NEW WING IS OPENED AT MISSION CONVENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19109, 30 June 1930, Page 4

NEW WING IS OPENED AT MISSION CONVENT.

MANY SPEAKERS PRAISE GOOD WORK OF SISTERS.

Many tributes to the devoted work of the Sisters of the Notre Dame des Missions were paid at the opening yesterday afternoon of a new wing at the convent in Ferry Road. This wing, which is attached to the main convent building, will contain both classrooms and dormitories for the pupils. The opening ceremony was wholly of a religious character. His Lordship the Bishop, preceded by the cross-bearer and altar-boys, walked in procession through the building, blessing the place Following this ceremony the Bishop and prominent members of the clergy and laity addressed the very large crowd which attended.

Bishop Brodie referred to the vast amount of work the Sisters had done. It was now sixty-two years since the first four nuns of the Order arrived in Christchurch. They began work under great difficulties, but they had a loyal and generous people behind them and rapidly forged ahead. They could not appreciate too much the zeal and selfsacrifice with which the Sisters had carried on their work. He hoped that the response to this appeal would encourage the Sisters to even greater work. He congratulated the contractors on the result of their work. For The Common Good. The Rev Dr J. A. Kennedy also congratulated the Sisters on their work. They were engaged in a work which was for the common good, he said, and every member of the Catholic community felt he had a moral responsibility to help them. The Sisters were not content to remain stationary. They had to keep abreast of the times. The building which they were now dedicating was vitally necessary to their work. Such surroundings must have a decided effect on the character of the pupils. From an educational viewpoint girls should not be placed on a lower level than that of the boys. Woman's influence was incalculable, and a good moral education was of the utmost value. The Sisters did not aim at turning out “ blue stockings,” but aimed to give the girls a cultural education, one which would make them useful at home and in the other walks of life. The Stained Window. The Rev Fathers T. A. Gilbert (rector of St Bede’s College), J. O’Connell (Nelson), A. M’Donald (St Mary’s) and J. M’Monagle (administrator of the Catholic parish) also referred to the work of the Sisters in the cause of Catholic education and appealed to the people .to support the Catholic secondary schools. Debt of £14,000. Mr W. Hayward and Mr P. O’Connell expressed appreciation of the Sisters’ work, on behalf of the laity. In all £.50,000 had been spent on the block of land on which the building was erected, said Mr Hayward. On the present building the Sisters were £14,000 in debt. He appealed to the people to give generously, and to those who could afford it to lend money to the Sisters at low interest.