CONFIRMATION

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6411, 6 November 1923, Page 8

CONFIRMATION

HIS LORDSHIP, BISHOP CLEARY VISITS TE AROHA His Lordship, Dr. H. W. Cleary, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, was present at St. Joseph’s Church, Te Aroha, on Sunday evening’ to administer the Holy Saerement of Confirmation to over sixty candidates —of both sexes —who had come from Te Aroha, Manawaru, Morrinsville and neighboring districts. The congregation filled the Church to its utmost capacity, and the service was a most solemn and impressive one, as the boys, attired in white jumpers and red sashes, and the girls, attired in all white, presented themselves at the alter rails to be confirmed in the Faith. Before administering the Holy Sacrement, His Lordshiip spoke simple but appropriate and telling words to the children, impressing upon them the meaning of Confirmation, and at the same time, in accordance with his wish, they made a solemn pledge to refrain from intoxicating liquors at least until they are twenty-one years of age. Rev. Fathers Forde and Ryan assisted His Lordship in administering Confirmation. Dr. Cleary’s visit was rather a hurried one; during Sunday forenoon he officiated at the opening of a new Church at Paeroa, and at three in the afternoon he Confirmed quite a number of candidates there. He arrived at Te Aroha early in the evening and departed yesterday morning for Morrinsville, where he would inspect the recently-accquired site for the new Church and Convent in that town, tn the afternoon he intended journeying on to Hamilton.