MISSIONS OF THE REDEMPTORIST FATHER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 18, 19 February 1892, Page 31

MISSIONS OF THE REDEMPTORIST FATHER.

On Sunday the Most Rev Dr Moran closed a successful mission given by the Bey Father Hegarty, C.SS.B., at Switzers. His Lordship administrated the Sacrament of Confirmation to 15 recipients, mostly adults. An address was afterwards presented to the Bishop by the Catholics of the district, in which they made appreciative allusion to his Lordship's services to religion and Catholic education. They also expressed their indignation at the attack made upon him by the Otago Daily Timet, declaring themselves determined to follow his advice as to the Block Vote, and to refuse their votes to auy candidate or any party denying aid to the Catholic schools. In replying to the address, the Bishop, among the rest, ridiculed the idea that aid to Catholic schools must destroy the present education system, and taunted those who adopted such a line of argument with poverty of intellect

The Catholics at Switzers, we may add, are an iudepetdent aad enthusiastic body of people. Their church wai far too small to accommodate the congregation assembled there on Sunday. They •re, besides, anxious to have the aer?ices of tht Church more frequently performed among them, and we have no doubt that arrangemeats will be made ere long to comply with their desires in this respect.

On the conclusion of the ceremonies at Switzers the Bishop, accompanied by the Rev Fathers Hegarty and Newport, left for Gore, starting at 230 p.m., and arriviDg at their destination at 6.30 p.m., the distance covered being 35 miles. A mission was afterwards opened at Gore by Father Hegarty, everything promising for it a notable success. The local paper, we may mention, has taken its cue from the Daily Times, and uttered a second-hand Philippic, baßed on the thunders of that fulminating organ, against the Bishop. We fancy his Lordship will have a word or two to say in reply next Sunday.

Nor is it much to be wondered at that the devotees of an unmitigated and despotic Secularism should show signs of fear. Everywhere (the agitation is prospering, and everywhere the Catholic people Beem clearly to understand the lioe of policy recommended to them by Bishop Moran, and to be resolved to carry it out to the letter. If they do so, it is beyond all doubt that they will effectively make their mark and force the Government to accede to their just demands — hinc illce lachryma.

On Monday the Bishop went to Wyndham, where a mission was dosed by Father Mangan. On Monday next, the 22nd inst, his Lordship will return to Dunedin.