CONVENT OF MERCY, WESTPORT

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 41, 8 October 1903, Page 19

CONVENT OF MERCY, WESTPORT

OPENING CEREMONIES (From our own correspondent.) On September 24, the feast of Our Lady of Mercy, the splendid convent of the Sisters of Mercy was solemnly blessed and opened by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, assisted by the following clergy : The Yen. Archpriest Walshe (Westport), the Very Rev. Dean Carew (Greyraoutih), a,nd the Rev. Fathers Hickson (Reef ton), M'Donnell (A'haura), and Malloy (Westport). Favored' by a gloriously bright sunny day> the impressive ceremony was performed under the most favorable auspices. The solemn ceremonies commenced at 3 p.m. at St. Caoice's Church, which was crowded to its utmost capacity. After the choir, under the conductorsfaip of Mr. J. Lynch, had sung the s Veni Creator,' his Grace Archbishop Redwood delivered a brief but eloquent sermon. He expressed his thanks to the large gathering which had assembled to assist at the opening of the new convent. The attendance was proof of the great interest they took in the institution and of their appreciation of the great work the good Sisters were doing in their midst. With some courage and risk the Sisters had undertaken the erection of a noble building which would be an ornament to the town and a credit to the Catholic community of Westport. The Sisters had to bear the birunt of the burden, but they had vowed themselves to the service of Gad and would work in the future as they had done in the past. The Sisters naturally expected the people would realise the good work they were doing amongst them, the good they had wrought in the past, and the good they had in store for them in the future. There was no work of more importance than that of imparting a good t sound Christian education, the Sisters devoted their whole lives' in a special manner to the service of God, and the greater part of their work was the education of the young, and they were courageous enough to erect a large building to suit the purpose. His Grace described Uie origin of the Order of Sisters of Mercy. The Order was formed under the patronage of the Order of Our Laxly of Ransom, established in olden times to ransom Catholics from slavery to infidels in the E.ast. The Sisters of the present day likewise devoted themselves to the work of charity— to the relief of the sick, poor, and needy, and sometimes went on to the battlefield, as they did in the Crimea. In this country their chief work was education, and it was necessary they should acquire suitable buildings for their special needs. It might be thought that the new convent was exaggerated in si7e, but it was to be the headquarters of the Order for the West Coast. In addition to giving a general education needful for everyday life, the Sisters would teach the fine arts. In the new convent they would educate all classes His Grace then invited all who appreciated the important work of the Sisters to avail themselves of the opportunity of contributing to the convent fund. A collection was then taken up by the Yen. Archpriest WaLshe, Very Revrf Dean Carew, ant*p the{ Rev. Father Hickson, assisted by Messrs. Hennesy, Reedy, and Sullivan, the amount realised, with private contributions -eceived by the Rev. Mother, and including a generous ionaltion of £102 from the Yen. Archpriest Walshe, together with the collection at St. Camce's Church on the previous Sunday, made a total of £230 The Archbishop, the clergy, the school children, and the congregation then went in processional order to the convent, which was solemnly blessed by his Grace. At the conclusion ot fhe ceremony the general public, availing themselves of the invitation of the Rev. Mother, then inspected the building, and all were unanimous in their expressions of praise of the inteiior, the finished workmanship displayed throughout eliciting general admiration. The Rev Father Malloy acted as master of ceremonies during the day. The new convent is an imposing and substantial structure in wood, two storeys high, covering an area of 74 feot square witih a frontage to Queen street of 74ft. Entrance from Queen street is gained by a neat poroh, v which admits to a vestibule, lfltt x 10 fit. To the right of tlie vestibule is a splendidly finished reception parlor. Passing along the spacious hall the visitor comes to an ante-room, and passing on through a beautiful Gothic arch the pretty chapel of the community is reached. The chapel is of considerable dimensions, being 33ft x 19ft and 15ft high, and artistically furnished. Plenty of light is obtained by 10 Gothic windows of cathedral glass The windows ot the sanctuary and the sacristy, which face Brougham street, are similar to those of the chapel. The pretty silver sanctuary lamp is an acceptable present from Mrs. Sangten, of Westport, the same lady having also given two pairs of silver candlesticks, while a beautifully carved missal stand is

gi I ?(. the Rev> Father Malloy. To the right of the hall, on the downstairs main corridor, is a back parlor, next to which is the refectory. This Is a commodious room, 20ft x 15ft, well lighted by 2 large windows. Adjoining the refectory is the kitchen, which is well adapted for all domestic purposes. It is supplied with one of Shacklock's patent ranges, 3ft 6in in dimensions. In the kitchen there is a high-pressure boiler with complete appliances for supplying hot water throughout the building. • Leaving the kitchen and proceeding along a passage 38ft long we come 19 Uhe high schoolroom. This room is in every way admirably adapted fo<r scholastic work, being well lighted by six large windows, and having the advantage of a separate entrance. The two music rooms are situated just off the high schoolroom. Passing on through the hill, the staircase leading to the upstair portion of the building is reached. The staircase is 4ft wMe, with handsome rail, and constructed on the semicircular plan. On coming to the top floor one notes the corridor, 44ft in length and sft 6in in width. On the rigiht of the corridor are two oratories, the first being dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and the one at the other end to the Sacred Heart. Upstairs there are six bedrooms, all large and airy, and an infirmary. Returning along the corridor, we enter the novitiate room, 18ft 10m x 20ft. A conspicuous attraction in this room is a beautifully carved mantelpiece in wood, the work of Robertson Bros., of Nelson. It is an exquisite piece of workmanship, reflecting credit on the firm. Proceeding on, we come to the community room, 21ft x 20ft. This room rs well lighted by four large square windows in pleasing design. At the rear of the building upstairs is a cloak room, which adjoins an up-to-date bathroom fitted with all modern conveniences. From the balcony, wihich is' 54ft long and 10ft wide, a most picturesq/ue view of the adjacent native bush and surrounding hills is obtained. To the left of the verandah are a cloak room and bathroom, well fitted up. The building is ventilated throughout with inlet and outlet ventilators. Special care and attention have been devoted to the sanitary arrangements, which are on a most complete scale. A substantial laundry and workroom, situated at the rear^Ti the convent, is now in course of erection, and the building of a corrugated iron fence will shortly be commenced. The contract price of the new convent was about £2000. The architect was the late Mr. Henry Young, of Greymouth, and the contractors Messrs. Hill and Martin, of Westport. The painting and decorative work was executed by Mr. D. O'Neil, and the plumbing by Mr. F. Larsen. Mr. Richard J. Sullivan (late of Reefton), to whom lam greatly indebted for general information relative to the building, was clerk of works. All concerned in the erection of the fine building are to be congratulated on the faithful mariner in which they have earned out the various duties entrusted to them.