ST. MARY'S CONVENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 282, 2 November 1925, Page 3

ST. MARY'S CONVENT

OPENING AND BLESSING. TRIBUTES TO SISTERS OF MERCY. The consummation of 'a further splendid example of advancement along the path of sacrifice and selfdenial on the part of the Roman Catholic community of Palmerston North was fittingly nYarked yesterday afternoon by the opening and blessing of the new St. Mary’s Convent in Fitchett street. There was an assemblage of dignitaries of the Church, including, besides his Grace, Archbishop Redwood, the Venerable and Metropolitan, Dr Kennedy, of Highden, Fathers McCarthy (Superior of the Marist Missioners, Wellington), Cahill (Feilding), Malone (Wellington), Klinic (Marton), and Lynch and Doolaghty (Palmerston North). The de-puty-Mayor (Cr A. J. Graham) represented the municipality, and associated with him on the dais on the lawn at the back of the new structure wore other members of the Borough Council, Mr J. A. Nash and several non-Roman Catholics. Before the procession set out from the boys’ school many of those attending, took the opportunity of , inspecting the new building, which is sufficiently far advanced towards completion to afford a conception of its splendid architecture, modern design and liberal proportions. The procession from the boys’ school was headed by the cross bearer, immediately followed by the acolytes; then came Children of Mary in their blue'uniforms, other children strewing petals before the Blessed Sacrament, which was borne by his Grace under a golden canopy; and lastly the rest of the school children wearing red and white sashes. On arrival at the lawn at the back of the convent the members of the different orders formed up, facing the temporary altar under the trees, where his Grace', assisted by the priests present, performed the ceremony of blessing and declaring the new building open. Devotions followed, and then priests and prominent visitors were assembled on a staging at one side of the enclosure whence the speeches of the afternoon were delivered. Father Lynch, the parish priest, who presided, expressed his keen pleasure at seeing such a great number present, including, he noted, quite a liberal proportion of non-Roman Catholics. He read to the assemblage a telegram from tho Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates), expressing on behalf of himself and Mrs Coates regret that the exigencies of the political campaign prevented their attendance. Mr Coates conveyed his best wishes for a most successful function. With a few more preliminary remarks Father Lynch called upon his Grace to speak. HIS GRACE’S TRIBUTE. Very glad ho was, stated his Grace, to be present to bless and open the new convent and chapel of tho Sisters of Mercy, and he felt confident that the people of Palmerston North —not only the Rloman Catholics —but all of them, would be happy to convey through him to the Sisters of Mercy warmest congratulations and best wishes. These devoted women, tho Archbishop went on to say, deserved the highest appreciation and kindest encomiums for their unflagging zeal in discharging a function for the benefit of society at large. By their noble example, their prayers, their visits to the poor and the sick, and their many other good works, they deserved the highest tribute, but above all did they merit it for the able and devoted manner in which they conducted the Roman Catholic schools. CATHOLIC EDUCATION FIRST AIM. Catholic education, said his Grace, was tho first aim of the Church, because of the tremendous influence it had on the formation of the character and life of the young, and its potentiality to train the children to be good and industrious citizens, the pride of their country and the bulwark of the State. “For a Catholic there ds no fit school except a Catholic school,” declared the archbishop with emphasis. By that he did not mean that Catholic Schools would turn out all saints and fine scholars, but the Catholic system of education was the only one affording adequate training in religion and morality. It has indubitably been proved the best system, meeting with a great amount of success in the past. “No other system of education can claim that it is training men and women for citizenship in the higher world,” he declared. The secular system, His Grace went on to say, trained for this world only and it was easy to perceive the difference between it and the Catholic system. The secular system knew and could say nothing about God. The Catholic ignored mere secularism and so must any man who believed in God. CHURCH’S SELF-HELP.' The Roman Catholic Church, His Grace went on to say, had founded its own schools, and to the disgrace of Australia and New Zealand these were the only parts of the British Empire where such institutions were not accorded practical Government recognition. Such a state of affairs as obtained here in this respect was . a disgrace to the world and a fearful omen for the future. “It almost makes me- despair at times,” Archbishop Redwood declared, when proceeding to stress the need for seeing that the young received adequate moral training. “It is bound to make for godlessness in the end,” he added. in fine, he paid a further tribute to the Sisters of Mercy and the wise guidance which they could give the young life, .together with an atmosphere of solid Catholic principles, He thanked the Sisters with all his heart for what they had done, and also expressed his gratitude to the large number who had attended the function. DEPUTY-MAYOR’S ADDRESS. The deputy-Mayor voiced the pleasure which it gave him to represent the municipality at the function, and extended his hearty congratulations on the consummation of another great effort on tho part of the local Roman Catholic community. The building opened that afternoon bespoke the great faith, enthusiasm and loyal cooperation of the members of the Church, who could not only conceive, but aiso carry through big things. This was a further step along the path of mercy and it redounded to the credit of tho town. He readily recognised and bore tribute to the work of the Sisters of Mercy, not onlyin Palmerston North but throughout the Dominion, in the cause of education and humanitarian service, and in training to better fit for the battle of life the children who came under their care. The Catholic schools were

