New Church at Aratmoho

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, 21 March 1907, Page 15

New Church at Aratmoho

(From our Wanganui OQrrespondent.y ■' ' ' - - March 13. ' During the ' past few years the suburb of Aramofio, situated some three miles from Wanganui, has been, steadily , growing in population and- impo-tance. "" Both in the suburb Uself and its vicinity, a numerous Catholic population has, sprung up, and the need of another church . became more , and more evident. Being, assured of generous ' support the priests J and people , decided that a. building" should... be proceeded with,, as soon as possible. Sunday last saw the foiindatio.n stone .of the new -church laid by Ms Grace . Archbishop' Redwood. His Grace celebrated Mass at 7.30 o'clock, and presided at the 10.30 o'clock > Mass, when ah address of welcome was read to him. His Grace briefly replied to- the address, -thanking the congregation for the welcome accorded 'J>o~ him, \ and expressing .his gratifica- , tion at 'being- amongst them. In the afternoon- his Grace the Archbishop, .the clergy, and the members of , St. Mary's congregation assembled at the Catholic school, Aramoho, ;arid r from_ there proceeded" in proces- • sional order to the site of. the new church. The procession was over a quarter of a 1 mile in length. The - Archbishop was assisted^'at-the ceremony of blessing and laying the foundation stpneby the Very Rev.^Dean % Grogan and Rev. Father Mahony. , -„ . After the foundation stone had-treen duly, blessed and laid in "position his Grace addressed the.- large assemblage," amongst whom . were a , number of - nori-Gath-olics, including his Worship the^ Mayor of Wanganui (Mrl C. E. Mackey). He congratulated the people of Aramoho,^ 'and expressed his gratification ' at being pre-^ sent to Jay the foundation stone .of a new church, because he foresaw the amount of good which would result, . therefrom. The new church, which will be dedicated to St! Joseph, would be a centre of light and strength to those in the vicinity. There those great Christian truths would be taught which were the'real foundation of our civilisation^ and there also the sacr raments would be administered, which would give- spiri- - tual strength and life to those who received them. His Grace concluded by expressing " his pleasure at seeing that Aramoho had so much advanced; as to require ' a .new, church, which will be an ornamental feature to that part of Wanganui, besides enhancing the value of the property, in. the vicinity, of the building. -During the progress of the ceremony Mr. Meuli, the : contractor, presented his" Grace with. a beautiful- • silver trowel-, suitably inscribed, with which to perform • the work of .laying the foundation stone. ; During the" ceremony > appropriate hymns were sung by the choir of St. Mary's, Wanganui, assisted by the , school children. In the evening at St. Mary's his Grace- preached to a large congregation. His Grace '. officiated at solemn Benediction, assisted by Very Rev. Dean Grogan and Father TMahony.' ' Collections in.; aid of the new . church were taken up at all the services, the people responding most generously. J ' The plans, prepared by. Mr. W. Pinches, show that the •' nay? of ' the new church,^ which" will stand on, a., ■ concrete foundation 3 feet high, will" measure 32 feet by - 50 feet. <•; The sanctuary, 30 feet by^Lß feet, will have- a -!' main- asrch and two smaller arches, the latter forming - r two' side* chapels. ~> The sacristy is 12 feet by 32 feet,- • and "the choir gallery measures inffby '3o feet.' The eh- • trance will have a : . fine porch, 10ft by 9ft, with steps - I; and doors ? on either : si'.de'. The interior- of the churchwill baVe'^a principal'^opf % .thebavs; are- framed with ' panels, -nvMte* a "deep- e>r}iched '-' comice 1 ' : will; run - a-11/- - r<«ind the wall, -w-hicli 1 Will be' diagcfiially lined- to the ' daiAo. Li«ht- and ventilation" 'are special features/ TW ■ walls will -be 16 feet high, and the heie-ht "from • the floor to' the' apex, of -the roof 36 feet. The- front elev - a- '■ tion- will be finisihed- by a bell, turret.

Luiei Galvani, the discoverer ~of the galvanic cur- '- vent; was a nious Catholic and a lay Franciscan. The fact that his r name -had given rise to the formation -of-" twenty or" more. words in mc>dern English,; such as galvanic, galvanometer, galvanoscope, etc., bears testi- | monv ' to th« importance of his discovery, and -§ives security for Ms tame. •*• i •• •', I (Him