THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 50, 15 December 1904, Page 4

THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR.

OPENING OF THE HOME FOR THE AGED POOR.

Thursday of fast week— the Feast ot tile Immaculate Conception — saw the realisation of a hope that had for a long tune engaged the attention ot his Lordship the Bishop,, the clergy, and Catholic laity of Dunedin— the o^enjng ot a home for tSie aged puur under the eonUoJ t>f the Little Sisters ot the Poor. Considerable dilhcuity had been experienced in selecting a site for sjuch an institution, as many factors had to be considered. The cost of a suitable area within the city limits was prohibitive, whilst ma,ny of the suburbs were unsuitable 'owilnfg: to want of facilities of access. About Iwo mpftiths agio his Lord ah Lp was extremely fortunate in securfwg Por the purpose at a reasonable price a section of three and a half acres of la<nd, with a large private residence, at Anderson's Bay. The property is situated about half a mile above the township on the upper load to Portobello, and can be reacthed from the city, as soon as the tram line is completed, in about twenty minutes. The land has an extensive frontage to the mam road, but the privacy oE the grounds is completely maintained by a belt of native bush and a plantation of European trees. In tact the section is sheltered all

During the past three or four weeks the Wuilding has imdergptneva thorough ovetrhaul, so that now it is in' a very complete state of repair, and presents a very comfortable appearance both inside and oiutsilde. Added to this it has been ciompletely furnished with every requisite, tjhloinks to tUie zeal amd energy of Miss M,ul|hollaiid f as>snstejd by ivumer.ous genero/us benefactors— Oathplics and non-Cat;holics— who have domated all kinds of household necessaries, Irom beds and boddtng to kitchen utensils. Detached from the main building is a compact wasih-house with copper and tubs complete, and water laid on from the Ivmisp tanks. At some distance from the Home is a commodious building, formerly used as a stable, ooach --Uousc, and fowl pen, which will be found usef/ul now for similar purposes. Ihe grounds, aftar leaving suilicieiit area for the pastlurage of a cauplo ot cows and a horse, will be very suitable for the pjur^oses of a kitchen garden and, knowing the aptitude which the Sisters are noted for in turning everything to account, it is safe to say that within a short time they will turn this to very good advantage in the rais)w\g ol vegetables f,or the institution.

The Mother Superior— Mother Mary—^accompanied the commjunity lrtom the parent house at Randwick, Sydney, and will remain here for a few days until all arrangements are completed. The oomnumity is to consist of se\en, ol whom the Superior is Sister Appoline, who had been tor some years in Auckland, prior to which she sipent alout ten years in Calcutta.

His Lordship said they were assembled there that day\to gitvc encouragement and to help the Little Sisters of the Poor r who iiaid come to Dunedin for the purpose of establishing a tiome for the aged poor. The work ol t*he Sisters was deserving of the warmest encouragement. Even in the most prosperous communities they fouind many who, after -liattlihg for years against adversity, wore *at length reduced to helpless potv&rty towards the end of tiheir hves, and compelled to seek assistance. None were so helpless as the aged pOor without friends, sym{p£tlhy, ; or a home. It was for these the Little Sisters Jhiajtt provided a home. He might say a few words abJoftit ttie origyi oE the Order, which was founded fil years 'aJgp— «n I<B4O— by three highly pious, devout siouls, vtho resolved to devote their lives to the work of assisting "Hho aged p,oor rti a little fishing town on the cfcvast of Brittany. At first they met with a gpod deal of disia,p>poi}ntmepvt ; their eflorts were ridiculed a,nd scoffed at, but they persevered, arid after a few years others joined tjhem. In 1851 they established homes outside of France, and during the time that has since elapsed wondertul .progress had been made. At the present moment they 'hsid 300 houses scattered all over the world, and in Hhese Uhere are 43,000 poor people—^helpless poor, who are watjehed cyver and cared for by the 5000 Little Sisters of the Poor. Was not this wonderful progress in Suah a short time ? In 64 years 30)0 homea had been established, and in some of them 100, 200, 300, and 400 were provided for. It might be asked how such large

to the Little Sisters of the Pqor who had come here aftd established the first branch of their Order. He was glaft tto say they had secured a really beautiful home., Tihe place selected by his Llordfchip was admirably adapted t,or the Sisters' Work. It was a beautiful pllace,. axi'd wihcn the electric cars weffe running it wo.ulid have all tihe requirements for a hpme. T/he only drawback to yhe situatijon was that the old people who came to live at the Home would be apt to renew their youth, so that there might be a ~anger of their going on liv,, ing for ever. He had no daubt whatever that Uhe old people would be very happy in the Isome, and thfajt Tihey would receive tihe best cf care and attention, from xhc j^ood Sisters\ Tie- desired to offer his eo'ngnatulatiqnsi to Miss Mulholland, who had been iiisttfumqiitdl in bringing this movement to a successful issue. She had worked unceasingly for the Honue ; she had been endeavoring to sequre the services of the Sisters for a long time, and •her 'hopes being realised he had no doubt she was proud womain Hhat (day,

