ALMOST COMPLETE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23573, 6 February 1940, Page 4

ALMOST COMPLETE

FRANCISCAN FRIARY ' BUILDING AT HILLSBOROUGH OFFICIAL OPENING ON SUNDAY Final touches are now being given the new Franciscan friary and house , of retreat at Hillsborough, which is to be officially opened by Bishop Liston ■ next Sunday. Although not yet completely ready, the friary has been occupied by members of the Franciscan Order since November and two retreats have already been held there. As the nanfe implies, thre purpose of the friary is to offer a convenient place for intending retreatants, whom the fathers themselves will instruct, in addition to undertaking missions in different parts of the country. The friary itself is divided into two separate portions, one for visitors, and the other % the enclosure, for the use of the friars alone. The building in plan section resembles the letter E, with a long,'shallow frontage and three wings running back. The upper storey contains the friars' quarters and rooms for visitors, while at present the chapel also is located there. Simple, Modern Style Downstairs are the reception hall,library, guests' dining room, the Franciscans' refdetory, a modern kitchen and servants' quarters. The building throughout is constructed in a simple, modern style, with a brick facing. Lowset in appearance, it commands a view toward tho ,north-west, although it is screened from most points by a fringe of trees.- drive is - a long approach curving round the side of the hill to the front of the building, where it circles a grass plot which will eventually hold a statue. Part of the hill is at present being graded to a,How of a better view of the friary from the drive. The fourncre site has-been planned to accommodate a garden, orchard, and farm garden, although it is not intended to make the community completely self- - supporting. A tennis court also is to be laid down on level ground on ono side of the hill. Founded In 1209 Room has been allowed in the design ? r a " c 'itions to the main structure, - the present capacity being for 22 visitors in addition to the six resident "members of ,the order. / The new /building is tho only one tenanted by the friars in the Dominion, although they have been for a number of years firmly established in Australia, from where tho latest friary was founded. The order is flourishing in most other parts of the world, with 40,000 fathers and brothers in the various homes. Their religious work, mainly missionary, is undertaken by tho fathers, who are ordained priests, tho brothers attending to more secular business. Their mode of life has been unchanged in its essentials since the foundation of the Order of St. Francis of Assisi in 1209.