AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 25, 19 October 1883, Page 17

AUCKLAND.

(From our own Correspondent.) October 4, 1883 Last Sunday being the Feast of our Lady of Mercy, special services were "held at St. Patrick's Cathedral. At eleven o'clock High Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Father Walter Macdonald ; Father Lenihen conducted the choir, which rendered the music very efficiently. At three o'clock in the afternoon the renewal of baptismal vows took place, which was a very imposing spectacle. Shortly after three o'clock came the Guard of Honour of the Blessed Sacrament, headed by a richly-worked banner ; then followed the Children of Mary, dressed in white, with blue capes and white wreaths and veils, and carrying lighted tapers, aleo preceded by a banner. The children of Mt. St. Mary's Orphanage came next, neatly dressed in blue with white hoods ; also 'the young lady boarders at the Convent, and the whole forming a very pretty sight. When the children were seated His Lordship the Bishop, after reading the usual form of vows, addressed them. He reminded them of the promises made on their behalf at the baptismal font, and which they were assembled to renew. He advised them to reflect often on their baptismal duties, and not to be led away by a love of pleasure, which he was sorry to say was noticeable among young people of the present day. Father Walter Macdonald then addressed those present, thanking the Sisters of Mercy and the members of the Christian Doctrine Society for their attention to the children. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrarrr te»as given, and' several bymiiß having been sung, the ceremony concluded. On the came day at Parnell the Bishop held a Confir- I mation service. There was a very large attendance, and his Lordehip was asssisted by Monsignore Fynes, and the Very Rev. Father Downey^ There were between 60 and 70 confirmed. Before the administration of Confirmation His Lordship addressed some very impressive words to those about to receive it, explaining its nature and the obligations it imposed on them, Great credit is due to Monsignore Fynes and the Sisters of Mercy for the manner in which the children-had been instructed. In the evening there was a very large congregation. During his remarks His Lordship referred to mixed man iages, and civil contract* instead of marriages, which, he said, was a Sacrament of the Church. " He alluded to the unhappy results of these marriages, which affected not only those married, but also their offspring. He then spoke on the subject of education, and advised those attending public schools to be regular in their attendance at Sunday-school. His Lordehip then referred to the cemetery; In going through it he was much .surprised by the inscriptions on_ the tombstones, which merely recorded the name of deceased and

the date of death, . In Catholic countries it was, the role to have some inscription on the stone, such as " pray for the soul of so-and-so." He gave Mbnsignore F.Vnea tnoch praise "for ;the manner in which the affairs of the parish had been' conducted since he had taken charge, some ten years ago. He also praised th,e Sisters of Mercy for their devotion to their duties. • > : ■v- ~i.L: .' ; .-, At St. Benedict's on Sunday morning last, Father Vaggiqli preached a very impressive sermon on the great curse of, indulging too freely in intoxicating liquors. " Se referred to the great 'misery and unbappinesß brought on many families through the great curse of drunkenness. In the evening Father O'Gara preached- an . eloquent sermon on religion, and will continue it next Sunday. The choirj under Miss Donovan, mustered in- good , force, and Mr,. Edwards sang an " O Salvtais" by Herr Schmitt, 'beautifully, his splendid tenor voice being heard'to much advantage. The Bey. Father O'Gara conducts service at the Refuge tor old ' people, on the third Sunday of the month. The- music is supplied by - the Children of Mary, to whom much praise is r due_, for . thjj. mannerin which they render it. The Children of JSlary. irom ,t^e different, parishes bays arranged in turn to -visit the Refuge and .Hospital', every week. The old people look forward to these visits Vi6l :: iiracu t " delight. • ' '■ .'-r v- •;'.'. *n~ ad? if , The Ladies' Committee are working , very. hard. to idake ; ifaer forthcoming bazaar, in aid of St r Benedict's Church £|and v %^QeesSj.j It is to take place about Chiistmas. . T '-,?•■'- ("—( "— l^-i ;.-.j The friends of tbVVery Rev/Father O'Sulllvan \jill glad to hear that he is recovering' rapidly from 'tis late very severe attack of "• typhoid fever. He hopes to be able to 1 get about T itf four or five ' months. ,- , , > .-. zr,-i~ •* .r. . .... ii i,.~, r^v\.'d Another of the usnal monthly .concerns, in aid of^St.^nedicte.. Bailding Fund, came off on lsE "October. ' Theresas a^ry^goo/k B attendance. Mr. Edwards sang " Don't forget me,"^ahd^ *' Goodjbye Sweetheart," and was- encored in both cases. " r The "Misses' Lo^gim/ each sang asolo, and also in a duet. Miss Knight sang "No, Sir-'- -Very' ■ nicely, and was encored. . Mr. Smith's recitations caused much • amusement, and he was recalled several times. Captain Mabott,fMr.. Boyle, Miss Walmsby, and Mr. Lumsden also sang. -.Miw Lucy O'Snllivan played the accompaniments. "These concerts. pay much* „ better in the long-jnn than' the grand concerts, as. there "itfno;; expense attached to them, and it is to be hoped they will be continuedduring the summer, as- they help.ye,ry' much to diminish therlargor. debt on St. Benedict's Church. „ -., „ v .-. j>: !;J ->c There are at present on view in Messrs. Phillips and Son/s, Queen street, 'some beautiful paper flowers', the work of Mrs. "James_Stoqart. It would be very hard to distinguish them from real 6nes,; r so J beatl'tii ' fully are they done. Mrs. Stodartvbas obtained several 'medala'for' work of this kind. She has fcindly given them to be drawn, ;byi art 1 union in aid of St. Benedict's Building Fund. The, drawing, v wilL, take place in about a month, and the tickets ought to get* a ready^ sale; as the flowers are real works of art. ' "".'.' The lectures recently delivered by -the Rev. Father Le MenanVi des Chesnais, S.M., have, been .printed in pamphlet form-andtound in <' cloth. The Bight Bey, Dr. Luck, 0.5.8., has written an introduction, . in which he says, ' f We would wish to see them in every r Catho.lic house, and read by the Catholic youth." -' , ■ . . , , The "cemetery Eviction" case, which has ocenpied; s6* much' 1 pnblic attention of late, ended in the accused being discharged.-" n ~ CLTJEiCOBN." "