ARCHBISHOP STEINS AT PARNELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5693, 16 February 1880, Page 5

ARCHBISHOP STEINS AT PARNELL.

a Yesterday His Grace Archbishop Steins paid his first pastoral visit to the Church of St. John the Baptist, Parnell, and celebrated Pontifical High Mass at 11 o'clock. The church was crowded to its utmost limits, and seats had to be laid through the aisle to provide extra accommodation. His Grace was met at the church door by the Very Rev. Father Fynes, V.G., and the acolytes, who preceded His Grace and tho Rev. Fathers Walter Mredonald and Berkler to the altar. Tho Very Rev. Father Fynes, V.G., was assistant priest ; Father Walter Macdonald, deacon ; and Father Berkler, subdeaoon. .After Mass Hi 3 Grace administered the sacrament of confirmation to 50 youths of bath sexes. Tho girls were tastefully and suitably dressed in white, with long flowing wreaths and veils, and the boys were each decorated with a white sash. The effect was very imposiug, and did much credit to Father Fynes and the listers of Mercy who had charge of tho schools, and who had prepared them for the occasion. His Grace addressed the children who had been confirmed in a brief, but highly appropriate and instructive, manner. At Vespers his Grace ; and the clergymen already named were present. The uhurcli was again crowded to ex- [ cess, and the altar was beautifully decorated. r His Grace preached an eloquent and instructive sermon. He first explained the object the Church had in viaw in these pastoral visits, and then proceeded to impress oil the congregation the necessity for " standing fast in the faith of their holy religion." He urged parents to pay part ticular attention that their children should . be taught what to believe, and to see that their faith was not imperilled. He forcibly i impressed on them their duties and respon--0 eibilities in this respect. He also urged 1 upon tkem the necessity for constant '• prayer, and begged them to be regular and * frequent in their attendance at the Lord'e | table. The sermon, which lasted about an 1B hour, was listened to with the most marked r attention. The Bervice concluded with the benediction of the blessed sacrament.