ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1933, Page 10

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

FEAST DAY AT HAWERA.

ASSEMBLY OF PARISHIONERS.

The Hawera conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society met at St. Joseph’s Hall, Hawera, on Wednesday night, when there was an attendance of between 200 and 300 parishioners and society members representative of the Hawera branch, the New Plymouth branch, the newly-formed Stratford branch and of the parishes of Manaia and Eltham, where there is likelihood of branches being formed in the near future. The conference president, Mr. B. Malone, occupied the chair and outlined the work of the conference and extended a welcome to Mr. P. D. Hoskins, president of the superior council (St. Vincent de Paul Society) of New Zealand.

The Rev. Father T. O’Brien (Hawera) read a. Vatican encyclical commending works of charity throughout the world, with special reference to that of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

On behalf of the New Plymouth and Stratford delegates respectively addresses were given by Messrs. Spellman and D. J. Malone.

The Very Rev. Monsignor P. F. Cullen (Hawera) spoke of the work of the society and its organisation throughout the world, his address being followed by that of Mr. Hoskins, the only person in New Zealand to have conferred upon him in 1922 the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Pius XI. This distinction was conferred in recognition of Mr. Hoskins’ seiwices to the Church in New Zealand and especially his splendid work in promoting Roman Catholic social welfare organisations and in the Hibernian Lodge of New Zealand.

Mr. Hoskins spoke of the life of Frederick Ozanam, who founded the St. Vincent de Paul Society while studying law at the Paris University. One hundred years ago the society started with a membership of seven. To-day there were conferences throughout the world embracing a membership of 200,090. Last year the sum of £900,000 was paid by branches for the relief of distress and other works of charity. The society was purely a charitable organisation with a religious backing, and the speaker paid a warm tribute to the work of the ladies’ auxiliaries, which met every week to prepare garments for the poor and needy. It was mentioned that at Hawera the ladies’ auxiliary had met regularly once a week for 20 years. The chairman returned thanks to Mr. Hoskins on. behalf of the conference, and Monsignor Cullen recited the closing prayers.

Supper was served by the ladies, after which a general conversazione took place. The feast day of St. Vincent de Paul was observed on Wednesday throughout the religious empire of the Roman Catholic Church. It is on this occasion, or within seven days of the feast day, that compulsory conferences of the St. Vincent de Paul Society are held commemorate the name of Frederick Ozanam, founded of the society.