REDEMPTORIST MISSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1940, Page 5

REDEMPTORIST MISSION

CONCLUDED AT GREYMOUTH With four Masses in the morning, and Devotions in the evening, the Redemptorist Mission, which has been successfully conducted at St. Patrick’s Church, Greymouth, during the past fortnight, was concluded yesterday. The last nine days of the Mission have been devoted to a Novena of Prayer “for a just and holy peace, and for a peaceful and happy Christmas for the men of the New Zealand Forces overseas, and for their relations at home,” as well as for the intentions of His Holiness the Pope, whose most recent appeal for peace was made during the course of the Mission. Given great impetus by this appeal, the Mission was the most successful in the* history of St. Patrick’s and yesterday’s attendances at the three early Masses, and in the evening, were the largest known at the Church. Practically the whole of the congregations, which filled the Church for the Masses at 7 a.m. and 8.30 a.m., and that which was only slightly smaller at the Mass at 6 a.m., received Holy Communion on the occasion of the General Communion of the whole parish. The official close of the Mission took place last evening, when the preacher, Father Selleck, spoke of loyalty to the principles and doctrine of the Catholic Church. Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by Rev. Father J. Long, with Rev. Fathers J. Holohan and A. C. Gregory, as deacon and sub-deacon respectively. Steinforth’s Benediction was sung by St. Patrick’s Choir, under Mr. J. Wood, and the motet “Yeni Jesu Amor Mi” (Cherubini), was also sung. The Blessing of His Holiness the Pope was conferred on those present by Father Selleck, who alluded to its significance at a time when the Pope was sorely tried by the cares and worries of his great office. Father Selleck asked the congregation to continue their prayers that the peace which the Pope desired should be achieved, with little delay. After the blessing “Long Live The Pope” was sung by the whole congregation. “Faither of Our Fathers” was sung at the end of the devotions.

“He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved” (St. Matthew) was the text from which Father Selleck spoke. “We are gathered at the end of a very successful Mission,” said Father Selleck. It is a consoling sight to see sb many before the altar tonight; to know that the Church is crowded to the very doors, but it is more consoling to find that in the past fortnight men, women and children have fulfilled a Catholic duty in the spirit of genuine love of God. It was far more consoling still to have seen the altar rails crowded morning by morning, and to know that so many have received the Sacrament of Penance. These consolations will be a happy memory to call up in years to come, but yet it is hard to go away from an experience that has taught all Missioners one great lesson. There is one cloud that can darken one’s outlook as its shadow is cast.over the Mission and its work. That shadow is the depressing thought ‘I wonder, when the Mission is a memory, will those present to-night be just as faithful and loyal in the service of God.’ ” • , •

‘ There were'many weighty reasons for the thought he had mentioned, said Father Selleck, because some would get back into the rut from which the grace of God had brought them. For that reason he wanted to rouse in them their sense of loyalty to God, to the Divine Redeemer and to the Catholic Church, that nothing in the future could shake. Loyalty was oft-quoted to-day, he said, for in times of danger and darkness loyalty in the human heart usually came to the surface. Men and women today were giving examples unparalleled in the history of the nations, for loyalty was a virtue and belonged in the first place to Almighty God, Whose Hand had created the beauties of the heavens and the earth. Loyalty therefore called for the best that was in every man’s heart. ‘‘Loyalty to the King of Heaven, the Son of God, is a virtue which must come first in our lives,” continued Father Selleck. “It must be based on the standards He has set for us as the guiding principles of our lives—the standards of the-Ten Commandments. That is not .going to be easy. You will have to fight the whole way through, against the world about you, and the very flesh within you, and above all against the devil, whose kingdom is against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. You will be tested in your private lives and in your hearts. To do so you must be prepared to carry out a three-fold practice that will test you almost every hour of the day. First, you must be always faithful to morning and night prayers, because these are the very foundation of your loyalty to God, to Christ and to His Church. Without the spirit of prayer and fidelity to your obligation to God you cannot succeed in having a generous loyalty in your hearts. In the second place your loyalty will demand of you that ypu attend Holy Mass every Sunday.

