MISSION AT NEW PLYMOUTH,

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 238, 23 November 1877, Page 17

MISSION AT NEW PLYMOUTH,

(From a Sjtecial Correxpondcnt.)

The Rev. Father Hennebcry, accompanied by His Lordship the Bishop of Wellington, arrived overland from Wanganni on Thursday, Ist November, much fatigued after a somewhat rough journey. That same evening, after Vespers, Father Hennebery opened his mission in an exceedingly well-timed and practical address, in which ho explained the object and the intention of the Mission. He spoke for over an hour to a veiy attentive audience, amongst whom, he said, he was pleased to see present a young lady who had taken part m one of his previous missions. It must be borne in mind that the Catholic community in this district are not very numerous, and of whom a large proportion are scatAjgd throughout the country districts, notwithstanding which the attcii^p throughout the Mission was of a most cheering and encouraging character, large numbers who attended having to come as much as twelve miles in order to do so in very stormy weather, leaving their daily avocations at great sacrifice to themselves. And grcatwere the results effected by the eloquence of that " Man of CJod, as our Rev. Bishop has been pleased to style him ; many hikewarm adherents have been drawn closer within the fold, large numbers have received the Holy Sacrament, and over 300 have taken the pledge of total abstinence. After the celebration of Mass on Sunday, 4th inst., the sacrament of Confirmation was administered to a large number of persons by Bishop ltedwood, on the conclusion of which he delivered an eloquent discourse on " Faith." The Mission was brought to a close on Tuesday, Oth November, when lather Hennebery preached his final sermon on " Perseverance." Amongst other pertinent observations, the rev. gentleman pointed out the dangers incident to young people in their time of life, and showed how the same might be avoided. He eloquently expounded the advantages of temperance, exhorting all to keep their pledge. An open •• confession of faith " was then made by renewing the vows taken at the baptismal font, and the Bishop having addressed the congregation, the Mission was brought to a close by the Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament. His Lordship and the Kcv. Missionary left by the s.s. Taranaki for Christcluuch, eta Wellington, on (Saturday. New Plymouth, Nov. 12, 1877.