CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19374, 24 December 1932, Page 15

CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART

The Parish of Timaru gradually grew Into being with the place itself. At first Mass was celebrated once in a while, then several times a year, then monthly. Finally Timaru came to have a resident rector. In 1863 there W'ere some twenty Catholic settlers. About that date, began the visits of the Christchurch missionaries, Fathers Chataigner and Chervier. Some time in 1869, Father Chataigner, who was described as the "apostle of Canterbury,” became the first resident priest in Timaru. With admirable foresight he secured a fine piece of land, the nucleus of the present church property. The foundation stone of the first church was laid in 1873. In 1875, Bishop Redwood appointed Father John Goutenoire assistant. Father Goutenoire managed a most successful bazaar, the proceeds of which were £I2OO. This enabled the missionaries to enlarge the church into an elegant, devotional structure holding 600 people. Shortly after, Father Goutenoire was appointed first resident priest of the newly formed parish of Waimate, and Father Fauvel came to Timaru. Then the Temuka section of the Timaru mission was large enough for a resident priest and Father Fauvel became its rector. Thus both Waimate and Temuka developed as parts of the Timaru mission.

Meantime, Father Chataigner was busy at the central mission. More land was secured for future needs and, though some questioned the development for the town, the last 50 years have proved the soundness of his judgment. The population increased and schools were needed. Hence in 1878. two schools were opened—one for (costing £IBOO for building and grounds) and the other for girls (costing £1200). Both schools were for a time under the care of lay teachers. ARRIVAL OF NUNS The next event of public importance to the parish was the first establishment in New Zealand of the Religious of the Sacred Heart in January, 1880. The nuns on their arrival took over the girls’ school, which then had a roll numberof 70 and an average attendance of 50. The foundation stone of the new convent was laid by Bishop Redwood in February, 1880, and in September of the same year the nuns took possession, the building being solemnly blessed by Bishop Moran, Bishop Redwood being absent in Europe at the time. In 1882, Father Chataigner was replaced by Father Sauzeau, who in turn yielded place to Father Devoy. Father Devoy was replaced in May, 1885, by Father Foley. Bishop Grimes was conseerated Bishop of the newly formed diocese of Canterbury in London in July 1887 and the following year paid a visit to Timaru. He was met at the railway station by a large gathering of people and escorted to the church by a torch light procession, said at that time to be the largest seen in the town. On June 10 of that year the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation for the first time in Timaru. The foundation stone of the church at Fairlie Creek was laid by Dr. Grimes in 1889.

The Marist Brothers arrived in 1893 to take over the boys’ school. Thenpresent residence was completed shortly after their arrival. In 1895 the present Priory and adjacent land was purchased, together with sections in Heaton Street. Then, about the beginning of the century, priests and people were thinking about a new church. The first step was taken by the Altar Society, which had insured the life of the rector, Father Hurlin, for £SOO. On the death of Father Hurlin, this sum became the nucleus of the Church fund. The late Dean Tubman took up the idea seriously, and, with the aid of Fathers Smythe, Kerley, and Murphy, the task of collecting funds began. When there was sufficient money in hand the work was begun, but before much progress was made the old wooden church was burnt to the ground. NEW CHURCH BUILT The new building, said to be one of the finest parish churches in Australia or New Zealand, was completed for a little under £25,000 and was blessed and opened by Bishop Grimes in October, 1911. In 1920 the parish hall was enlarged and converted into the present Catholic Club rooms. Another loss by fire occurred in 1924 when the boys’ school was burnt down. A new school was erected, up-to-date in lighting, ventilation and heating, and at present the building houses 152 pupils under the charge of three Marist Brothers. In recent years the girls’ school has been considerably enlarged to accommodate its 235 students. Improvements have been effected at the Brothers’ house and additions have been made to the Priory. Adornments in the way of beautiful stained glass windows and a grotto of Our Lady standing in the Priory grounds have been other recent achievements. “Claremont, ’’ the new training centre for recruits for the Marist Brothers, was purchased this year and on October 2nd was blessed and opened by Dr. Brodie, Bishop of the diocese. The Sacred Heart parish, as now constituted, extends from St. Andrews to Washdyke, and comprises over 3000 persons and with its clubs and sodali- . ties is recognised as one of the best equipped parishes in the Dominion. The spiritual life of the parish, fostered by the numerous sodalities was manifested this year when well nigh every soul in the parish took part in The annual Eucharistic procession on the Feast of Christ the King. Following is a list of parish priests v since the foundation of the parish:— Father Chataigner (1869-82), Father Sauzeau (1882), Father Devoy (188285), Father Foley (1885-92), Father Hurlin (1892-96), Father Lewis (1896£9Bl. Dean Tubman (1898-1920), Father 1

