DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 41, 11 October 1900, Page 18

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.) October 4. An entertainment is to be given this evening by the best of our local talent at the Star of the Sea Orphanage, Ponsonby, in aid of that institution. In my last letter I referred to the probability of the early purchase by St. Benedict's pariah of a piece of property ad j dim ng St. Benedict's Hall. The property in question has been now bought through the instrumentality of the Rev. Father Gillan, and Messrs. Brophy, Casey, Jones, and Beehan, with the full concurrence of his Lordship the Bishop. It is intended as soon as possible to erect a convent thereon for the Sisters of St. Joseph. Mr. J. J. A. Callaghan, who up to last evening was vice-presi-dent of the local branch of the H A.C.B. Society, has resigned the office owing to hi* departure for Wellington. The president of the branch, Bro. Jas. Stead, on behalf of the member", prehented him with a beautiful silver matchbox, puitably mseribtd, and al-o cigar and cigarette holders Several of the members spoke in eulogistic terms of Bro. Calraghan's services to the branch and to the whole Catholic community. Bro. Callatrhan n plied in feeling term*, thanked them for their kind expressions towards him, and expressed regret at leaving Auckland. St. Benedict's Young Men's Club preBented Mr. Callaghan with a fine walking stick, and the Catholic Literary Society with an umbrella The Auckland Catholic Literary Society s entertainment at St. Benedicts Hall last evening was a huge success. The big hall was packed to the doors. The entertainment consisted of two parts, the first vocal and instrumental and the second part was taken up with a comedietta, ' Daisy of Ours," an original piece by the president of the Society, Mr. U. Gray. It was a capital production. Great credit is due to Mr. Gray and the members of the Society. The following was the programme — Overture, orchestra ; kohjt, Mr. A. J. Dobbs ; K>ng. Miss Lily Thompson, recitation, Mr. li Herbert, Bong, Miss Maud Donovan , violin solo, Mr. 11 Tutscka >ong. Mr. J.W.Ryan; guitar solo, Miss lily Marker; song, Mi. I). Weir, accompaniste. Miss Annie McllhoiK'. The following took part in the play —Messrs. U. Gray, W J. Nolan O. P. Stiehburv. .J. Ilickeon, T. Frost, H. Gray, [I. C McCoy, R. Lcvi, F. J. O'Meam, M. Foley, Herbert, Donelly, and E McCoy, and Misses M. Nolan, Hickson, McCoy, Foujjhy, and Gray. His Lordship the Right Rev, I)r Lenihan has issued a Pastoral Letter which will b*- read next Sunday in all churches throughout the diocese. It deals principally with the great necessity of a further supply of priests. His Lordship says . ' The requirements of the diocese are now becoming so great, that a division of the parishes must ensue. So immense are some of our districts, that it is impossible for the priests in charge of these to devote the necessary attention required by the members of their scattered flocks.' His Grace the Archbishop of C'ashel, our former Bishop, we are told, has already given to the President of Thurles College to help the Auckland Mission the munificent sum of £1.100. The Right Rev. Dr. Browne. Bishop of Ferns ' was most kind in placing a burse in his College at our disposal.' An eloquent appeal is then made for support for the Provincial Seminary at Dunedin. Feeling reference is made to the loss by death of the Roy. Father Luck 0.5.8., the Rev. Father M. D. O'Hara, and the Very Rev. Mgr. MoDonald. 'They were men of great virtue, lofty in spiritual matters, earnest in their duty, and models of priestly conduct, and their loss is a calamity to the diocese.' The Very Rev. Father Power, of llawera, is at present in Auckland, and is the guest of the Rev. Father Patterson, of Pan mure. Father Power has just returned from Sydney, where he attended the great religious functions recently held there. He speaks in the most eulogistic terms of the imposing ceremonies which he witnessed in the New South Wales capital. He says that his Eminence Cardinal Moran, though 70 years, is a marvel in the way of mental capacity and physical endurance. The work which the Cardinal got through during the great gathering wap really wonderful. On last Sunday evening Father Power delivered a most excellent discourse in St. Patrick's Cathedral on ' Our Blessed Lady.' Ho showed that devotion and love of Mary were practised and advocated by the greatest intellects. From time immemorial it had been so. In our own times Froude, Lecky, and Ruskin bore testimony to the great influence devotion to Mary exercited upon the Catholic nations of the world.