AFTER MANY YEARS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12094, 23 March 1925, Page 6

AFTER MANY YEARS

"NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH. . OPENED AT PALMERSTON NORTH. Per Press Association. PALMERSTON NORTH, March 22. After many; years anticipation Roman Catholic parishioners saw their magnificent- new church opened to-day, Archbisheps Redwood and O’Shea and many other church dignitaries participating. The church, the erection of which occupied twenty months, is in conformity with unadorned Gothic design, with a lofty spire of about 180 feet high. The building is a spacious one, calculated to fulfil requirements of the parish for many years to come. The seating accommodation is from 1050 to 1100, leaving room for spacious aisles.and beautifully designed altar work. The new church was commenced 12 years ago. The site cost £7000; alterations to presbytery, £1900; new church with incidentals, £32,000; the whole undertaking approximating £40,000, of which only £12,500 remains unpaid. HICH MASS CELEBRATED THE POPE’S BLESSING. High Mass was celebrated by Monsignor Power in the presence of over 2000 peoole. including about 30 members of" the clergy. A magnificent choir of about 30 voices, orchestra of 10 instrumentalists, under the baton of J. Cosgrove, sang Gounod’s “Messe Solennelle.” Mrs Hillier rendered the solo, Gounod’s ‘‘Ave Maria,” with ’cello obligato. The choir was also heard to advantage at the evening devotions. Tlie peal of hells adde to the splendour of the occasion, and unprecedented crowds attended the ceremony which commenced with early Mass and general communion of parishioners. THE POPE’S BLESSING. Archbishop Redwood congratulated the parish on the magnificent edifice, and said that when the Pope heard of the opening he would send blessings for what the people had done. The parish priest (Father McManus), who was going to Rome, would convey the progress of the church throughout New Zealand, which was a tribute to the faith and generosity of the people. Father McCarthy delivered a magnificent oratorical discourse at High Mass, and in the evening Father Edge delivered a sermon appropriate to tho occasion.