THE MISSION AT DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 251, 22 February 1878, Page 12

THE MISSION AT DUNEDIN.

This mission terminated on Sunday evening last. ' It's course was marked by an extraordinary success : the daily instructions were' attended by numerous congregations, those in the evenings particu- ■ larly being densely crowded. The confessionals were occupied during many hours of the day and the communicants were many. On Sunday atthe conclusion of the eleven o'clock Mass the Sacrament'of confirmation was administered to 100 recipients, for the most part adults, and his Lordship the Bishop of the diocese delivered an eloquent address suitable to the occasion. The total number of those persons who had during the week preceding taken the pledge from the Rev. Missionary is computed to have amounted to about 2600, and on the afternoon of Sunday a procession was formed of a portion of them in the grounds attached to St. Joseph'sChurch. The order of the procession was as follows : — The Boys of the Christian Brother's Schools, preceded by the Banner of the Sacred Heart, The Girls of St. Joseph's 'Schools, in white dresses and veils, The Boarders of the Convent High School, dressed in black, The Children of Mary, preceded by the banner of the Blessed Virgin, and wearing the blue cloaks and white veils of their sodality. The Unmamed Men, The Unmarried Females, Carriage containing the Rev. Fathers Hennebery, Sheehan and O'Leary, (the Eev. Father Larkin was accidentally detained, and, inconsequence, followed the procession on foot.) The Married Men, The Married Ladies. In all about 1200 or 1400 persons took part in the demonstration. The line, according as' it was formed in the grounds of the Church, went out at the Rattray-street gates, and halted in front of the Bishop's house, where, when all were assembled, they received the blessing of his Lordship, who stood upon a terrace in his garden. The procession then proceeded in an orderly manner down Rattrayst. into Princes st., and as far as the Octagon, which it crossed to thie entrance of George-street, where it turned, and passing into Stuartstreet, returned by Dowling-street into the grounds of the church and broke up there. A numerous body of spectators lined the streets, but nothing occurred in any way to interrupt the peaceable course of the march. Each one who took part in the procession wore a green scarf or ribbon, to which was attached one of Father Hennebery's temperance medals, and the bright colour, chosen for its brightness and pleasing appearance by the Missionary, and exclusive of all national or political significance, together with the dresses of the young girls of the sodality of the Children of Mary, and of the schools, as well as the gay banners, blue, pink, and green, helped to enliven the aspect of the multitude. The temperance banneis were seven in number, and were borne at intervals along the line, each of them having suitable inscriptions, as follows :—lst.: — Ist. " Peace on earth to men <of good will. Reverse — " Glory be to the Most High." 2nd.' " Temperance for evermore." Reverse — " In hoc signo vinces," with" a ciross and "Faith of our fathers living still." 3rd. "Young temperance crusader." Reverse — " Faith, hope, and charity." 4th. " Regina sine labe concepts; ora pro nobis." sth. " Death to drunkenness." Reverse—"Be sober and watchful." 6th. "Religion that calls us." Reverse — " Hail glorious cause." 7th. " Fruits of temperance, prosperity, comfort, joy, happiness." Reverse — " Roman Catholic Total Abstinence Society," with a cross and I.H.S. - In the evening, at seven o'clock, the last instruction was given, the subject being "Final -Perseverance. Before ho commenced it, however, the Missionary made some remarks, as he had done on other occasions throughout the Mission, with respect to the temporal affairs of the Catholic district. He spoke of' the necessity that existed for the maintenance of schools, and pointed out that the buildings at presentstanding were insufficient for the purposes required. He recommended that the erection of a new church should be immediately taken in hands, and that the present structure should be given over to be adapted for school requirements. He took the opportunity, in the absence of the Bishop, to pass a warm encomium upon his Lordship, whom he considered to rank high, if not highest, amongst the many prelates he had come into contact with throughout his life in the priesthood, His Lordship was a Bishop who would do honour to any city in Europe, and nothing that his people could do to ensure his continuance and. comfort amongst them would be too much. He announced that the Bishop meant to leave Dunedin for a time on the following day, and prayed for his safe return, 1 to which the congregation responded by a hearty Amen. At the termination of the instruction, a renewal of their baptismal vows was made by all the Catholics

present, a ceremony which was impressive and beautiful in the extreme. The church was densely thronged, and) with few exceptions, each one there had come provided with a wax candle. This was now lighted and held up with extended arm, while the people repeated aloud the promises made at their baptism. The effect was wonderful, both to the sight and hearing, for the blaze of light assumed the appearance of a mist gemmed with a thousand stars, but was not more overpowering to the eyes than was to the ears the fervour with which the people made the responses — " I do," " I will," — from their hearts. The Papal benediction was then given, so far as it could be under the existing circumstances of the Pope's decease. Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament followed, and the Mission was terminated.