DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 10, 7 March 1901, Page 19

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

Father J. Ooborne, late of Masterton, reached Dunedin on Sunday by the Talune. lie left on the following day for his native dioeene of Down and Connor, Ireland. Another clerical visitor was Rev. Father Cosgrove, of Dalby, Queensland, who left ou Tuesday by tho Mararoa on his return journey to Brisbane. His Lordship Bishop Verdon is at present holding a visitation of the Queens town parish. On Sunday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day, the foundation stone of the new convent to be erected for the Dominican Nuns at Milton, will be solemnly laid by his Lordship Bishop Verdon. The Bcrtnon at the Mass will be preached by the Very Rev. Mgr. O'Leary. The new convent will be a two-storey building, consisting of 12 rooms and an oratory. Tha material will be brick, and the cost is about £830. Se. Patrick's Day falling on a Sunday this year the feast of Ireland's patron saint will be celebrated by a national concert to be held in the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, on Friday evening, March 15. An energetic committee have had the affair in hand for some time, and arrangements are now almost completed. The services of some of the leading vocalists in the city have been secured for the ooca■ion, and as the programme will be racy of the soil — consisting of Irish songs, melodies, and recitations — an excellent evening's enttrtainment may be confidently expected.

The latest issue to hand of the W. A. Record states that on 4th of February three young ladies received the Holy Habit of St. Dominick, at the Dominican Convent, Greenough (W. A.). Ihe reception ceremony was performed by the Very Rev. Father Ryan, Administrator of the Diocese, assisted by the Rev. Father Clune, C.BS.R. An impressive address was delivered by the Very Rev. Eather Ryan. Tha ceremony closed with Benediction of the Moat Holy Sacrament. The young ladies who received the Dominican Habit are Miss Minnie Ross, of Dun< din, N.Z., who took the name of Sister Mary Anthony ; Miss Annie Byrne, of Oamaru, N.Z. (Sister Mary Auablatol»), and Miss Kate Kenny (Sister Mary Catheriue of Siena). Miss Kate Kenny is the eldest daughter of Mr. James Kenny, of Geraldlon. The young lady, who has been long preparing for a religious life, entered the Greenough Convent and commenced her novitiate last year. The retreat conducted by the Very Rev. Father Boyle, CM., for the men of St. Joseph's Cathedral parish, was brought to a close on Sunday evening. The attendance during the week at the various services was very good, and the retreat was in every respect a great success. A large number joined the mens' branch of the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart, the weekly meetings of which have been arranged for Tuesday evenings. At the early Masses on Sun* day an unpreoedentedly large number of the congregation— especially men — approached the Holy Table. In the evening there was a renewal of baptismal vows, and the Rev. Father Boyle in concluding his discourse, the subject of which was ' Prayer,' took the opportunity of congratulating the men of the parish on their regular attendance during the retreat.