established without any Government aid in the way of subsidy or endowment, relying only on voluntary donations and the income derived by the Sisters from teaching music. In the last-named regard he paid a tribute to the efficiency of the instruction given, as was witnessed by the comments of overseas examiners. In their caie foi the sick and needy the Sisters of Mercy recognised neither creed, religion rank nor wealth, but helped all who sought their aid. Theirs was a wonderful example to all Christians dnd ho gladly did them honour. MR NASH COMPLIMENTS CHURCH AND SISTERS. A tribute to the architect and builders was the first expression of Mr J. A. Nash, who alluded to the new structure as something which would serve for a great many years. _ Ihe building, he understood, was costing in the region of £20,000 and when it was completed and the spacious grounds put iii order it would be another practical example of “Palmerston North leading the way.” He could not adequately express his appreciation of the work of the Sisters of Mercy, who in their devotion to the children denied themselves much. The training of tho young called for a grave and great responsibility, for character was man’s greatest asset—a priceless possession without which all others were worthless. No power from without could damage character —only influences from within, and the Sisters spent their lives in building up the character of the boys and girls under their care. He could only hope and trust that the future efforts of the Sisters of Mercy would be attended with success. All remembered their magnificent services in the 1918 opidemiCj for instance. The Church, in providing its own educational system, assumed a big responsibility' and by so doing was saving the country about £500,000 per annum. He joined with the other speakers in wishing the Sisters of Mercy further success in the future.

father McCarthy’s appeal. • Loud applause greeted Father McCarthy as he rose to speak. He had, he said, a resolution to propose—“that subscription list bo sent round to help the Sisters of Mercy to defray the heavy burden of debt on their convent.” Father McCarthy mentioned that, when he received the invitation to attend the ceremony, he was 500 miles away from Palmerson North, but ho readily assented to mako the journey and to rejoice with the Sisters on this their day of triumph. Tho erection of the new convent represented the realisation of a wealth of hopes, prayer and aspirations over many years. It could be said that the building bad grown out of a soil saturated with years of toil, sacrifice, patience and privation. Pleased indeed was he to join in the united congratulations on this successful termination of a gigantic effort. More, lie was glad to attend to discharge a personal debt to the Sisters of Mercy, for they had been his first teachers, and any success he had met with in life was largely due to them. (Applause.) The Catholic community was under an especial debt to the Sisters lor the part they played in teaching the children, for the true Catholic could not accept secular education, because lie felt that religion could never be separated from education, but should be added to it to permeate and vitalise it. Realising this, Catholics had stood to their principles at the cost of sacrifice, building their own schools at their own cost throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion, but all would have been to no purpose did they not have the right teachers. He could, he felt sure, appeal to the Catholics’ spirit of justice, charity and their lively faith for in giving they must remember “that whatever they did for the children they did for Him Who would repay a hundredfold.” At the same time he thought that tho Church had a claim on non-Catholics as well, for it was saving the State generally a large sum of money per annum by providing its own schools, while the Sisters were joining with other teachers in the State schools in building up good citizenship, tolerance, honesty and broad-mindedness in the youth of fhe country, together with a respect for lawful authority. Reverence for civil authority, said Father McCarthy, was especially an essential in these days, when the very bulwarks of society were threatened by insidious enemies. The Sisters were helping to inculcate a love of King and country. Mr A. M. Ongley, who seconded the motion, which was carried in enthusiastic fashion, paid a tribute to the Sisters in general and to Sister Winifred in particular for their magnificent work in Palmerston North, alluding to. the fact that he himself received his first lessons from the Sisters in tho South Island of New Zealand. Father Lynch again .addressed the people, thanking each of the visitors for his or her attendance, making particular reference to the presence of so many non-Catholics. That, ho stated, was what was wanted—a sinking of these religious differences. There was room for all in this coutnry. It was wide and by working together we could build up something truly worthy. On tho call of Mr W. Devine three cheers were given for the Archbishop and for the visitors.