DOMINICAN CONVENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20703, 29 April 1929, Page 16

DOMINICAN CONVENT.

LAYING OF FOUNDATION STONE. ADDRESS BY BISHOP BRODIE. Despite the soaking rain which fell yesterday a fairly large gathering assembled in the, afternoon at the pnrtially-con-structcd Dominican Convent in NorthEast Valley to witness the laying of *he foundation stone by Bishop Whyte assisted by Dr Brodie, Bishop of Christ’ church. At the conclusion ot the cere mony the gathering adjourned to thschool, where Bishop Whyte welcomed the Rev. Dr Brodie,- stating that ho had come down to them from Christchurch great inconvenience to himself, a fact which showed his keen interest in the welfare of Catholic education and Catho lie institutions as a whole. They were very glad to he able to assist the Sisters of St. Dojpinic, for they could never forget what had been clone in the past by those Sisters in assisting the cause of Catholicism in Dunedin. Ovei .50 years ago Dr Moran, the first Bishop of Du,i edin, received such invaluable assistance from the Dominican nuns that result? wore achieved which woul.l- otherwise have been imptssiblc. The new building would fill a long-felt want, for although the present home of the Sisters served its purpose in the summer, in winter it lacked sunshine and warmth. The sisters led a very laborious life, and no one would begrudge them a suitable building in which to carry on their arduous tasks.— (Applause.) BISHOP BRODIE’S ADDRESS. In acknowledging Bishop Whyte’s welcome, Dr Brodie stated that the ceremony that day, with the memories it recalled, had for them its encouragement and its inspiration. It marked anotho.step in the growth of the work of the Dominican Sisters in the Diocese of Dun edin. Towards the end of the year 1870 Bishop Moran, of honoured memory, was appointed the first Bishop ot tin newly created Diocese of Dunedin. Bishop Moran had already spent 13 years as a missionary bishop in South Africa) and knowing the difficulties of pioneering wol 'k, decided Jo ask the co-operation of the Sisters of St. Dominic. Pounded in the beginning of the thirteenth cemury this devoted community had been cstab lished in many parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia, and had found its way to Ireland, where in times of persecution it had done much to preserve the faith amid the difficulties and dangers of those days. With a knowledge of the past work of the Dominican Nuns, Bishop Muran pre sented himself at the Sion Hill Convent Blackrock, in the County ot Dublin. With his characteristic candour and earnestness he made known his request. He wanted a community of nuus for his new diocese, the most remote diocese of the Catholic world. He did not disguise the difficulties and discomforts of pioneer ing life, but in spite of this ten Sisters volunteered to journey to New Zealand. After a weary voyage of nearly foui months the Dominican Nuns arrived in Dunedin in February, 1871, :o commence their great work of Catholic education This work had thrived and prospered, and now there were no fewer than 120 Sisters in the various communities an 1 schools of the Dominican Nuns through out the Diocese of Dunedin. The work of Bishop Moran would ever abide, in the diocese, and a great factor which must be regarded as a most important feature of that work was the record of the efforts and of the success achieved by the Dominican Nuns. During the 60 year? of their work in this diocese thousands ot pupils had gone through their schools, while the stability of the Catholic Church as a whole in Dunedin was in great measure due to the devoted work of the Sisters. Bishop Brodie concluded bv thanking Bishop Whyte for the privilege of being invited to assist al the ceremony, and congratulated the Dominican Nuns on the evidence of the development and progress of their work.— (Applause ) A vote of thinks to Bishop Brodie wn? moved by Mr J. W. Munrn. M.P., who congratulated the Dominican Nuns and the Christian brothers on the excellence of their educational system. • Inch, he stated, compared more than favourably with the State system. The vote of thanks was seconded by Mr Harris and carried by acclamation.