Woolston

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 17, 26 April 1906, Page 6

Woolston

(Prom aur Clhristchuroh oarresponident.) The fine new building at Woolston, situated on about an acre of land which was lately blessed and dedicated to school purposes, to which it has since been apS.^h^i S v. Un( L ay , lnornin S last solemnly blessed as a church also by his Lordship the Bishop, assisted by the Rev. Faltner G-ale-rne, priest in charge of the disvtnet The building was originally designed for church as well as school purposes, and is now fitted up with •all the requirements of the former, a beautifully finished altar being the most recent addition. After the dedication ceremony Mass was celebrated by the Rev Father Galerne. His Lordship the Bishop preached a discourse on the following text from the day's Gos pel : ' Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them Peace be to you.' These words, he said were the mosftr applicable with which to 'address them' on (so

auspicious an event. A few weeks ago the present beau•tiful edifice was blessed as a school and used exclusively/ as such up to to-uay. a deputation irom among them had waited upon him to have the building -dedicated as a church, and so well had they pleaded their cause, that he ciXuld not resist thuir a,ppeai. Heretofore the fewness of priesta and their me^ny duties had to (h/im Ueen the chief obstacle. Although changed from a school to a church, ie would still -be a school-church. From time to time the Holy Sacrifice would be offered in their midst ; they would have the Keal Presence which would be to them a reason to rejoice and be gl,ajd. It would .b© the house of (rod— their especial house. The Church (he said) was dedicated to St. Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin, and particularly mentioned the munificent generosity of one who had provided the whole outlay on the church building. Special' mention was also due to the Very Rev VicarGeneral and the other priests who had taken so deep an interest mi it, and asked all these and the eealous people of Woolsition to accept this expression of his heartfelt giratitude. He should not be surprised that in the course of time this would be the centre of a new parish, and they were wise in securing sufficient property <Bor extension when a presbytery, convent and school would be necessary. ' * J T he r, Re ' v ' Palher Galerne expressed sincere gratitude to the Bishop for the great favor he had conferred, and when the Bishop returned from the Eternal City the people wouid sthofw they were not ungrateful He telti that! a long-felt want had now Ween supplied • the church in their midst would draw many nearer to God and their relidon. Pnd be the means of inducing .many to return to the Faith of their forefathers