MACRAES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1921, 11 December 1890, Page 18

MACRAES.

December 2.— Sunday, the 23rd ulb., was to the Catholics of Hyde a veritable red-letf.er day. It concluded a mission which began on Friday. Service was held three times each day, and all the services were well attended, numbers coming from a long distance. About 60 approached the Loid'« table, a number of adults and children receiving their first communion, and several the sacrament of baptism. There was mats at 9 a.m. by the Rev. Father Hunt, and a sermon by the Rev. Father Donnelly on the importance of communion. The choir, who seemed to be well trained, sang Weber's Imperial Mass. The hymns sung by the children were most effectively rendered. The rev. gentlemon I are holding a minion Iv Macraes this week, and are I preparing numbers for their first sacrament. The church when I saw it a few months ago was in a most dilapidated condition, holes in the walls outside, and the Inside occupied by birds. There was no furniture of any kind in the buHding, nor was it even fenced in, but stood exposed in a rough paddock, where cattle usually sheltered. To my surprise, on visiting Macraes a short time ago, I found quite a transformation scene in the church and grounds. It is now fenced In, laid down in nice grass lawa, plnnted with a variety of trees, and wire fence all round, with handsome gates with crosses on at the front and back of the cburoh. The whole building, inside and out, is a picture of neatness, devotion, and care, and reflects the greatest credit upon tbe hardworking and most estimable kind pastor, Father Donnelly. It is the surprise of everyone how he has achieved so much good in such a comparatively short time in a poor and scattered parish, which is very difficult to work owing to the bad roads and great distances between the different centres. The circumstances and paucity of the people render his charge anything but an easy matter. When Father Donnelly took charge of this district the church bad been in debt for years. Now more than half the old debt has been paid off within a few months, and all the expenses connected with the repairs are paid for. It is clear that the rev. gentleman knows how to find his way to the people's pockets, and consequently to their hearts as well, otherwise he could never have achieved tbe expensive undertaking he has done had he been dependent upon the Macraes congregation alone.