MENACE TO CHRISTIANITY “My mind is filled with the thought of the dictators overseas,” said Father Selleck, “as they spread their doctrines undermining the foundations of Christianity. But I believe there is a far worse enemy at-work in New Zealand. It is the spirit of irreligion that casts aside all restraints. It is this undermining of Christianity that is opening the door to abortion, filling our mental asylums with alcoholic and syphilitic mental patients. It is doing more towards the downfall of our country that the dead of a hundred battles. You have got to get the truth beneath the truth. If our Christion standards in New Zealand go, New Zealand will go too. Abortion, race suicide, bribery, graft, corruption and the shocking vices that go with them are gradually spreading their influence and laying waste the whole of this country and Australia. Therefore, at the end of this Mission, I call on you to show your loyalty to the Church and to New Zealand in the conduct of yourselves according to the principles laid down for us by Almighty God. Unless we check these evils, Christianity, peace and prosperity in New Zealand will be undermined, and its days spent. Be loyal.as Catholics to your Church, and as patriots to your country by following the standards qf the Commandments. May God in His Mercy; Mary the Help of all Christians, and the Saints of God, win for' you all that spirit of loyalty that nothing can I shake, towards the Holy Mass and the 'Sacraments, so that we may persevere

to the end and find happiness in eternal life, so that at the end of life we may say with St. Paul, ‘I have fought the good fight; I have kept the Faith and there is left for me a crown of justice which a just judge shall render to me!’ May we all be able to say that when the shadows of death gather round us as we come to the close of our lives.” THANKS EXTENDED Rev. Father Long, in thanking the Missioners for their fine work in the parish during the past three weeks, said that he did so on behalf of the clergy, religious and people with heartfelt thanks to Almighty God and to His ministers of grace. God- had showered many graces on the parish during the Mission, and the Missioners had been an inspiration to all. Father Selleck had only recently arrived from Australia, and they were proud of the fact that his superiors had selected him to open his New Zealand mission in Greymouth. He trusted that similar success would attend his efforts, with those of Fathers Gartlan and Lennon in the other centres they visited, and promised on behalf of the congregation remembrances in their prayers. The Mission had been an outstanding success, said Father Long, who thanked all who had assisted towards its work. “May this renewal of your loyalty to Christ and His Church remain with you until death,” he concluded.

Father Selleck extended the thanks of the Missioners to Father Long and the clergy for their helpful kindnesses and hospitality. They were grateful to the people who had made the Mission such .a splendid success. “My first Mission in New Zealand, coming as I did direct from Australia,” said Father Selleck, “is a very warm welcome at the beginning of my work. I don’t think that up and down Australia where I have worked, that I have known a more successful Mission. I have found here a great 1 spirit of faith, a great cordiality and a deep respect for your priests. If this is typical, New Zealand must indeed be loyal in its faith. May God bless and prosper you and grant you eternal life in Heaven.”

As is customary at the end of a Mission, Requiem Masses for the repose of the souls of deceased clergy, religious and laity of the parish were celebrated this morning. Short addresses were delivered by Father Selleck. RUNANGA MISSION Rev. Father G. V. Gartlan, C.SS.R., yesterday morning opened a week’s mission at the Church of the Sacred eart, Runanga, with a packed congregation. Again last evening, there was a big congregation, when Father Gartlan preached. Masses will be celebated at 5.30 a.m. and 9 a.m. daily, and devotions will be held at 7 p.m., during the week, instead of 7.30 p.m. as previously announced.

Father Selleck will open a Mission at Te Kinga at 7 o’clock this evening, concluding on Thursday evening. On Thursday evening, another Mission opens at Kotuku, where Mass will be celebrated daily at 5.30 a.m., the Mission concluding next Sunday. The times of the Mission exercises at Te Kinga and Kotuku will be Railway times. AN APPRECIATION [TO THE EDITOR.] Sir, —During the last fortnight a Redemptorist Mission was conducted by Rev. Fathers Sellick, Lennon and Gartlan, at St. Patrick’s Church. From every point of view it appeared to be a great success. As a non-Catholic but a true Christian, I wish to say that I attended several evening services and listened to the various preachers. Such administrators at any rate convinced me that they were fully versed with the truths of the Divine and natural laws.

In these so dark stages of warfare, consternation, anarchy and corruption the people who have turned away from God need recourse to prayer, and opportunities such as these should be accepted whole-heartedly by all throughout all parts of the land. Approving not of all the Catholic views, I wish to express my admiration on their stability of their religious practices. If all denominations were to base their principles on the same dogma, it would be assured the world would not be passing through an epoch of terrible turbulence as it is involved in to-day. I also perused the columns of the “Star,” and gained certain prevailing knowledge of the maxims of doxology from the sermons printed. It also stated that the Catholic congregation during this mission were performing a nine day novena of prayer and communion for a just peace. I only hope God will answer their prayers. The Catholic Society members form a part of the populace and have performed a great duty to their God and country especially in this present conflict. Statistics record that their church contains about one-eighth of the population of New Zealand. It appears they are ever ready to stand side by side to serve in the call of God in any just cause. This tribute I would like to pay to the Brotherhood not forgetting the good people of my own religion. All I pray that some day within the near future a greater unity will exist between the Catholics and non-Catholics ' throughout the universe. This Mission during a time of trouble which has been so sorely needed has left a vivid impression, an inspiration so deeply embedded in my mind that I had to voice my opinion. I wish the Missioners success in their good work. Yours etc., — “NON-CATHOLIC.”