Hawera

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6, 11 February 1909, Page 214

Hawera

(By telegraph from an occasional correspondent.) '■ February 8. The loyal devotion to the Pope of the Catholics of Hawera was evidenced by. the manner in which they prepared themselves for the Papal -blessing, which was imparted to them on Sunday evening by their pastor (Very Rev. P. J. Power), who- has lately returned from Eome. Fully 250, or 95 per cent; of'the'adult Catholic population of the town and adjoining districts, received Holy Communion on Sunday morning, and * the little church was thronged to overflowing at the evening devotions. The pastor preached on the religious and social effects of the Chair of Peter, and the striking achievements of the present occupant— -the author of so many and such ' wise reforms. He instanced the signal victory over tlie.godless rulers of France, who had sought to enslave the Church ; the revision and codification of the Canon Law, the "drawing of millions to daily' Communion,' the removal from the sanctuary of "music more suited -to the music hall stage, and the restoration of that which . strikes" to the root of grace within the soul. Oppressed with the -wisdom and greatness of his character, the, preacher was" not" prepared for the affability and the kindness, beyond expression, with which the Holy' Father received Father McMullan and himself, introduced by Bishop Verdony and- deigned to interest himself in their far-off- flocks. The Supreme "Pontiff impressed upon .them the need of daily Communion' for their people, and exhorted them to be faithful to the catechetical instructions, and, at -the -request -of the pastor of Hawera, he gave the 'benediction in articulo mortis to the Children of Mary in his parish, expressing the hope that they would revive in some measure in their district the virtues of which Mary gave an example to them all. The pastor hoped, .as a result, that there would be better attendance at Holy Communion, at the catechetical instruction, and that there would be there a nourishing branch of Children of Mary.