PAEROA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 18, 3 May 1900, Page 5

PAEROA.

» BLESSING AND OPENING OF ST. JOSEPH'S CONVENT SCHOOL. (From a correspondent.) Paeroa, April 22. A welcome of an exceedingly cordial character was tendered to the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart in the Criterion Theatre, Paeroa, on April 18. The theatre was splendidly decorated for the occasion with ferns, evergreens, and mottoa of welcome. On the arrival of the nuns an address of welcome was read to them by Miss Kathleen M'Namara and presented to them, along with handsome bouquets by the reader, jointly with Misses Rose Power and Linda Beattie. A capital performance was then given by a large number of children, under the direction of Miss Milgrew. The Grecian danee — a decided and graceful novelty introduced locally by Mra. Brennan— quite oaptivated the audience, and the whole performance achieved a success which must have been very gratifying to the ladies who got it up. Father Hackett returned thanks on behalf of the nuns in the course of a happy speech in which he gave much good advice to the children, and pointed out the excellent nature of the secular instruction which would be given by the nuns. The solemn blessing and opening of above school took plaoe to* day, and was attended with most satisfactory results. Mass was celebrated at 11. The choir rendered the music in splendid style. Miss Power presided at the organ and Mr. Hemns, the well-known violinist, assisted. After Mass the Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly delivered a powerful discourse on religions education, and dwelt on the evil effects of a godlesß system, remarking that non-Catholics themselves were now complaining of the failure of this system. True education (he said) could never be divorced from religion. Having complimented the congregation on the beautiful school ereoted, Dean O'Reilly exhorted parents to send their boys and girls regularly to their school, where they would receive a thorough education both in secular and religious knowledge. He (the Dean) hoped everyone present would contribute generously and help the pastor and school committee to meet the liabilities incurred in the building- and furnishing of the new school. Nothing, he said, had been left undone in making the school up-to-date in every respect— it was a oredit to the people and the diocese at large. After the sermon the Rev. Father Hackett gave a brief address, remarking that very little ooald be added to the telling arguments advanoed by their former reverend pastor, the Very Rer. Bean, who, during his priestly career, had made the great question of Catholic education his constant study, and by voice ana pen and purse helped on the cause which he so eloquently advocated that day. He (Father Hackett) was there to answer three questions which no doub*; suggested themselves to the minds of his people ever since they first started the building of the new school. The questions were (1) Why should the Catholics of Paeroa go to such great expense to erect a separate school in their town which already

possessed a fine publio sohool f (2) Why did he— their pastor— go beyond the sea for a religions community of nuns nnder whose charge the new school is now placed ? (3) What are our liabilities ? Father Haokett replied very briefly to each question. The smallest child in the congregation who knew the very first page of its oatechism could give a complete and adequate reply to the first question, for the answer to it was precisely the same as that given to the question : ' Why did God make man ? ' — namely, ' that man might know Him and love Him in this world and be happy with Him in the next.' It was only in the Catholic school that a child was daily reminded of its twofold destiny, it was reminded of its social end and at the same time of the individual end, which was eternal. In their Catholio schools, nnder religious teachers, every child would be enabled to achieve both ends. While its mind would be stored with all knowledge necessary to enable it to take its stand in society, its young heart would be moulded and fastened to the knowledge and love of God. In the virgin soil of the young and innocent heart the seeds of faith, piety, and reverence would be deeply implanted and their growth diligently cultivated by the good Sisters. Father Haokett also stated why he had selected from amongßt the many teaching Orders of the Church the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart from the mother house in Sydney. He knew the peculiar requirements of his district, extending as it did all over the goldfields from Paeroa to Waihi ; he also knew that boys as well as girls had souls ; and as it was impossible to start a school nnder the charge of Marist Brothers in the district, he decided on inviting the Sisters of St. Joseph to come and take charge of the mixed school in which boys as well as girls would be aooepted in the highest standards. He knew the remarkable history of the foundation growth of this religions Order and of the special providence which guarded and guided its progress. To-day the CardinalArchbiehop of Sydney, together with the -bishops and priests of Australia, were recognising the special fitness of this Order for the spread of education in such districts of Australia as corresponded with our own Ohinemnri. The Cardinal, bishops, and priests spoke highly of the Sisters' work, and he (Father Hackett), having seen in the early years of his ministry and since then so much good done by them, that he and his school committee would for ever feel deeply grateful to Mother Mary for the signal favour conferred on the parish now blessed by her Sisters' presence. In conclusion Father Haokett stated that the liabilities at present to be met amounted to £420, but he felt confident a generous response would be made that day to the Dean's appeal. All were expected to make a sacrifice, and no saorifioe of money would be considered too great when it was a question of the eternal salvation even of one little child, for whom Christ Jesus paid the ransom by shedding every drop of His preoiouß blood. A collection was then taken by Messrs. George Crosby, Hugh Poland, and Father Haokett. In the evening, after the sermon, a collection was also made in the church. The amount received for the day, added to the sum previously in hand, amounted to £343 5s 6d. After Benediction an additional sum of £30 was handed in by the Ladies' Social Committee to meet the expense of furnishing a temporary residenoe for the Sisters. Among the subscriptions received S) to date are the following: — Father Hackett, £20; r. George Crosby, £10 ; Dean O'Reilly, Mr. Barrett, Mr. Delaney, and Mr. Beattie, £5 each ; Mr. Harry Tait, £1 Is ; and Sir. Armour, £1 ; Dean O'Reilly, in a few well-chosen words congratulated priest and people on the great success of their united endeavors, and prayed that GcJ might bless them, their school and the good Sisters. Father Hackett on behalf of the congregation publicly thanked the Dean not only for his presence on tiie occasion, but also for his generous contribution towards the payment of the debt. He (Father Hackett) felt so full of gratitude towards his people that he was unable to express it fully ; all he would say must be conveyed in thece words : ' God bless you.' To the children present he announced that the ship, not of State, but of Catholic education would be launched for tho first time in Paeroa next morning, and at uiae o'clock, the hour fixed for sailing, every ohild should be ready to embark. To the parents present he said 'send your (little ones in time— intrust them to the faithful stewardesses of St. Joseph on board ; they will teach and guard your children ; for their ship of Catholic Education haa Christ as its guiding Star and and St. Joseph at the helm. Monday, April 23. To-day the new Convent school opened under the happiest ciroumstancefi that augur well for the future. The Sisters arrived early on tho scene, and the njerry peals of the Church bell at nine o'clock announced that something unusual was about to take place. Away down the streets boys and girls of all sizes were seen hurrying along past the usual by-street leading to the State sohool, the parents in many instances bringing their children. Arrived on the echool grounds the Sisters marshalled the children in fine style, and it was remarked by those present that whatever defects the State system may possess, lack of drill is certainly not one of them, for the smallest boy seemed to be proficient in the various movements. After drill the children were marched into the school where their names were taken. I could not help remarking the appropriatneas of the simile of the ship used by Father Haokett in his address last night when I saw the crowds of children around the Sisters. One was busy putting names on the passenger list — another giving them their respective plaoeß on board — by noon the ship was under way wirh 85 smiling and happy faces on board under the care of the Sister*. The passenger list will be considerably augmented during the coming weeks, for the chief topic of conversation just now is confined to arrangements for future pupils, especially amongst non-Catholic parents who I am pleased to say have without exception expressed themselves as being highly pleased at the advent of the Sisters. To-day some of the prominent non-Catholics of the town sent their children to the Convent sohool, and others will follow.