ST. MARY'S CONVENT, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 261, 3 May 1878, Page 15

ST. MARY'S CONVENT, WELLINGTON.

(From a Correspondent.) The solemn and Religious Profession of three young ladies, and the reception of seven postulants took place on the 23rd hist, at the Convent of Mercy, Wellington. At nine.o'clock the Profession Service begau. Mass was celebrated by his Lordship, Dr. Redwood, assisted by the Rev. Fathers McGuinness and Kerrigan. In the course of the ceremony his Lordship addressed the sisters, who were to make their vows in a few beautiful words. Taking for his text the vcr«e— " Offer to God a sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows to the Host High,"' he pointed out with his accustomed eloquence, the resemblance which the immolation of themselves, that they were about to make by their ro--^ligious Profession, bore to the sacrifice made by our Lord on I lie Cross to His Heavenly Father. He spoke of the Gratitude to God that should fill their hearts, when the thought of "His goodness iv giving them so sublime a vocation as that of a Sitter of Mercy, called to spend her lifcyas His immortal life on earth was spcut, iv the service of the poor and the sick, and in the ins! ruction of .His chosen representatives, the little ones of His flock. The ceremony concluded by his Lordship imparting his episcopal benediction. The young ladies who thcu finally bade adieu to the world were Sister ' Mary Regis Ward, choir sister.; Sister Veronica Walsh, lay sister ; Sister Francis Dwyer, lay sister. The interesting ceremony of Religious Reception, or conferring the holy habit of religion, took place in the afternoon. His Lordship again officiated' and was assisted by the 'Rev. Fathers McGuinness and Kerrigan. The ceremony was a more than usually interesting one, from the fact that the seven young ladies to be received had the courage and devotion to separate themselves from home, country, relatives, and friends, and with true missionary zeal, had come out to tins distant colony to consecrate themselves to the service of God. His Lordship again preached a very eloquent and impressive sermon, suitable to the occasion. The function was closed with the Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament. The beautiful music, proper to the ceremonial, was performed by the community, assisted by some of their pupils. The names of the happy young ladies iv the world were Misses Kennedy, Hall, Molloy, Coakley, Lanktree, and Flynn, called in religion in the same order Sisters Mary Augustine, Columba, Benignius, Bcrkmans, I'atricius, Borgia, and Bridget. On the Bth inst., at the request of the Rev. Mother, His Lordship. Dr. Redwood, accompanied by the Rev. Fathers McGuiuness, Yard in, and Kerrigan, held a quarterly examination of the Young Ladies' School, on the different subjects, religious and secular, which they are studying. _ In the intervals between the examination of the various classes, selections of instrumental and vocal music were performed, in a manner that bore witness to the possession of fail- musical ability on the part of the pupils, and to much careful and paiustaking labour on the part of the sisters. His Lordship expressed himself "very well pleased with the progress of the school, in the few months of the year already passed— and said that lie was happy to be able to tell the pupils that in regard of some of the most important branches of secular education, they had reached a high standard, as compaied with other schools in the colony. He kindly promised to attend again at the close of the next term, to test their continued advancement ; when he will compare the programme and result of die examination with those of the one they have just passed. He proposed as subjects in which he wished them particularly to excel, the study of Language and History, as being most fitted to improve the minds of young ladies, and to teach them the difficult art of good and easy conversation. The great efforts the Sisters have lately made to remove the obstacles which hindered the progress of their schools are beginning to meet with the success they deserve. The extensive and "handsome Gothic building which replaces their former school is the adnmation of all who visit it, on account of its spacious schoohooni, study hall, large and airy dormitories and lavatory. It affords ample accommodation for upwards of fifty boarders, and a much larger number of day pupils. The teaching staff has also greatly gained in the numbers of efficient Sisters and Postulants, who, won by the Mother Assistant of the Convent, and by the urgent invitation of the late lamented l!ev. Father Petitjcan, wiitton only a few days betore his death, have lauded here since Christmas, to work in Wellington for the eternal welfare of the Church ; eager thereby to share in the especial blessing which our late saintly Holy Father Pius IX. granted at the request of the same good Mother Assistant, to all who should, either with personal or pecuniary assistance, aid in the good work for which her mission was undertaken. The course of education given in St. Mary's select school, now •comprises the usual branches of English, French, and German literature ; music, singing, drawing, painting, the use ot the globes, plain jvnd ornamental needlework, with all els.? that may be useful to complete the education of a young lady- There is also attached to the Convent a middle class Day School and a School for Infants, both of which receive the best of instruction from most efficient teachers. The Te Aro district also possesses a school taught by these Sisters, at which the daily attendance of one hundred and fifty children best testifies to the success of the Sisters' efforts- among them. The community at large may congratulate themselves in having in their midst the advantages that are'offered by the Sisters' excellent schools : but it should not be forgotten at what a price they ha\ c been erected. A debt of £3000 still remains upon ,the new building in Hill street. The people of Wellington have ever exhibited towards the fcsisters a marked UiuLiebb and sympathy ; particularly at times when their aid and support were practically needed— and this grateful acknowledgement includes not only Catholics— but also very many others, wlio though differing in faith, yet, seeing the good to be accomplished, helped the Sisters in no small degree. It is to be hoped that all who appreciate the blessings, ensured to the rising generation by the useful and solid education which these good Bisters untiringly *lww to impart, wll come fcrwtf aow fcg theft assistance aaO, shore

in the furtherance of their great work by contributing towards the liquidation of their oppressive debt.