>—•♦•—< REVIEW OF DISTRICT ACTIVITIES

Hurley (1920-26), Father Kerley (192628), Dean Holley (1928-31). The present staff comprises Father Murphy (parish priest), and Fathers Peoples, Bartley and Menard. charitable organisations The parish is fortunate in its charitable organisations, of which there are two, St. Anne’s Guild and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The former body, which commenced its activities as a mothers’ sewing guild many years ago, has grown into a large body of self-sacrificing women who work untiringly in the cause of charity. The Guild was instituted by one of the religious of the Sacred Heart community under the administration of the then parish priest, the late Dean Tubman. In recent years the calls on the Guild’s resources have been increasingly heavy, but through the generosity of parishioners it has been able to provide much needed assistance to many distressed homes. With the formation of the Central Relief Society, the object of which was to avoid overlapping in the distribution of charity, the Guild merged its interests with those of similar organisations in Timaru. In addition to its work for the relief of distress the Guild has under its care orphans and boarded out children. This work is carried out under the supervision of the Child Welfare Department. Hospital visiting also plays an important part in the work of the Guild.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society, after a long period of inactivity, was resuscitated this year and recommenced work with renewed vigour. Its first effort was the Charity Ball, held in the C.F.C.A. wool store, and the function was an outstanding success, £235 being raised for charitable ends. The Society, which is composed chiefly of the young men of the parish, has thus been able to relieve its sister organisation, St. Anne’s Guild, of some of its responsibilities, and in addition carries out an extensive programme of hospital visiting. parish activities The interests of the young people are extensively catered for by the Catholic Club, which is a large organisation, embracing all social and sports activities of the parish. The Club had its inauguration in 1922, at the instigation of the then parish priest, Father Hurley, and in the ten years of its existence it has increasingly proved its indispensability as one of the church’s activities. The club rooms are in St. Patrick’s Hall, Browne Street, and include a large dancing and social hall with seating accommodation for 450, a large stage equipped with up-to-date scenery and lighting fixtures, as well as a projection booth and cinema machine for moving pictures. In addition there are convenient kitchen, supper room and dressing rooms. Opening from the main room are billiard, card and reading rooms. Affiliated to the Catholic Club are a number of organisations which cater for specialised branches of sport and cultural amusement. St. John's Tennis Club possesses four ashphalt courts, an up-to-date pavilion and a large membership. It enters teams in the South Canterbury Association’s competition each year, and is a very popular institution in the parish. The Celtic Football and Cricket Clubs are affiliated with the Catholic Club and for many years have fielded strong teams in competitive sport in South Canterbury. A prominent body in the parish is St. Patrick’s Miniature Rifle Club, which has its headquarters at St. Patrick's Hall. Practices are held regularly and the Club's teams have competed with a certain amount of success in the Rifle Associations fixtures.

On the cultural side there is the Choral Club, which in the winter arranges musical evenings which are a source of enjoyment to parishioners. The Literary and Debating. Society has

done much to foster the intellectual side of the parish. At regular periods the young men of the parish gather to listen to addresses on world problems by some of their number and later to express their own views on a variety of subjects. Chief interest centres in debates -which are occasionally held with similar societies from neighbouring districts and in these members of the club have proved themselves capable speakers. This department of the church’s activities has proved invaluable in fitting the younger generation for their places in public life.

One of the outstanding bodies in the parish is the Dramatic Club. The Dramatic Club was instituted by Father Barra, during the time Father Hurley was parish priest, and in its early days restricted its efforts to religious performances. In those productions some outstanding talent was

discovered and it was not long before

the Club devoted its attention to sketches and one act plays. In this department of its activities it has been highly successful and for some years teams from the Club have competed with distinction in the Drama League’s annual festival.

A more recently formed society is the Girls’ Club, which meets regularly to sew for missions, and to provide general social facilities for the young women of the parish.

Now, more than ever, is such an institution as the Catholic Club, indispensable in the parish. During the past year, when so many of our young men and youths have been thrown on their own resources by unemployment, the need for a haven of the kind has been most marked, and the Church is gratified that it has been able to provide facilities for the occupation of their enforced leisure on such extensive lines.

WAIMATE Waimate parish was an off-shoot of the central Timaru mission, and although it is believed that Father Chataigner passed through the district at various times early in the 1860’s, it was not till 1865 that Mass was said to a handful of Catholics—about 11 in number. In 1876 the first church was built by Father Goutenoire and in 1881 he was appointed first resident priest. The convent was built and opened free of debt in 1890 and the Sisters of St. Joseph invited to take charge of the school. Then, in 1907, a fine new brick church was begun and by Bishop Grimes. A tower was added three years later and more recent improvements have been a pipe organ and much beautiful work in the sanctuary. The School was opened in 1924 at a cost of £3500.

The parish embraces a wide area including Morven, Makikihi, Hakataramea and Douglas, and is under the administration of the Rev. Father J. O’Connor, S.M. TEMUKA Temuka parish embraces both Kerrytown and Pleasant Point. The present church was erected in 1879 when Father Fauvel was rector. The same priest was responsible for the building of schools at Temuka and Kerrytown and in 1883 the Sisters of St. Joseph began their work. A convent was built in 1883 to be replaced in 1897 by the present building. The Kerrytown convent dates from 1884. The next forward step was the erection of a fine church at Pleasant Point in 1888. In more recent years a new school was built at Temuka, and a fine new convent established at Pleasant Point. The parish priest is the Rev. Father Outtrim, S.M.