ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 December 1928, Page 8

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH

DEDICATION CEREMONY.

GATHERING OF CLERGY AND LAITY. SERMON BY ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD. The service at St. Joseph's new Catholic Church yesterday moniing was in every w;ay worthy of the great occasion, ’ tlie solemn dedication of the building to the glory of God and to the work of the church in the Hawera district. The cliurch was filled with a congregation that assembled from many parts of the countryside in honour of the festival, and there was present a distinglishedi gathering of clergy, which, included the - two archbishops from Wei'iingjton. Just before eleven o’clock with ap-, propriate dignity, yet impressive sim-

plicity, the procession of clergy, headed by acolytes, came down the church from the vestry, and marched to the high altar; the archbishops attended by their chaplains and the other clergy following. Pontifical mass was celebrated at the Pais tool, the celebrant being His Grace Archbishop O’Shea, S.M., D.D. The assistant priest was Very Rev. T. F. Connolly, V.Y., of Kilbirnie. Others who took part were: Deacon, Rev. A. Cullen, S.M., B.Sc., of Christchurch; Sub-Deacon, Rtev. M. O’Dwyer, ol Manaia; Master of Ceremonies, Very Rev. A. J. Mcßae, M.A., Ph.D., Chancellor of the Archdiocese, His Grace Archbishop Redwciod, S.M., D.D., presided, his chaplains being Rev. Father O’Connor, C.S.S.R. (Wellington), and Rev. D. McLaughlin, M.A. (Stratford). An inspiring sermon was preached by Archbishop Redwood, who said that it was a great achievement they were celebrating in the erection of the handsome church, to be used as the temple of God and a focus of Christian civilisation, and he congratulated the people of Hawera on their perseverance in the inception and completion of their great work. He commanded them all to ever observe and keep in mind two at-

tributes, truth and grace, and to determine to stand always for the living truth and to love the church. “O'ne word of exhortation sums up the lessons taught us by the opening of this fine new church,” said His Grace in conclusion. “I say to all the Catholics of Hawera, love the Church, which in baptism gave you faith and brought you forth to a new and supernatural j life, making you heirs and joint heirs with Christ to an everlasting kingdom. | Love the Church who continues to dis-j charge towards you all the duties of a' tender mother. It is she who, by the mouths of her pastors, instructs you in the faitli and unceasingly exhorts you to its practise. It is she who, in the Sacrament of Penance relieves you ol the burden of your sins and restores the long-looked-for peace to your hearts. It is she who blesses your nuptials and secures to you conjugal happiness. And how constant is her love ! When in the last hour father and mother, friends and kindred abandon you. the Church, your pitiful mother, forsakes you not; but in the person of the priest, her minister, she bends over your couch,/ wipes the sweat of anguish from your I

brow and cheers and strengthens you for the last journey. After your soul has departed, she busies herself about your earthly remains, accompanies them to their last resting place and bends over yo.ur graves to pray for the repose of your souls. Nay, when your bodies have mouldered into dust in the grave, she will still invoke peace on your souls.

“O Holy Church, if ever I forged thee let my right hand be forgotten! 0 Catholic faith, may I over cherish thee in my heart and show thee in my conduct! And may my last Avoids be those of that great preacher of the Faith, St. Paul: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith.’ I have gained the final victory and from the just Judge I confidently expect the victor’s immortal crown. Amen.” The service was fully choral, the mass being the “Deuxieme Messe Sdiennelle” by T. J. Bordonel. It. was sung with good expression and in reverential spirit by an efficient choir under Mr Joseph Higham, with Mils W. A. Quin at the organ. A trio was also excellently sung by Miss C. Reilly, Mr® M. J. Goodson and Mr Higham. At the conclusion of the service', the “Halelujah Chorus” was sung bv the choir.

WELCOME TO VISITING CLERGY. “My dear people,” said Rev. Father Cullen, “it is oriiy proper that I should! make the several acknowledgements due on your behalf and my own.” Our veneralhe Archbishop and Metropolitan : Your Grace, —Me rejoice in having you with us again. We are particularly glad to see you enjoying such excellent health. We appreciate the sacrifice you have made in coming so far tot be present with us on this day of great rejoicing. We need •scarcely assure you that down through the years to come the memory of this happy event will be treasured tbemore highly because you have sot graciously consented! to allow yourself to be associated with it.”

| Archbishop O’Shea, —Your Grace: Catholic Hawera, on this, her great day, welcomes you, her own illustrious son. To-cl av she is doubly proud. Hais ehe not given to God’s Churoh an archbishop—a record shared by no other part of the island ? and now today she witnesses the happy completion of an undertaking that has given to God’s service a building worthy of its purpose —a church of which any city

in /this Dominion could be proud. We take a real pride in what qu,r little town has done for Catholicity, and! we rejoice that you (as one of our own) are with u« to-day to share our happiness.” ‘‘Visiting clergy,—Very Rev. and Reverend Fathers: It is ever a jov to have you with us. But to-day we exI tendi you a special welcome and we thank you for your friendly interest in | our work. We take this occasion also I | to Wellcome and to thank our lay visi-j • tors. We recognise in many of you old members of the parish, and as such you are doubly welcome. MEMORY OF MONSIGNOR POWER, “We now put on record our deep regret that we have not with us the one to whose energy and perseverance we owe the erection ,of this magnificent structure. ’ Time will never rob our lata venerated patsor (Monsignor Patrick Joseph Power. V.F.) of theca-edit that is properly hie, nor wJil it dim our sense of filial gratitude for the many blessings his long faithful service as pastor brought upon us and our parish.”

THE ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS A fitting tribute was paid .to Mr F. de J. Clere, the architeorb, to whom the people owed a debt of gratitude for his great work, an adomiment and’ asset to the. town, and also for Iris liberality to the parish. Rteiv. Father Cullen 'also acknowledged with gratitude the excellent services rendered by Mr Maidens, clerk of works: Messrs Jullian and Son, foreman; Mr A. Brett, plasterer; and! Messrs! Glow and Cross, painters. He paid a tribute also to the generosity of the Winter Show executive iu allowing the use of the hall for services during the moving of the old church.; the borough engineer, Mr J. Stuirrock. Messrs Arthur’®, Ltd., and Messrs G. Syme and Co., Ltd. He also stated that the total cost, with fittings and' furnishings, would be £17,64.5. of which £11,141 had' been subscribed while Monsignor Power was in charge. Since then they had received donations, at the laying of the foundation stone of £1489; euchre parties, £770, and legacy of £637; interest £372, and from Children of Mary £285, a total of £14,751, so. that there was due £2400, and of this the offertories yesterday totalled £635, leaving a nett debt of £1765.