Gore

Southland Times, Issue 22898, 25 May 1936, Page 4

Gore

CONVENT SCHOOL OPENING CEREMONY ADDRESS BY BISHOP

In the presence of a large number of parishioners of the Gore Catholic Church and visitors the new convent school at Gore was blessed and opened by the Bishop of Dunedin (the Rt. Rev. Dr James Whyte) yesterday. The handsome brick building of eight classrooms was subsequently inspected and widely admired by all visitors. The parish priest (the Rev. Father T. S. Kavanagh) said that the opening of the school realized a long cherished ideal of the congregation. It was a historic occasion in the life of the parish. The school was a thing of beauty and no doubt it would be a joy for many years. He congratulated the architect (Mr J. Woods) and the builders (Messrs Mallon and Martin). “A beautiful feast day has been chosen for this function,” said the bishop after extending his warm congratulations to the parish priest, the architect and builder. “To-day we celebrate throughout New Zealand and Australia the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians. Our Lady under that title is the patroness of these countries. It is fortunate, therefore, that your new school is blessed and opened on a day that rejoices every Catholic heart in this fair land. In commemoration of the event I have procured a suitable picture of Our Lady, Help of Christians, for one of your rooms.” It was worth recalling the meaning of this feast, pursued his Lordship. Like so many other feasts of the church much history was wrapped up in it. Pope Pius VII after five years’ captivity in France by the direction of Napoleon had in gratitude for his release directed that May 24, the date of his return to Rome, should annually be celebrated in the Papal states as the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians. “The children of this school will frequently and earnestly pray to Our Lady, Help of Christians, on behalf of little boys and girls who are being trained to insult every form of religion. This feast day could well be adopted by the pupils of this school as the Catholic Mothers’ Day. In many parts of Australia the Catholic schools observe it as Australia Day; they sing hymns in honour of Our Lady and songs in praise of their great country. We have no New Zealand day to correspond with Australia Day. Could not the good children of this school lead the way in selecting this feast day as the Catholic Mothers’ Day? That suggestion I submit to the consideration of the priests and nuns. The pupils could hear Mass and received Holy Communion for the welfare of their mothers on this day every year.” “Again, I offer my hearty congratulations to the priests and people on entering into possession of this handsome and commodious school,” said the bishop in conclusion. “I rejoice, too, with the good Sisters who have toiled so ungrudgingly and successfully in the past for the Christian education of the children. Finally I envy the children who are to enjoy the advantages that are offered them in such plenty. When they are reminded ‘in the revolving years’ that their school was blessed and opened on the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians, they will make this a solemn day and pray for their good mothers and for the welfare of the Church and for the peace of nations.” The Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman) said that the day was also of great significance to Britishers, being Empire Day, and for this reason also could be accepted as most suitable for the opening of a new school. After looking through the school he doubted whether there was another school in Otago or Southland which could excel it. He referred to the splendid developments which had occurred on the site of the church buildings in a comparatively short time. Mr D. McDougall, M.P., said he had been glad to come down from Wellington to attend the opening. He congratulated the parishioners on the acquisition of a handsome school which was an asset not only to the church but to the town. Since the laying of the foundation stone of the school he had been criticized in certain quarters for his expressed support to the claims of Catholics for Government capitation for their schools, but he was still convinced that it was a just claim. Mr D. L. Poppelwell said that the new school signified that the Catholics of the district were conscientious in their attitude towards religious education. Of 254,000 children attending schools in New Zealand 26,500 attended private schools, with 23,000 attending Catholic schools. This was an immense saving to the State and the claim for capitation was just. . Monsignor Howard said that the high motives which had prompted the erection of the school had entailed sacrifices similar to those which had been undertaken by people of all nations and creeds for their high ideals. He also ex - tended warm congratulations to the Gore congregation. Messrs J. Woods (architect) and J. Mallon (of Messrs Mallon and Martin, the contractors) acknowledged the tributes to their work. The school was then inspected and afternoon tea provided for the visitors.

GOLF STROKE MATCH. Conditions were ideal on Saturday for a stroke match and the first qualifying round of the club championship for Saturday players of the Gore Golf Club. A. Hall was the winner of the match with a score of five strokes below his handicap. The best scores were:—

COMMITTEE MEETING. At a meeting of the committee of the Gore Golf Club the championship grades were fixed as follows: Senior, up to 16; intermediate, 17 to 21; junior, 22 to 24.

A. Hall 93 24 69 G. L. Sadd 93 18 75 T. Kidd 87 11 76 H. L. Smith 96 18 78 H. J. Aitken 87 8 79 A. B. Caverhill 96 16 80 W. Stevenson 105 24 81 I. R. P. Douglas 92 10 82