TESCHEMAKER'S DOMINICAN CONVENT

Evening Star, Issue 15968, 23 November 1915, Page 7

TESCHEMAKER'S DOMINICAN CONVENT

The foundation stone- of tho new chapel for St. Patrick's Dominican Convent at Teschomalcor's was laid on Sunday. His .Wdship Bishop Yc-rdon officiated, assisted bv Consignor Mackny, and Rev. Fathers Coflev (Dunedin), Aubrey (Waimate). I).' O'Neill (Dunedin). and O'C'onnell (Oamaru). An impressive ceremonial characterised tlio blessing and laying of rho foundation stone by Hi's Lordship llishop \ordon. The stone is from tho Oamaru quarries, ;md is inset with a. marble tablet, inscribed: "'Mime prim. Lapidem Benodixit no Posuit R.R.M. Verdon Epus Dmieusis, Nov. 21st. P.1i0." Behind the stone stood a handsome screen in rod, white, and blue, decked with the. Allies' colors and centred, with a harp in rod and white Honors on a blue sdk ground. The Doininio.au. flagwas flown from the Convent., the Hibernian flag from the staff in the grouuds, and the Papal ilag- lr0n! the. summit of tho screen.

nev. Father Coft'oy traced the historv o_t St. Dominie, and went on to describe inn progTess of the order in tho Dominion. Ton Dominican nuns were sent. out h-om Ireland under Pope Pius FX to work with His Lordship J)r .Morau, at the latter's request. Thev left Ireland on October. 10 1870. and landed in Dunedin on February '2'j. 1871. where they opened their first Catholic school m .New Zealand with HO punils. Four days later They opened the" first, high school with three pupils. From these small beginnings had grown a wonderful -scheme. There had come the training; of those t-o carry on the work thoiu-sotve-s. hj, 1882 an establishment of the, nuns nt Invej-onrgill was made, and the same year a branch was opened at Oamaru. Monsignor M.aekuv in LSSB luul established a branch n't (Queenstown, and later at .Milton. Bluff. Lawrence. Cromwell. Nuns had been sent to West Australia, in the dioce.se were 90 nuns, teaching; 1,->OCS children. Bishop Verdon said it was three and a-hnlf years ago since they had opened the college- for girls. This beautiful property and broad acres of rich land had been provided by the generosity of a. Catholic family. The work had been blessed by God. and now alter three mid a-half" years the Dominican muis had 42- resident pupils, and could have hnd many more if they had. but the. accommodation. The college was tho equal of any educational institution in' the Dominion. His Lordship siiicerelv congnttnila-tod all concerned—the nun's on their success, tho generous benefactors who had done so much for the honor and gloiy of God. upon whom ho prayed that God would, shower His choicest blessings, and tho community generally, and on tho buildiinr about- to be erected under such favorable, auspices. Ho urged all to be generous in then- support of such, n- worthy work. -Ih© chapel, which will be in the. earlv Enghsn stylo, will be of Oamaru stone, the. nave will measure 60ft s 30ft. and tho apse, on either aide, of which will octc a s *?? st - v 9ft x 9 >t, will measure -'Oft x 21ft, The- roof will be tiled.