OPENING OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7792, 24 February 1886, Page 4 (Supplement)

OPENING OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.

■ DUNEDIN, Feb. It. St Joseph's Roman Catholic Cathedral ■was opened to-day with most imposing ceremony. The morning was misty and drizzling,but longbeforethe appointed hour the streets in front of the Cathedral were packed. A little before 11, the Catholic school children marched in procession to the Cathedral; the boysof St Joseph’s Christian Brothers’ school wore badges of green, red and blue, and the girls of St Joseph’s and the Convent school were dressed in white, with cardinal sashes or all cardinal, and wearing wreaths and veils, and carrying bannerets. They were arranged in two rows extendingfrom Bishop Moran's house to the Cathedral gate, forming a lane for the Cardinal to walk through! Then came a procession of priests, bishops, and the Cardinal. It was headed by the altar boy carrying incense, then the cross, 21 altar boys in white and mauve, 16 priests and an archdeacon, five bishops, the Cardinal (with two boys carrying his train), and his Chaplain and Secretary. As his Eminence marched through the lane of boys and girls, the latter strewed his path with flowers, so that from the Bishop’s gate to the Cathedral gate he literally walked on flowers. The crowd of spectators at this time was very large indeed. As his Eminence reached the gate, the choir, comprising 60 voices and several instrumentalists, sang the Church’s song of welcome, “ Behold the High Priest.” Pontifical high mass was then celebrated by Dr Reynolds, Bishop of Adelaide. His Eminence then preached the dedication sermon, in which he traced the rise of the Roman Catholic Church from the time the Saviour gave his charge to the Apostle Peter. “On this rock I will build my Church.” He said the thoughts were suggested by viewing the beautiful edifice raised by the exertions of the faithful in Dunedin, which would be a monument to future generations. After pointing out how the Catholic Church had continued as a beacon and testimony of the truth, of how no power had prevailed against it, he concluded by referring to Bishop Moran, who had, previous to coming to this fair land of the Sotith, laboured in South Africa. Since his arrival here all knew of his services, and the building they had dedicated was one of the fruits of his labours. After the benediction his Eminence, preceded by the Bishops and priests, returned to the Bishop’s house. There must have been considerably over 2000 in the church. At the service this evening, after vespers, ! Bishop Redwood will preach. To-morrow the Cardinal inspects the girls’ schools. That portion of the Cathedral dedicated to-day is only a wing of the complete design. What was opened is not quite completed. Several of the stained glass windows will not arrive till Easter, and a large amount of interior decorative work remains to be done. What is finished has a very chaste and beautiful appearance. Up to the present the building has cost .£20,000. 1 The amount realised by the opening will ■ ( be about £2OOO. The offertory amounted i to over .£4OO.