ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 October 1926, Page 4

ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH

NEW ALTAR CONSECRATED The handsome altar presented to St. Patrick’s Church by the late Mr. and Mrs. McDonnell, was consecrated this morning by Bishop Brodie, the ceremony taking place at 8.30 o’clock. The new altar has been erected on a newly laid marble floor in the Sanctuary, and new altar rails are also in course of erection. The new adornment has added much beauty to the interior of the church.

The ceremony of consecration was redolent of the dawn of Christianity in Europe, in the days of the Catacombs, where Masses are celebrated in the tombs of the early martyrs. A choir of clergy rendered psalms and prayers suitable for the occasion, while the new altar was blessed with oil and wine, and then the altar table (in which are enclosed relics of martyrs) was solemnly consecrated. At the conclusion of the consecration of the new altar the first Mass was celebrated by, the son of the donors, Rev. Father Hugh McDonnell S.M., of St. Patrick’s College, Wellington. To-morrow, at 10 a.m. Father McDonnell will celebrate Solemn High Mass and the Bishop will preside iq the Sanctuary,, and will be the occasional preacher. In the evening tlie sermon will be given by Rev. Father Mo- 1 Donnell.