UO.NSKCIt.ATION OF ST. PATRICK'S CHUKCII, PAIiMEIISTON.

Manawatu Herald, 29 October 1878, Page 2

UO.NSKCIt.ATION OF ST. PATRICK'S CHUKCII, PAIiMEIISTON.

This very neat and commodious Church li:is liec«n opened for Divine Service for about eighteen months, the Uev. Father Moreau being the district cleigyman. Owing, how ever, to tin) multiplicity of his dados in other pait.s of his diuccs-e, his Lordship the Bishop had not been able to visit and consecrate the edifice. Sunday last was fixed for the purpose, and the liiskop, accompanied by the Rev. Father Hennebeny, passed ch rough. Foxton on Saturday evening, and upon arrival at Palmerston the ecclesiastical party took up their abode ab Mrs "VVakefield's private boarding house, fronting the Square. To meet the wishes of the public, the Railway Manager, Mr Rotheiam, j>l ac ©d a special train on each end of the line : that from Wanganui started at 6.30 a.m., and consisted of nine carriages. A considerable number started, but far more would undoubtedly have visited Palmerston, but for a very heavy squall of wind and rain, which gave promise of a wet day and an unpleasant journey. Additions were received, however, all along the line, and when the train reached Palmerston at 10.30, fully 250 people must have on board. The Foxton train started at 8.30, with five carriages, and about 100 people, unde* terred by the heavy downfall of rain, and reached Palmerston about 10 ' o'clock. The excursionists picked up ! en route, increased the numbei-s in the j train to about 150. These excursionists, together with the people in and around Palmerston who thronged into tlie township, gave it a lively appearance, quite different to the usual qiriet of a Palmerston Sunday. At once the people started for St. Patrick's Church, which in a few Ircinutes became crowded, as the building is only seated for about 100 adults. About ten minutes to 11, his 1 Lordship and the clergy arrived at the church, which was very prettily deco« rated with ferns and flowers, and before the consecration services began. Mr Yucal, on behalf of the Catholics of Manawatu, read an address to Bishop T?edwood, welcoming him to the district, expressing their sense of the benefits which would result from his presence, and the mission about to be opened, and assuring him. that although he had not been before amongst them, they knew that they had been the objects of his paternal care.

His Lordship, in reply, said that before replying to the address, he would reihaik that the proper place for an address to be presented was at the church door, but owing to the inclement weather, he had allowed it to be read at the altar. Replying to their address, he said it gave him great pleasure to see such an exhibition of Catholic faith, not only in the building of the church, but in the presence of so many Catholics from distant parts of the island ; and concluded by thanking them earnestly for their kind address to him. His Lordship then explained the reason of the cere* mony of consecration, quoting from St. Paul's writings, and also why the service was conducted in the Latin tongue. The usual consecration ser-

vices had to be altered in some of the minor details, owing to the inclemency of the weather, as it would have re 1 quired that all the people should remain outside until the ceremony was concluded. He would, therefore, merely sprinkle the walls from the inside, and having read the dedication service, celebrated Pontifical High Mass as completely as possible under the disadvantages in which he was placed. Ho also informed the congregation that his present visit was not intended as an officially episcopal one. He had come principally to inaugurate the mission which was to be carried on during the present week until Thursday, when it Hwlh close, after confirmation and the Holy Communion had been administered. His Lordship dwelt very strongly on the advantage to be derived from a faithful attendance at the mission, and a due performance of the exercises of piety as directed, and said that those who had never been present at a mission, could not be aware of the gieat blessings which invariably fol- j lowed it.

After reading the consecration service, his Lordship celebrated Pontifical High Mass, the music (Weber's beautiful Mass in G) being excellently rendered by the Wanganui Church choir, who had kindly com 3 down the night previously to assist in the sei" vice. At the offertory, a duet, '* Jesu Eulces Memoria," was very well ren* dered by two lady members of the choir.

At the close of Mass, Father Hen* neberry delivered a sermon appropriate to the opening of the mission, which lasted till about half -past two. The church was crowded to excess at both the morning and evening sei" vices, and a large number were unable to gain admittance. It raiued heavily almost all day, and although there were transitory gleams of sunshine, the hopes they created proved but delusive. There is no doubt that had the weather been fine, almost double the number would have availed them* selves of the opportunity afforded by the Sunday train. The Wanganui return truin started from Palnierston at 7.30 p.m., and the Foxton train an hour later, and reached their destinations safely, thus bringing to a close a very pleosant day.