terrible anxiety that these devoted women, who have undertaken to feed the hungry, must suffer daily, and with what pathetic interest they must await the return, each day, of the black van, which brings to their door much of the food and clothing for their helpless charges^ Probably no one in Christchurch has the burden of hard times pressed more heavily than on the Sisters of Nazareth House and the devoted workers of. kindred charitable institutions. In times of depression extra demands are made on their charity, and, owing to the financial stringency, many of their benefactors, though always sympathetic and generous, find themselves compelled to curtail their donations, both in kind and money. Consequently, 1922 was j the hardest year that the Sisters have , experienced since they have arrived in Christchurch. They are in urgent need j of assistance for their daily requirements. For the first time in ; four years, they are, through • a committee of friends of all denominations, making a special appeal. A huge garden fete will be held at Nazareth House early in March, and, although much towards its success has already been done, much yet remains to be done. But certain it is that long after kindly people have forgotten that they gave' timely assistance, they will continue to receive the gratitude and prayers of the Sisters and their vast arniy of God's poor.