HAWARDEN CHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 19, 31 August 1888, Page 7

HAWARDEN CHURCH.

(From the Bangiora Standard.) Among the events of the present week to the Catholic residents in the northern portion of tbe North Canterbury district has been the visit of Bishop Grimes. The occasion was for a confirmation to be held by the Bishop at the pretty little church of Ha warden— one of the latest additions to the church edifices of Catholicism. Tbe Bishop left Christchurch by the early morning train on Monday last, accompanied by the. Rev. Father Gumming and the Missioner of tbe district, the Rev. Father O'Connor, and on arrival at Waikari th«y were met by Mr. O'Carroll, and in a four-in-hand were driven to Heathstock, where the ecclesiastical party became the guests of Mrs. Lance till Wednesday morning. On that morning they were driven back to the Hawarden church, which is situated some four miles north of Waikari. The congregation presented an address to the Bishop. The eleven o'clock Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father O'Connor, and twenty children received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Afterwards his Lordship addressed tbe children, dwelling at length on the Sacrament they had received, and the truly Christian life they were called onto lead. His Lordship and companions were driven to Horsley Downs station, where they lunched. They returned to Christchurch by the evening train, no doubt well pleased with the kind reception they had met with on their visit to the Hawarden Church district. The following is the address presented :— " Address of the Catholic laity of Hawarden to his Lordship Dr. Grlmea, Bishop of Christchurch. " My Lord,— We, the representatives of the Catholics of the district of Hawarden, beg to return you our most cordial thanks for your coming amongst us. We trust that by the mercy of Almighty God your Lordship will long be spared to minister to tbe spiritual wants of your people, and that every year will see us more faithful to our duties as Catholics. It is our hope that in time your Lordship will be able to send us a resident priest, a blessing to which we all look forward with tbe greatest pleasure, especially as we have so many little children growing up amongst us. Our devoted parish priest, Father O'Connor, has so large a district, the distances of which are bo very great that it is impossible for him to be much amonget us. Thus it happens that many things must be left undone. Now the wants of our little ones can never be attended to in the Government schools, and unless that religion is impressed upon them when quite young, they are liable to fall away from the true faith in older years. Trusting that j our Lordship will be able to give a favourable anßwer whenever you are in a position to do so to our petition, we beg to subscribe ourselves, your faithful and respectful children in Christ, — Mrs. Lance, John O'Carroll, Patrick Dooly, Thomas Hoban, John Bolger,