Archdiocese of Wellington.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 3, 14 May 1897, Page 27

Archdiocese of Wellington.

(From our own correspondent.)

May 8, 1897. As I intimated last week his Grace the Arohhishop has arrived in Sydney, where he is detained on business, so that he will not be in Wellington before the middle of June. It is intended to accord his Grace a hearty reception on his arrival here, and with that object a meeting of ladies and gentlemen connected with both the city parishes will be held some time during the week. The essential details of the reception have not been as yet definitely decided upon, but judging from the enthusiastic manner in which the project has been taken up by prominent Catholics it is safe to say that it will be worthy o' the Empire City, and of the distinguished, prelate who rules over the archdiocese. The reception wll not be confined to the Catholics of Wellington, for I understand that the whole of the archdiocese will be invited to take part in the proceedings. As I previously mentioned his Grace, during his visit to Ireland secured the services of some young priests for this archdiocese, and I now hear has adopted several young students, who will later on, after their ordination, come out to work in this Colony.

In speaking of the Archbishop it may not be out of place here to refer to the reception which he received at St. Mary's College, Dundalk, on the 12th March last. His Grace arrived at the college on the evening of the 12th, where a cordial welcome awaited him and on the following morning held an ordination in the college chapel, when the Rev. William Johnson, of Warrenpoint, received minor orders. The same rev. gentleman was ordained subdeacon the following Sunday and a few days afterwards the order of deacon was conferred on him. During the visit of his Grace to tha college an address of welcome was presented to him by the students, in the course of which they expressed the deep sentiment of respact and reverence which they felt for his Grace's personal office. They said it was not the first time that his Grace had honoured St. Mary's with his presence, and they hoped the present visit hai recalled many happy recollections of earlier days. They assured his Grace of the interest with which they followed the progress, civil and religious, of their kith and kin in his great archdiocese and prayed that for many years his Grace would be spared to perfect the givnc thing* which he had begun in far-off New Zealand. His Grace in replying thanked the students for the wannUi an 1 affection of their greeting and said he was glad to have the oppor-

tunity of acknowledging the great debt, which they in New Zealand owed to St. Mary's College. He said that in Wellington they had a very flourishing college, St. Patrick's, the students of which by their pluck and energy, held the field against rival competitors, not alone in public examinations, but also in the football and cricket field. St. Patrick's college owed a great deal to St. Mary's, it having supplied them with the founders of the college — the Very Rev. Dr. Watters, the present rector, and the late Father Carolin, whilst at the present day the majority of the professors there have received the training at Dundalk. His Grace referred then at length to the many advantages of colonial life, especially in New Zealand, and assured his listeners, that should a student of St. Mary's find himself in Wellington he could count on a most hearty ana brotherly welcome. It is needless to add that the eloquent address of the Archbishop was listened to with the deepest attention and at its conclusion, the speaker was most enthusiastically applauded. During his stay in Dundalk Archbishop Redwood visited the Redemptorist Monastery, Dominican Priory and St. Patrick's Cathedral. He also paid a visit to His Eminence Cardinal Logue. On March 17th he conferred the order of priesthood on the Rev. Father Johnson, who accompanied him to Sydney. Father Johnson is expected to arrive in Wellington on Monday next. The Right Rev. Dr. Grimes, Bishop of Christchurch, passed through Wellington on Friday on his way to Sydney, en route to Rome. A meeting of the local branch of the Irish National Federation was held in St. Patrick's Hall on Monday evening, Mr. B. Carrigeen, J.P., in the chair. It was reported that upwards of £90 had been promised towards the amount which it is intended to forward for the f undß of the Irish National Party. It was decided to make an effort to collect the balance of £100 before the date of the outgoing San Francisco mail.