MEMORABLE EVENT

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 72, 27 March 1922, Page 10

MEMORABLE EVENT

OPENING OF ST. MARY'S

CHURCH

MAGNIFICENT CEREMONIES

RESPONSE TO BUILDING APPEAL.

A memorable event in the history of the Catholic Church in Wellington was the opening yesterday morning of the church of St. Mary of the Angels, in Boulcott-street. Work on the church has not yet been completed, but the edifice has been co far constructed as to permit of its blessing and dedication to the service of God. These ceremonies were carried out yesterday morning in the presence of many hundreds of people and alarge assemblage of clergy: His' Grace Archbishop Redwood blessed the new church, at half-past nine. Vested in cope and mitre, and carrying his crozier, his Grace appeared before the closed main door of the church and said, an introductory prayer, the clerics forming, the choir meanwhile chanting the Asperges. Preceded by a cross-bearer and accompanied by two assistants and acolytes, ths Archbishop passed round the exterior walls of the church and blessed them with holy water. On returning to the, main entrance, his Grace chanted, the prayer, of dedication, and the procession theu entered the church, proceeding to the High Altar, where, the Litanies were chanted. After the Asperges and Psalms 119, 120, and 121 had been chanted,-his Grace blessed the interior of the buila ing with holy water, and then' prayed that the consecrated temple would bo acceptable to God. SOLEMN PONTIFICAL MASS. | The Solemn Pontifical Mass of dedication took place at 11 a.m., when a, procession of clergy, headed by a crossbearer and acolytes, entered the church from the presbytery. In the procession were Archbishop Redwood and Bishop Whyte, of Dunedin, wearing their purple robes of office," and lastly came the Celebrant of the Mass, Bishop Liston, ot Auckland, who was attended by Dean Holley (Provincial of the Marist Order j as assistant priest, Rev. Father Gilbert as deacon, and Father G. Mahony (Wariganui) as sub-deacon. Father Murphy was master of ceremonies. Biohop Liston and the attendant clerics wore costly vestments of cloth of gold. The other clergy who formed the procession were Monsignor M'Kenna (Masterton), Aiahdeacon, Devoy' (Island :' Bay), Dean M'Kenna (Newtown), Dean Binsfeld (Greenmeadows), Fathers; Devoy (Island Bay), Yenning (Jerusalem), Smyth, F. Cullen, M'DonDell, Ryan, Mitchell, Maloney, Spillane, M'Dermott, Segrief, 1 Kane, S. Mahony, Ainsworth, Buckley (Wellington), Carmine (Lower Huttj, Hickson (Meanee), Fall&n (Newtown), Butler, Connolly (Kilbirnie), and-Walsh (Nainai). . • , . •'••.. ■ ■ Pn the procession entering the church, the choir of 70 voices, under the baton of Mr. E. J. Healy, sang the triumphal' strains of " Ecce Sacerdos Magnus" (Stadler), with, soul-inspiring effect. The dignitaries and clergy then arranged themselves in the spacious sanctuary, the golden vestments of the officiating clergy, ■ and the: large number of other clergy and acolytes surrounding the beautifully decorated alt*r, providing a spectacle'of richness and colour which will live longin the memories of the .vast congregation which filled the church. Occupying the throne in the sanctuary, the Archbishop was assisted by Archdeacon De,voy and Dean M'Kenna. Bishop Whyte was [assisted by Father S Mabony (parish priest) and Monsignor M'Kenna occupied .a position near the Archbishop. I After the deacon \of the Mass had sung the Gospel, the preacher, Very Rev. Father M'Carthy, knelt to receive • the blessing of-the Archbishop, and then as-: j cended the pulpit. Taking as his text the words from Psalm XXV., " I have loved, 0 Lord, the beauty of Thy House and the place where Thy glory dwelleth," the very reverend speaker delivered a most eloquent discourse,on "The Church and the Fine Arts," a summary of which is publshed elsewhere in this issue. , •■ . CHURCH'S FINANCIAL POSITION. At the conclusion of the sermon, the parish priest, Rev. Father S. Mahony, thanked the Very Rev. Father M'Carthy for his brilliant oratorical address and magnificent appeal, and then made a statement regarding the financial position of the church. The-total cost of the building as it stood, he said, was £31,865 5s 3d. . The erection of the building had been carried out at considerable cost, especially in the matter of cement, a great deal of which had to be imported, and three times its actual value paid for it. Up to the. present an amount of £1475 had been paid to the architect, and there had, been expended altogether to date a sum of £33,340 5s 3d. Allowing £700 for the value of the furniture— a very low estimate—the actual cost of the building itself was £31,165 5s 3d. To meet the expenditure £25,884 Is 63 had been collected. He had borrowed £4650 at 5J per cent., being very lucky to get it at that rate at the time, £1000 at 6 per cent., and from some of the very generous poor lie had the use of £1850 without payment of interest. The debt left was £7500, and he hoped that not only would this be reduced, but that the generosity of the people would allow the building to be completed. To all those who had assisted, Father, Mahony paid hearty thanks, and he also thanked Mr. Clere, the architect, for his supervision. " This is an architectural gem," remarked Father Mahonv in reference to the edifice. Father MaJiony also thanked the foremen, who had relieved him of a great deal oi anxiety. Archbishop Redwood, he continued, had given him £50, and, before goinjj away, Archbishop O'Shea had given him £100. Dr. Mannix had also, sent him £20, with expre's- I sions of regret that he was not able. to bo present on that occasion. . Father Mitchell, of the Redemptorists, had also given £10. From -various persons in the past week £350 had been received, and at the present time he had in his possession cash to the extent of £655. Tile offertory taken up realised £1685, and Father Mahony, in returning thanks for the generosity shown by the clergy and people, said be expected that within the next forty-eight hours the amount would grow to over £2000. THE MASS MUSIC. The music of the Mass was Gounod's " Messe Solennelle," which was magni-. Reentry sung by the choir. Cherubim's " Veni Jesu " was rendered during the offertory. The soloists in the choir were Mrs. Wilkinson, Miss Kathleen Jansen, and Messrs. A. J. Fogarty, E. B. ju Reade, and J. Elliott. Mr. W. M'Laughlan presided at the organ. At the conclusion of the Mass, the dignitaries and clergy passed in procession along the nave and through the main doors, thus bringing a» solemn and memorable occasion to a close. Bishop Whyte, of Dunedin, was the preacher at last night's service. Special music was again sung by the choir, that selected being Elgar's " O Salutaris." in E-flat, "Taritum Ergo" (Verdussen), and " Tota Pulchra es Maria " (Smith). The

grand plain jJiant, "Te Deum," was sung by a specially picked choir of male voices. The church was crowded to the doors in the evening, and, many were unable to gain admission Bishop Whyte preached a sermon on the Blessed Virgin Mary, taking as his text, Luke 1., verse 48: '"From henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed." At the conclusion of the service the hymn, "Faith of Our Fathers," was sung.