The New Convent at Port Chalmers

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 19, 19 July 1906, Page 24

The New Convent at Port Chalmers

The new convent at Port Chalmers for the Sisters'of St. Joseph was solemnly blessed and opened on Sunday by his Lordship Bishop Verdon. The .ceremonies began with Solemn High Mass at which his Lordship presided, Rev. Father Cleary being celebrant, Rev. Father Coffey deacon, Key. Fathsr Howard subdeacon, and Rev. Father Heain master of ceremoni.es.. The occasional sermon was preached by his Lordship the Bishop from the Gospel of the day (Mark, viii, 1-9). His Lordship preached on the following of Christ, showing that it was not alone possible, but that it wasactually accomplished in the Church. At the Last Supper the Saviour, afte; ha\ing washed the feet of His Apostles, said : ' I have given you an example, that as I have done, so }ou do also.' St. Paul regarded himself art ar/ example of the? imitation of Christ. 'Be ye, 1 said he, ' imitators of me, as I also am of Christ. 1 He modelled his life oft the life of the Lord, ajid became <a saint. So should they walk in the footsteps of Christ, '* putting on Christ,' clothing themselves with Christ, "Who left them tn example in every incident of His life on earth f"om childhood to His last moment on Calvary. The Right Rev. preacher then passed in review the various lessqnis of submission to authority, detachment from the things of this world, self-denial, and mortification taught by our Divine Redeemer. Ho then instanced the call to the young man in the Gospel to whom Christ said : 'If thou wouldst be perfect, go

- sell all thou hast, give to the poor, and come, follow me. Christ called many to this higher life— to leave home and country" and friends and devote themselves t 0 a life of labor and prayer and mortification ; and this in order to show the world that it was possible to follow Him in the most perfect manner. In the diocese of Dunedin, as well as over the Catholic world, there -were many good, holy religious devoted entirely to the service of God. Visit them. Was. there any misery or gloom in their abodes ? No. On the contrary, peace, happiness, .perfect contentment mark-ed the lives of those who had resigned all the pleasures that the world Values. .The divine promise was fulfilled in those communities : that ail that left father and mother, etc., for Him would recehe a hundred fold and life everlast ne. They received a hundred fold in the peace of their convent homes, after having left all that the world liolds necessary for enjoyment. In their local convent a%right example was shawn of how to follow the Lord— the example (better than piec-ept) of holy In es o f pious labors done on behalf of Ihe children, not for worldly reward, "h|at for God. The preacher exhorted his hearers to gratitude for the blessings bestowed on them through the Sisters of St. Joseph, spoke in terms of high com-

inendatiion of the new convent, congratulated the pastor tho architect, the builder, and the congregation, amd concluded with a< strong appeal, which was generously responded to, a sum of over £170 having been received". The music of the Mass was very creditably rendered by a choir from Dunedin under the leadership of Mr. E. Eagar. Immediately after Mass the ceremony of blessing tihe new convent was performed by his Lordship, assisted by the priests previously mentioned. The new convent is a two-storey brick building on substantial foundations of concrete, with cavity walls The roof is strongly constructed, being held together with collars and ties, and strutted throughout. On the ground floor are a dining-room, kitchen, scullery, pantry bath-room, with wash-home, etc. The second floor consists of parlor, music room, oratory, community voom, four bedrooms, and linen room, all of which are spacious, well lighted, and ventilated on the most mo-lorn p-inoiples. The main hall is 6ft wide. A verandah, sft in width and tastefully designed, extends along the front of the building. Gas is laid on to all parts of the building, and hot water to all apartments raquirin.-r sarao. The walls and ceilin-s throughout are plastered. The bjuilding on the whole is a very substantial one and the work was carried out in a very satisfactory manner by Mr. Bauchop, the contractor. The total cost is over £900.