ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 July 1925, Page 4

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

HAWERA PARISH

JUBI LEE CELEBRATIONS

The jubi'ee of the Ha worn Roman Catholic parish was observed yesterday, when special services were held, his Grace Archbishop Redwood presiding. \c 10.45 a procession of Hibernians in* regalia, as a body-guard to his Grace, moved from the presbytery. As ibis procession entered the church the whole congregation sang a hymn oi welcome, and when this was ended Archbishop O’Shea and his. ministers vested for the Pontifical High Mass, which was probably the first Pontifical Mass sung in the Archdiocese outside the city of Wellington. The Jubilee sermon was preached by his Grace aitei the first gospel. Archbishop O’Shea j)reached in the evening, lhe music ol the Mass was very tastefully sung by a sma I.' choir in charge of the Sisters. In the evening, according to an old-estab fished custom, the singing was entirely congregational. At 1 o’clock the church workers gave a complimentary banquet to the Archbishops. Proposing the toast of the Archbishop, Monsignor Power said that when liis Grace founded this parish 50 years ago he was the youngest bishop in the world, and he was now the senior bishop in Christendom, and was known and .loved and honoured in every part of the church. They were all proud ot 'his Grace, proud of his intellectual achievements J* proud of the works he | had initiated in every part of the archdiocese. They \\*<?ro nil proud oi the reat progress in the arts of .life made by the country, a progress in which he had n° small part. There have, he said, been jurists, nublicists, teachers, statesmen, but if he had to point to one man who had done more than any other for his country’s welfare, he would noint to him who was in their midst to-day. . , . , The speaker said that the Archbishop knew what were the foundations of national and human life, and what principles could not be weakened without undermining the nation, and that it was their beloved Archbishop who had beer, the public delender of the home .life and of the school in this country. He was convinced, ne ; added, that the principles which for fifty years lie had so clearly enunciated from the pulpit, on the platform, and in the press, the wise instruction given to his priests and the lines of conduct marked out for them, had done more, perhaps, than all else to uplift his country. The people honoured. His Grace to-dav; his name brought joy to their hearts, and all hoped that for many more years he would be spared to rule and guide the flock committed to his care. . , .. xl The Archbishop, in acknowleding the compliments, said that Monsignor had done his share of the work during many years. Dean. Power had w orked several years with him in Wellington, and shared the joys and sorrows of the work of the church. He rejoiced with the peop’e of Hawera in their jubilee, and said they had one of the best parishes in New Zealand. Dealing with the early days of the work in Hawera. His Grace recalled interesting incidents of his first visit to Taranaki, shortly after the conclusion of the Maori War, when there was a very small church. He’ .old, too, of a tour taken to New Plymouth in a Maori coach, driven bv Maoris, through, the flax and tutu, along the track made some years before by General Chute, of his arrival in the northern town,, and related amusing incidents associated with those early days. Al 1 , he said, was now changed. They had fine towns and -well-built churches. He joined with the people of Hawera in their joy of a jubilee accomplished, and said it was a de-fight to recall the fervour of the early priests in the district, men with a wide and far vision, who could look into the future and see how the parish would increase and grow. He earnestly hoped, in conclusion. that the people would continue their ardour, and that the work erf the parish would prosper exceedingly in the future. . Air B. McCarthy, in proposing the health of Archbishop O’Shea, said they would always give him a hearty reception, for he- had special claims on the people of Hawera on account of his early fife here and because of the influence exerted in church work by the parents of His Grace in early days. They thanked him for being present that day to celebrate a lialf-century of work in Hawera, the foundations of which were laid, well and truly by the pioneers of the district. They owed in this connection a great deal to His Grace. In conclusion, he referred to the proposed new church, and said thathe hoped in the near future to see jt completed, the consummation of the efforts of many years. Archbishop O’Shea, in replying, expressed his delight- at the privilege of being present on so historic’ an occasion to recall the events of the past 50 years, with* all their memories, pleasant and sorrowful. He said that the parish was one of the best- and! most successful in the archdiocese. In i looking back he said one of his earliest memories was going with, his mother to see Father Lampelli celebrate Holy Communion in the old blockhouse. He recalled also the first visit of Archbishop Redwood to Hawera. There was a lot to be thankful for in the wisdom shown by the pioneers of. the work begun 50 years ago. He recalled that in the first lot of priests of New Zealand birth and training two out of three came from Hawera. He urged the people of the present day to take for an example the life and work of the pioneers of the district, men who had not half the advantages gi% r en to the oeople of to-day and to walk in the footsteps of these men. He referred to the work of Monsignor, and exhorted the people to rally round him so that he could see finished the dearest wish of his heart, the new church. They had. he said, celebrated that day the first Pontifical Mass in the church, but the sanctuary was small and not suitable for such a celebration, and He urged- them all to assist in building a church worthy of the place and large enough to enable the most glorious and impressive Mass to he sung. He thanked them for their kind words and thoughts, and said he was always trying to do his best for them. He commended the parishioners and the Hibernians for being present in such large numbers, and urged all strenuously to follow the highest example and to make sacrifices so as to secure a church worthy of the parish and one that would prove to them the highest blessing. The health of Monsignor was pronosed by Mr J. Bartlett, who said that he had been in charge of Hawera longer than all his predecessors put together, and that during a long period of 27 years lie had never allowed himself an idle day . The churches, schools and parish buildings, he added, raised under his administration spoke for his industry, and he had been ever faithful to the duty of teaching his flock, and if the people failed the fault was not their pastor’s. He had taught them not merely in the pulpit, but in!

the press and in printed books. His personality had impressed itself on the parish, and he hojied that as a result of the celebrations his parishioners would rally round and enable him to begin this year the work of building the new church, an object on which he had so firmly set Lis heart. Thanking Mr Bartlett and those present, tlie Alonsignor said that it was only to be expected that there should be more evidence of his labours than of those of his predecessors, seeing that only one of these was more than five years in the parish. He was not very fond of preaching, but it was a strict duty to instruct the people. Ignorance of Christian teaching was the greatest enemy to religious life, and he had always striven to give his people instruction in this matter. He thanked Air Bartlett and all of them most sincerely for the kind thoughts and words, and hoped they would always be united in fighting everything that was opposed to the prosecution of the work before them.

TO-NIGHT’S SOCIAL GATHERING.

WINTER SHOW BUILDING.

The proceedings in connection with the jubilee of the. Catholic Church in Hawera will be concluded this evening, when an opportunity will be given to the people of the district to meet Their Graces Archbishops Redwood and O’Shea. The gathering will take place at the Winter Show Building in Hawera, and it is anticipated that there will he a large attendance. An attractive musical programme will he presented. and the function should be most interesting. It will be concluded with a dance.