Roman Catholic Presbytery

Waikato Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1440, 28 April 1914, Page 5

Roman Catholic Presbytery

VISIT OF BISHOP CLEARY. N THE OPENING CEREMONY. The new Roman Catholic presbytery—a large ferro-concrete building, fitted with every convenience, and erected by Mr W. G. Care at a cost of about £9oo—was officially opened on Sunday morning by the Bishop of Auckland, Rev. Dr Cleary, who was assisted by Dean Darby, of Hamilton and Rev Father Kehoe. The function commenced at. 11 o’clock with. a MissaCantata, Sung by Dean Darby. The singing of the mass was beautifully rendered by the Catholic Choir from Matamata with the leadership of Mr Donald Pike—Mrs Lundon being organist* His Lordship the Bishop preached a powerful and, appealing sermon on The Church” tracing her history through trials and opposition .from the beginning down to present day. He was particularly interesting in his references to the modem AntiChristian methods and utterances of the so-called clever men of the 19th and 20th Centuries. At the conclusion of the Sermon a procession was formed and the Bishop and Clergy carried out the rite and blessing of the new building. Father Murphy, on behalf of the Parishioners and himself paid a well merited tribute of praise and esteem to the Bishop for coming to preside at the function and, for his beautiful address. He also thanked the peo* pie for their whole hearted interest in the temporalities of the Church locally. The offertories amounted to £75 and were devoted to tne extinction of the debt on the new Presbytery. In the evening Rev. Father Kehoe a visitor ( from Irelandj preached and the Bishop gave Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament. This week a number of ladies are arranging the furnishing, etc,, of the new Presbytery,, and Father Murphy takes possession on Saturday next. Most of the furnishing of the house is being done gratis by the ladies of the congregation, It is noceworthy to state that the cost of the residence has already been largely subscribed to, and with Sunday’s collection of £75, there will only be a very small deficit.