CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART, NORTHEAST VALLEY, DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 48, 4 September 1891, Page 31

CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART, NORTHEAST VALLEY, DUNEDIN.

The corner-stone of this church was laid by the Most Rev. Dr. Moran to the Pontificate Romanum on Sunday afternoon — the pVery Rev. Fatteis Mackay and O'Leary, aud the Bey. Fathers Lynch Adm., Chervier, S.M, O'Donnell (Port Chalmers), O'Neil (Milton), Hunt, O'Donnell (Milton), Murphy, and O'Neil (Duneiin), assisting in the ceremonies. The site of the church, which consists of something over an acre of ground, is situated on the main road, about a quarter of a mile below the botanical Gardens, and is very appropriate for the purposes required — abundance of room alsa existing for the erection, in due time, of a school and presbytery. A little time before the appointed nour a procession was formed at Kirk's Hall — also on the main road, and opposite the Qardens — where for some years Mass has been celebrated every Sunday and holiday of oblige, tion for the Catholic congregation of the district, and where the members cf the H.A.C.8.5., and the boys of the Christian Brothers' schools had mustered for the occasion. Tha Hibernians weie headed by their banner, and wore their regalia, and the boys wore the pink and blue sashes of their respective sodalities, and also carried banners, the whole forming a very picturesque and imposing array aB they marched along tha road to the grounds. The foundations of the walls, laid in concreate, and the area enclosed by them had been roofed in by the upper portions of two marqnee tents, one Bhading the space for the nave, and the other that for the transepts and apse, bo that the people assembled might be sheltered from inclement weather should Buch preTail, which, fortunately was not the case. The protection, however.from the bright sunshine was very welcome. The officers of the H.A.C.B.S.i the choir of St Joseph's Cathedral, and a boys' choir of the Sacred Heart, occupied the north transept, and the school-boys were conducted by the Christian Brothers to an elevated place at the rear ; the general congregation, which was very numerous, selecting such places as they choße on the principle of first come first served. A hymn to the Sacred Heart was sung by the boys of the school and the united choirs stan Hog within the enclosure, and then the Bishop, preceded by cross-bearer, acolytes, and the very rev and rev clergy present, entered the foundations and blessed and laid the stone in the manner prescribed. The antiphons and psalms, as well as the Litany of the Saints, were chanted by the priests, the choir of the St Joseph's cathedral rendering the responses, and also chanting the alternate verses of the hymn " Veni Creator " and of the psalms, with the exception of the psalm '• Miserere," of which the alternate verses were chanted in harmony by the choir of the Sacred Heart, the boys doing infinite credit to the training bestowed on them. The inscription on the sione was the following :—": — " Hunc lapidem primarium in honorem sanctissimi cordis Domini Nostri Jesu Chrtiti posuit lllustrissimus et Reverendissimus Dominus Patritivs Moran, S.T.D., Episoopus Dunedinensis., 111,, ad Kal Sept., MDCCCXCI, Leone XIII., Pontifice Maximo ; Victoria Regina Anglics regnante ; architecto, Francisco GPetre ; conductore operum, Dauiele G. Woods." In the cavity beneath were placed copies respectively of St Joseph's Prayer Book, the N.Z. Tablet, the Otago Daily Times, the Globe, and the Evening Star, together with medals of the Sacred Heart, our Lady of Perpetual Succour, St Joseph, and St Patrick. When the ceiemonies had concluded with the circumambulation of the foundations and the chanting at the corner-stone of the hymn, "Veni Creator," the Bißhop addressed the congregation :—: — His Lordabip said it was a duty imposed upen him by the proscribed ritual to call on the pecple present to come forward and contribute their offerings. In order to discharge this obligation he now invited them to come forward and place their offerings on the stoneThey were not expected to give much, but if everyone gave a little the offerings would reach a large amount. He hoped the result would be that the church would be opened free of debt. This was a matter of great importance. For years the erection of the church had been their heart's desire. They had prayed to see this day and now it was arrived, It devolved upon them, therefore, to return thanks, to show themselves grateful by coming forward to make their offerings, :nd, even though the offerings might be small, they would bring the work to a successful termination. The church would be erected in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The heart was the symbol and seat of zeal and love. The Sac-ed Heart, symbolised the divine love, that had induced our Divine Lord to leave His heaven and assume human nature, and die for us on the cross. The gates of heaven had been closed against us by the sin cf our first parents. Oar personal transgressions also had closed them against up. It was not necessary that he (the most rev. speaker) should dwell at length on the subject. They knew that they owed everything to the love of their Divine Lord. They owed everything to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. They were bound to recognise the love of God for men end they must recognise their own obligations. Nothing could be more pleasing to Almighty G^d than the consecration of a church to the Sacred Heart. It was thus proved that they recognised and

appreciated the tjreat lore of God for them, and were moved by th« love of their Divine Redeemer, and corresponded as far as possible with it. He (the Bishop) would not trespass any longer on their time. He knew that they had come 'here at considerable inconverience to themselves. He would not, therefore, delay them, but would invite them to come forward and place their offer, ings on the stone. If everyone present gavo a little, the result would be a large sum, and the church would be opened free of debt. He would remark that, they were all under great obligations to Father Lynch, for the efforts made by him to erect this church. His zeal had been instrumental in collecting a considerable sum He (the most rev. preacher) had no doubt that the collection to-day would be enough to erect and opan the chuich fr«i of debt — a thing which he had greatly at heart. He had a great horror of debt, especially ia connection with a building dedicated to Almighty God. The Bishop added that he himself would commence the offerings. He regretted that he could not give as much as he would desire. The calls on him were numerous and they were alwayß increasing. People seemed anxious now to build churches in all directions— this was a matter for rejoicing, but it necessarily diminished his means for contributing to any particular fund. His Lordship concluded by laying a cheque for £10 on tbe stone. During the course of the collection, in which the congregation present proved themselves very generouß— exceeding every sxpectation, the Bey. Father Lynch held up for admiration a handsome chalice and patena, presented by the children of the North Bast Valley —through a very small boy, who was also introduced by the rer r gentleman to the congregation. He further announced that the boys of the Christian Brothers' schools had given to the church a pair of ivorine statues— one being that of the Sacred Heart; that the girls of St. Joseph's school had given a sanctuary lamp ; the Catholic pupils of the Dominican convent school, two sets of vestments richly embroidered by themselves ; the Dominican nuns a humeral veil for Benediction, and the children of Mary a complete set of altar linen. The offerings laid on the stone amounted to the liberal sum of £200.