A CENTURY OF FAITH

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23001, 22 April 1940, Page 10

A CENTURY OF FAITH

Roman Catholic Celebrations MANY VISITORS , ATTEND For the Roman Catholic South Island celebrations, commemorating a century of the Faith at Akaroa, yesterday a very large number of visitors travelled specially to Akaroa. The celebrations began in the morning with a Mass of Thanksgiving attended, by more than 1200 people. A luncheon was held by the parishioners in honour of old and former residents of the parish, visiting clergy, and representatives of local bodies. In the afternoon all the laity, led by Bishop Brodie and the clergy, went in procession on foot from the church to the French cemetery, where prayers for the dead were said. The celebrations formed an impressive part of the centennial events at Akaroa. ' . A large marquee was erected in tne grounds of the church for the morning's ceremony. Led by acolytes, the clergy passed in procession through a guard of honour of the boys of St Christopher's Club, through the standing congregation to a temporary altar at the closed end of the marquee. The Marist teaching brothers followed the cross-bearer, then came two former parish priests of Akaroa, the Very Rev. Dr. J. A. Kennedy (Beckenham) and the Rev. Father F. B. Seward (Lincoln), the Rev. Father J. Riordan. S.M., of the Maori Mission staff, the Very Rev. Dr. Macrae, chancellor of the arch-diocese, the Rev. Father. P. O'Meeghan, parish priest of Akaroa, the Rev. Fathers P. Timoney (Papanui), Holohan (Greymouth), and B. Joyce (Riccarton), his Grace Archbishop O'Shea. S.M., Bishops Whyte (Dunedin) and Liston (Auckland), attended by the Rt. Rev. Monsignors C. J. Morkane and Ormond. .- The celebrant of the Mass, Bishop Brodie; then followed, preceded by his assistant priest, the Very Rev. L)r.y. Geaney, S.M., Provincial of the Society of Mary, the deacons ef the Mass, the Rev. Fathers J. L. Dignan, S.M..and P. J. O'Regan (New Brighton) and the deacons of the Throne, the Very Rev. Fathers J. Hanrahan (Addington) and A. Venning. S.M. (Maori Mission). The procession was closed by the 100 members of the Grail in their uniforms of green skirts and green check blouses. Beginnings with French Settlers A choir of 200 voices under Miss K. O'Connor sang the plain chant Mass, "Cum jubilo," preceded during the procession of clergy by the ,hymn, "Sacerdos et Pontifex." The Proper of the Mass and the Credo were sung by the St. Bede's College choir of 40 boys, under the Rev. Father Bennett, S.M. Choirs of 30 from Sacred Heart College, St. Mary's College, and Villa Maria, and of 6Q members of the Grail, sang the remainder of the Mass, and the plains song hymn,."Salve Mater,' during the offertory. The Rev. Father Timoney was master of ceremonies, assisted by Father Holohan. are, we to-day. assembled by the Aube hill, on which .the Mass was celebrated for the first time 100 years ago," said Dr. Kennedy in his sermon. "This is a day of acknowledgement and of humble thankfulness; We renew that first consecration m this Mass of thanksgiving " •■■■ ■ "We pay to-day a tribute to the Catholic men and women, isolated, suffering temporal and spiritual privations, who. cherished the. faith and handed it down to us," Dr. Kennedy continued; "Although the colonisation of the South Island did not realise,the .expectations of the French immigrants, the value of their expedition was not lost They were assimilated with other races, but their influence remains, a rich and. lasting contribution to the development of the country." . ■•-.. Dr. Kennedy then spoke of the work of the men who were the" instruments to bring the faith to this part.Of New Zealand. He: mentioned in particular Bishop Pompallier; the • Rev. Father Tripe, the first parish priest at Akaroa, who built the first chapel of raupo, and a later one of wood which was destroyed in a storm; and the members of the Society of Mary, the Rev. Fathers Comte and Pesant; who after their work at Akaroa did notable work in other parts of New Zealand. "These were our Fathers in Christ," he said. "These were the first in the line of bishops and the priests who laboured in the South. Island." • , ■• ■;•/:- Reference to his appreciation of the presence at the Mass of the.Mayor of Akaroa (Mr F. R. E. Davis) and Mrs Davis, and of the . Mayor of Christchurch (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.), was made by Bishop Brodie at .the end of Mass. Mr Davis was to be congratulated on the excellence of the preparations made by Akaroa for its celebrations. Afternoon Ceremonies Bishop Brodie presided at the parishioners* luncheon. Official J representatives present included Mr F. R. E. Davis (Mayor of Akaroa), Mr R. M. Macfarlane, ' M.P. (Mayor of Christchurch),- Messrs J. Hayward and A. O. Thelning (Akaroa County Council), F.. Coop, and E. J. • Keenan. (Wairewa County Council), and W. Hayward, M.L.C. Archbishop O'Shea proposed the toast of the Mayor,.councillors,, and citizens of Akaroa. In reply Mr Davis said that ii was unfortunate that the celebrations had had to be moved to this later date, but when he saw the. representatives of every organisation in New Zealand present he thought they were well worth while. The.celebrat; tions of the church were important in the centennial. ■■■■'• i-j* In spite" of the~- intermittent drizzle of rain an impressive, number of the laity took part in the procession to • the Frerich cemetery, reciting the Rosaryand singing hymns oh. the way. : After the prayers for the dead, Bishop. Brodie read the Epistle aijd the Gospel

of the day. Bishop Liston gave a brief address, and when the procession returned to the marquee the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by Archbishop ; O'Shea. _ ;•• VAmong the descendants of the French presented.; to the GovernorGeneral: (Lord Galway) on Saturday, were representatives of the Eteveneaux,'lie Lievre, Waeckerle, de Malmahche, Libeau,. Francois, Michel, Fleuret, David, and Breitmeyer families... . v---'- -.'''■ ..