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New Zealand Tablet, Volume 51, Issue 51, 22 April 1898, Page 27

Continued from page 6. (From our Temuka Correspondent.)

The most successful week's mission, judging exteriorly, ever held in the parish came to a close on the 18th. The mission was opened on Easter Sunday by the Rev. T. Shearman, who was joined by the Rev. D. Mangan, Superior of the Mission. On the first day the Rev. Father preached on " What does it profit a man," etc. This sermon, which was earnest and pointed, produced excellent effects during the Mission. The Mission services during the week were • At 9. children's Mass, followed by sermon : at 3 o'clock, instruction to children ; 7 o'clock, Rosary, sermon, and Benediction. Though all the instructions and sermons were both able and eloquent, some call for special mention. On Friday night, when the parish was consecrated to the Mother of God, Father Mangan preached to the largest congregation ever assembled in St. Joseph's, many having to stand. Oar Lady's Altar was artistically decorated and brilliantly illuminated. The veteran preacher defended the doctrine of the Church on the Blessed Virgin Mary in a very able manner, and dealt in a very effective way with those who impute erroneous motives to the veneration of the Mother of God by Catholics. On Saturday night Father Shearman preached a practical and impressive sermon on " Sin." At the 10 o'clock Mass Father Mangan preached on " Faith," a sermon noted for its simplicity and lucidity. In the evening, the same Rev. Father preached an earnest sermon on " Drunkenness." The Rev. Father took occasion to say " good-bye " to these amongst whom he had laboured during the week, and many were moved to tears, so attached to him have all become. He spoke of the kindness with which he had been treated by Father Fauvel and Father Galerne, and paid a high tribute to the hospitality with which the Order had been treated by the Marist Fathers since their foundation in the colonies. They had indeed been true fathers to them. While speaking on bad books, Father Mangan exhorted all to read good literature, and urged every family to become subscribers to that excellent journal, the N.Z. Tablet. No Catholic household should be without it. The Mission services have been largely attended, and the consolations which the Holy Catholic Church offers have been taken advantage of by some who have not been to their duty for many years. At the close of the Mission Father Mangan imparted the Holy Father's blessing to the people.

Father Mangan returned to Christchurch to join Father Barry in conducting a mission in St. Mary's.

The Rev. Father Shearman opened a week's mission at Pleasant Point on the 17th, which is being largely attended. He is such a universal favourite that even persons who have attended the mission at Temuka have followed hiui. The mission services closed on Monday with a Requiem Mass for the souls of the departed friends of all those present, when Father Mangan preached a powerful sermon on the subject of Purgatory and the devotion for the souls therein.