Mr. J. M. Uallaway said that those outside of the Catholic Church would Sully appreciate this) work that had been commenced, and should not .hesitate for a moment to congratulate the Ohurch upon the ste)p it had taken. He had been connected with that other slociety that began at the other end— tjiio St. Vincent de Paul Society,— and it had always filled him with tjhe greatest admiration, lie had seen the little chilklren as they wejre bnought fttit'o the Police Court ragged and unc'ared

ifaumd by trees, pnncupally natrve bush, and as it slopes from the Home towards the north it gets the full benefit of the siun all clay long. The view tr.om the grounds is very line, commanding as it d,ocs the vnner harbor, the city and the hills to the north and wesit iof it, and the ocean ,aut towards St Clair. Jt was the general consenslus ot .mpinron among those who were present at the' cerem,ony that it was an ideal place fbr such an institution, ajiTd that it would be a .very dithcult matter, even at groat cost, to get a better one in the whole of tftie city or suburbs. The hdus»e had bean built as a private residence many years ago, Hut li<ke all buildiings that ware put uip in the early days its timbers are now ita la better Condition than those of much more irnodeui etinuctuxes. It is a two-storey building, somewhat irregular in sjhuvpe, but hawing considerable accommodation, arid all the necessary requisites ior the purposes for Whielh it is now intended. In the main portiotn of the bluiMiing there are on the ground floor a large room, \dhicj\ if used a« a dormitory, will acoommodate fully a dozen beds ; a chapel, which has been erected within ■tone pest few wedes ; and another large apartment suitable for a dining roora. In a ohe-storey wimg are a large kitchen, with a fine range, soullery, and an apartment w!hic(h ooiuld be used as a sleeping room for some of the inmates. The upper storey is reached by two flights of stairs, and hetre are a spacious dormitory, in -wjhielh can be placed about a dozen beds, and three other rooms capable of actommodtating three or four persons each.

The ceremony of blessing and formally opening the Home took place shortly alter three o'clock in the presence v>t a large assemblage of the clergy and laity. His Lords/lup the Bishop officiated, and anxong the clergy presant were the Rev. Fathers Murphy, Adm., Coffey. Clcary, Howard, O'Malley, Oorcoran, Ryatn, Liston, ana Buckley, the laity present comprising majny prominent Catholic and non-Uath'olic citizens.

At t)he conclusion of the ceremony of blossing the Home the visitors assembled at the main entrance, when several addresses were delivered. 'Hie Rev. Father Murphy, Adm. St. Joseph's Catihedral, read an apology ironi the Mayor of Dunedin, Who was unable to attend owing to absence in Wellington. He had also received apologies from several of tfhe clergy, who liaid given donations towards this very laudable object. Fiather O'Donnell, of Queenstown, had alslo sent an lfnivrtiation to the Sisters to canvas.s Jiis parish whenever they toivnd it convenient to do so, and expressed his willingness t,o give them all the assistance in his power. Several other priests were willing to do the same. It was not expected that large subscriptions would be given on the present occasion, as those attending the opening of the Home had already contributed toWiar/ds the good object, but should fhere be any Kindly tlnsiposad towards the movement their ddnatibns would, of coiurse, be gladly received. He himself would give a furt|h&r donation of £10 towards the Home.

num'ber^ were provided for by the Little Sisters of the Poor, w(ho had no fixed Income or revenue whatever. Ttvey 'trusted entirely to Divine Providence and they had neiver ibeen diyappointe'd. They worked with courage ; tihey went forth eivery day seeking the means t>f supporting those comftded to tiheir care, ajid exposed theaiselives t)a all kinds of troubles and inconveniences. They ocaujpiekl themselves most earnestly during the day,, and practised the strictest economy, and by good management aJnrd care were able to provide for that groat number. They would, he was sure, receive great onfcouragementj from the pqople. As am instance of liow the wjork of the Little Sisters of the Poor was appreciated he might mention that Lord Aberrieem, wne-n Lord LdeXite»a3nt of Irelanjd in 18-88, united the Little Sisters of the Poor and 200 of the poor under tin err charge to a banquet,, and in Uhe coiurse of >his sipee-dh an the occasion extiolled their work, and sip,ol:e of them as benefactresses \of the poor. In corfolusion, his Lordship said tihat .mow the Little SiptCrs of the Poior were establistoqd in Qur midst he trusted they would have no reasfotn to regret their coming, and that they would receive every encouragement from the people of Duoiedin They! will give a giood example to all by their virtues. Those of pur ipcxor aji!d needy would find a g,ood home tjhere, where they would be oared for by the good Skstlrrs, wUo .aought only the honor and glory of Upfd and Uhe s/aiyation of souls. , Mr. J. B. Uallan said he desired, on behalf or the CatMta laity of Dunedin, to extend a hearty welcome

for, anid had afterwards seen 'them in the care of the holy women w<ho devoted themselves to their care, and tihe sisht had done him good. The other side, represented by the present home, m,usfc also ap/peal t|o them all. 'Inhere was a great deal ot charity jn New Zealand that milgjht be called statutory charity. TJiat wp,s riighti and proper ; still, nothing could take the place of tiiat charity that proceeded fi*,om Uhe heart, and it wa's that the Little Sisters strove to provide. Whether people were Catholic or mm-Catholie, the object Must appeal to all, and lihere was qne common ground updm whiah all 1 met, anid that was the common ground of the betterment of h/umaßity. ILon. H. (lo'urley, h\ the course of a brief sipe_ech, ; said he was very pleased to have an opportunity of visits uns the Home anid of expressing ,Ins appreciation of the efforts made by Miss MuLholkind in collecting funds sum-* cie,nt tio purchase s.uc,h a splendid property. He could noti help admiring the beautiful site selected, and coulid only, repeat the remarks of his friends, Mr. Ciallan and Mr. G-ak laway. lie quite endorsed every word they had uttered,. a\r*d Was quite sure that, with the energy the Sisters Would Iflut into their work, the undertaking} would prove a g,reiat succesis. lie sincerely hoped the work wojuld bd carried out to a successful drtd. At the conclusion of t|hc speeches those present werd hospitably entertained, Miss Mulholland and a num-ber of heir laidy frlcnn,ds from town, waiting on the many visitors* The proceedings concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and the singing of the ' Te Dqunv