CONVENT OF MERCY, GORE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 21, 20 September 1895, Page 15

CONVENT OF MERCY, GORE.

BBOEPTION OF POSTULANTS.

(Mataura Ensign, August 10) A CEBEMONT of consinerable interest to tbe Roman Catholic portion of tbe community took place at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament Bast Gore, on Sunday morning las', the occasion being the reception of two postulants into the Order. There was a very large congregation, and the ceremony took place immediately after the 11 o'clock Mass. This Mass was sung by the Very Bey Father Mackiy (Oaroaru) Adm., Fathers O'Donnell and O'Neill being deacon and sub-deacon respectively. The " Concone " mass was sung by ihe choir with gool effect, the soloists aeing Mesdames Neave and Hinton. " O Salutaris," snog by the former, was excellently rendered. During the offertory " Sancta Maria " was given with much taste •nd feeling by Mrs Hinton and Mr Bowler. At the conclusion of the Mass Father O'Donnell expressed the thanks of the church to the choir, especially to Mr Brett (the condnctor and organist) and those of other denominations who had assisted in the musical portion of the service. The procession, preceded by a cross-bearer (Miss Eveline Johnston), then entered the church, the two postulants being attended by two tiny train-bearers (Missei Mollie Carr and Pearl Fleming), with the reverend mother bringing up the rear. While the procession was slowly filing np the aisle, the choir sang « O Glorioea Virginum," followed by the plaintive chant " In Bxitu Israel." After they had answered the usual questions satisfactorily, the Very Bey Father Mackay invested the postulants with the religious dress of the Order. The •« Begnuo. Mundi " was then chanted with good effect, and the received novices prostrated while the magnificent hymn " Veni Creator Spiiitus " was being rendered with great solemnity. The ceremony concluded with the jubilant pgalm " Ecce Quam Bonum," the two notices being warmly embrased by the other nuna present. The names of the Sisters received are Miss Mary Finerty, daugther of Mr L. Finerty, of Invercargill (in religion Sistar Mary Alphonsus), and Miss Nellie O'Donnell, daughter of Mr D. O'Donnell, Cloyne, County Cork, Ireland (in religion Sister Magdalen). There was another crowded congregation in the evening when the Very Bey Father Mackay preached an eloquent sermon appropriate to the occasion of the morniDg's ceremony. After the sermon, th. choir gave with much spirit the •< Quid Betribuam." During Benediction the « O Salutaris " was excellently rendered by Mrs Neave and Mrs Bowler, who, after the Litany, sang the " Tantum Brgo (Bossi)— a splendid composition-ia a highly artistic manner. Mr Brett presided at the organ during the day with bis wellknown ability, and all are to be congratulated upon the marked success attending the celebration.