ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 16 August 1906, Page 14

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) May 11. The committee appointed to consider ways and means with respect to the proposed Catholic club rooms met on Tuesday evening, Mr. J. J. Devine presiding. After much discussion it was decided to appoint(ia sub-committee, consisting of Rev. Father O'Shea, S.M., and Messrs. M. Kennedy and J. J. Devine, to bring down a report as soon as possible on the feasibility of erecting club rooms at a cost of about £2000, or £3000. On further consideration it has been found that to provide a public hall would not bo advisable, and the committee have now decided that attention should be confined to the provision of comfortable, up-to-date club rooms to be used as a Catholic Club by the laity in general. On receiving the repoit of the sub-committee, the general committee will arrange the calling of a public meeting, and it is expected that the project will be put in hand very soon. The annual supper of the local Young Men's Club was held in St. Patrick's Hall on Thursday evening, and was undoubtedly the most successful of its kind ever held in connection with the club. The chair was occupied by the President, Rev. T. O'Shea, S.M. Amongst those present were his Grace Archbishop Redwood. Very Rev. Father Lewis, V.G., Rev. Fathers Kimbell, Moloniey, Yenning, and MacDonald. The following toast list was duly honored: 1 The Pope and King, 1 by the Rev. Chairman ; ' The Patron,' by Mr. A. 11. Casey, responded to by his Grace the Archbishop ; ' The Piesident,' by Mr. A. H. Casey, responded to by Rev. Father O'Shea ; 'The Vice-presidents,' by Mr. S. J. Moran, responded to by Very Rev. Father Lewis and Mr. M. Kennedy ; ' The Catholic Club,' by Mr. M. Kennedy, responded to by Mr. J. McGowan ; ' The Federation and " Catholic Magazine," ' by Mr. Kane, responded to by Messrs. E. J. Fitzgibbon and Mr. 11. MeKeowen ; ' The Literary Society,' by Mr. J. Moran, responded to by Rev. Father Kimbell ; ' Kindred Societies,' by Mr. J. J. Callaghan, responded to by Mr. W. J. Butler (St. Patrick's College Old Boys' Association) and Mr. C. O'Brien (President Hibernian Society, Lower Hutt) ; ' The Ladies,' by Mr. Turner, responded to by Mr. C. Gamble. Musical items were given by Rev. Father Mac Donald and Messrs. A. Eller, E.- J. Healy, C. Gamble, A. Foote, and T. F. Leiliy. During the evening Mr. Fitzgibbon, as president of the Federated Societies, presented diplomas of honor to his Grace, Rev. Father O'Slica, Mr. Martin Kennedy, and Messrs. J. McGowan, J. J. Callaghan, and H. McKeowen for distinguished services lendered to the cause of Catholic young men. Mr. Casey also presented Mr. Fitzgibbon with a diploma of honor for distinguished services as the first editor of the ' Catholic Magazine,' and as president and treasurer of the Federation. His Grace, in acknowledging the toast of his health and the receipt of his diploma, expressed the great pLeasure he felt at being present with the young men. He could not help taking a keen interest in their welfare, for he saw that to them the Church must look for her future glory, on them rested her future greatness. He exhorted them to be worthy of their. ca.use. They had nowadays great opportunities, and it was for them to take every advantage of the facilities- offered. There was nothing to prevent them attaining to the highest places in the land. He was proud of the success our young men had achieved at the University, and he wished them every further honor. The rev. president, in a speech in reply to the toast of his health, referred to the proposed new club rooms, and expressed the hope that the young men would do all in their power to make- the project a success.

Mr. McGowan (secretary to tbe club) stated that the Association was more flourishing than ever, and that, the spirit that prevailed was a very (Vigorous one. Mr. Fitzgibbon, in responding to the toast of the Federation, referred to the good work done by the executive of that body. He also delivered a short address on the duties of the young men with respect to the question of higher education. He appealed to them to take the opportunity of acquiring a univer- • sity education, so that they might be able to rank with the best in eveiy walk of life. This matter was also referred to by the Ke-v. Father Kimbell, who in a very stirring addTess exhorted the young men to take advantage of the golden opportunities within their reach to-day. He said that the great danger was that they might become mere lookers-on and not workers. It would be better even if they had more ambition and less ability. The gathering was characterised by great enthusiasm, and was a credit to the club. The half-yearly meeting of the club is 1o be held shortly. The balance sheet discloses a sound financial position. In delivering the annual statement of the finances of the parish of Te Aro on Sunday last, the Rev. Father O'Shea, S.M., referred to the results of the system of the penny collection started in 1892. For the twelve months ending July last the sum raised in this way at St. JosephJs, Buckle street, and St. Mary of the Angels', Boulcott street, amounted to £202 16s 4d, the largest since the sy&tem was initiated. The totaß amount realised since 1892 comes to £2224 4s Id.