DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 20, 16 May 1907, Page 14

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) May 10. The Very Rev. Father Clune, C.SS.R., and Rev. Father Lowham, C.SS.R., leave for the south next Tuesday. Mr. Barnett, the Wellington organist, is expectea to return again shortly to AucKland, and will give further organ recitals at St. Benedict's. The results of the penny collections in St. Benedict's parish have far exceeded the most sanguine expectations. Speaking on desirable literature for the Catholic home yesterday morning at the 9 o'clock Mass, Father Lowham referred in eloquent and sympathetic language to the ' N.Z. Tablet,' which, he urged, should be in every Catholic home in this Colony. It was an excellent paper, and, apart altogether from the great lessons to toe derived from its perusal, it was from a literary point full value for the money charged for it. The Very Rev. Father Giilan, V.G-., will be able to leave the Mater Misericordiae Hospital to-day. His escape from death was miraculous. It is to be hoped that the Vicar-General will scon be completely restored to health. During Father Gillan's enforced absence from St. Benedict's, the Very Rev. Father Brodie, of Waihi, has been in charge of the parish, while Rev. Father Williams, of Ponsonby, is acting for Father Brodie at Waihi. St. Patrick's Operatic Society are hard at work rehearsing ' Maritana.' The amount of labor connected with the undertaking is enormous. Miss Rosina Buckman and Mr. Urabtree, both of Sydney, are to fill the principal roles. To the Rev. Father Farthing much, if not all, of the credit of the work is due. He has succeeded in imparting his own enthusiasm to every one taking part in it. It is to be hoped that the undertaking will be. a financial success, and thus contribute to reduce the debt on the Cathedral. Commenting on the ' Administrative Council (Dublin) Bill,' the ' Auckland Star ' concludes its leader inthe following sympathetic manner :— ' Our own conviction remains unchanged, that the cry for separation from England, raised by a fanatical minority in Ireland, as no excuse for denying to the country at least such a measure of self-government as the other members of the Empire enjoy ; and it is because the colonies realise so fully the benefits of autonomy that we ourselves have received that so much sympathy has been displayed throughout Australia and New Zealand for the Nationalist Party, and the patriotic ideal for which it is struggling. ' Mr. Andrew Mack during, the week has been demonstrating to an admiring public that Irishmen can deport themselves on the stage in a manner quite opposed to the traditional ' stage Irishmen,' invented by the London music halls, ami copied elsewhere. On Wednesday Mr. Mack dined with the Bishop at the palace, ami subsequently drove out with his Lordship. He paid a visit to St. Patrick's- presbytery, and was heartily welcomed by Father Holbrook. Mr. Mack has promised to visit the Sisters and sing for them some of his Irish melodies, and recite witty Irish stories. The Irish citizens of Auckland are to make a presentation to Mr. Andrew Mack next week.

The mission now -drawing to a close at St. Patrick's Cathedral, after. a fortnight's 'duration, has been, eminently successful.., The Very Rev. .Father dune and Rev. Father Lowham have worked incessantly, and have 'been assisted by the parochial clergy. The sight last Sunday, when close on three hundred men ap*proached the Holy Table, is one not likely to be soon forgotten. It gladdened the hearts of our good Bishop, the two eloquent Redemptorists, and our priests. Every evening during the present week the church has been filled. On Wednesday evening special devotions to Our Blessed Lady were held, and the sodality of the Children of Mary mustered in good force. On Sunday evening the mission will be brought to a close. (From our travelling correspondent.) A very edifying spectacle was witnessed last Sunday in St. Patrick's Cathedral, when the members of the ■different men's societies, to the number of nearly 300, approached the Holy Table at the 7.30 a.m. Mass, which was celebrated by his Lordship the Bishop. At the conclusion iof Mass the Rev. Father Lowham, C.SS.R., addressed a few words of good advice to those present, and exhorted them to keep the good resolutions they had made that morning, so that by their lives they would show that they were a credit to the societies to which they belonged, and that by their example they might induce others to become members of them also. The members then adjourned to the convent school, where the Children of Mary had prepared •breakfast. Hi& LordsMp the Bishop presided, and there were 'also present Very Rev. Father Clune, C.SS.R., Rev. Father Lowham, C.SS.R., Rev. Fathers Holbrook and Farthing. Brother G-eorge (president of the Marist Old Boys' Association), proposed a hearty vote of thanks to his Lordship for presiding. He also took the opportunity, on behalf of the Okl Boys, of congratulating his Lordship on the completion of the Cathedral. Addressing the members, he urged them to rally round their Bishop, and by their do-nations show their appreciation of the great work that he was engaged in, and enable him to speedily wipe off the existing debt. He then referred to the pleasure it must gave to all to have in their midst a former pupil of the Marist Brothers, in the person of Father Lowham. His Lordship, who on rising to respond was greeted with great applause, thanked them heartily for their enthusiastic vote of thanks. To him it was always a pleasure to associate himself with any good work that tended to the welfare of his people. Speaking on Cathedral matters, he informed his hearers that in exactly two years they had collected the magnificent sum of £2000 towards the completion fund, and of that amount only £19 was received from non-Catholics. He thanked the good missionaries for the great work they had already done, and were still doing, throughout the Colony. Mr. Little, on behalf of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, delivered a short address on the objects of the society, and appealed to tlhose present" not to forget those in less fortunate circumstances. Rev. Father Lowham briefly thanked the men for the reception they had given him, and expressed his own and Father Clune's pleasure at seeing such a fine body of men at Holy Communion that morning. Mr. Pound (H.A.C.B. Society) proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies for providing the breakfast. The vote was carried with acclamation, and was acknowledged on behalf of the ladies by Mr. W. Darby. A meeting of the Marist Old Boys' Association was held on Sunday, May 5, his Lordship the Bishop presiding. The object of the meeting, as explained by Bro. George, was to obtain the sanction of the members to a scheme proposed by the executive for the alteration and refurnishing of the club rooms. Mr. J. Grace outlined the proposed changes, and pointed out the great benefits that would accrue to the society by the adoption of the suggestion. At a small cost they would be able to make their rooms the best in the Colony. He appealed to them to take such interest in the work as would enable the executive to enter into #he matter immediately. His Lordship the Bishop expressed himself as favorable to the proposal, and urged the young men to take a lively interest in their club. The suggestion was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The announcement that his Lor'dshijj had donated the timber required for the alterations was received with applause. Several of the club members then volunteered their services for the work, thereby enabling the executive to proceed with it at once. The Newmarket parish church committee held their first social of the season in tine Public Hall on the evening of May 3, when there was a crowded attendl-

ance. The first part of the evening was devoted to progressive euchre. The euchre prizes were won by Miss O'Leary and Mr. T." McMahon. The ladies of the committee presided over the supper table. The gathering on the whole was a great success.