ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7, 18 February 1909, Page 253

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From Our Own Correspondent.) February 13. The Wellington Catholic Seamen's Conference intend entertaining the sailors in port on Thursday evening, 25th inst., at St- Patrick's Hall, Boulcott street. The St. Patrick's College midsummer holidays end on Thursday, 18th inst., on which, day the punctual return of all resident pupils is earnestly requested. The Very Rev. Father O'Shea, S.M., V.G., will conduct the retreat for the students at Meanee, which commences on Monday, 15th inst. There was Exposition of tlie Blessed Sacrament in St. Mary of the Angels' on Sunday from last Mass until Vespers. In the evening the Rev. Father Yenning, S.M., preached an instructive discourse. The members of the cricket team of the Wellington Catholic Club played Easson's at Kilbirnie on Saturday afternoon, and proved the victors. The scores were : Catholic Club, 29 and six wickets for 38 ; Easson's, 23 and 44. The ladies' committees of the Wellington South parish are working hard to make their stalls at their Easter bazaar attractive, while the goaieral committee are arranging programmes, etc., for each evening's amusement. The residents of the district of Wadestown are so enthusiastic over the "matter of tlie purchase of a section foe the erection of a church in that township that they have already subscribed sufficient funds to pay off two instalments (£100) of the purchase money. The Rev. Father Hickson, S.M., Adm., Thorndon, denies the statement made in a local 'journal that it is intended to hand over the proposed neAv boys' school to the Patrician Brothers. It will be staffed by the Marist Brothers, who are already in cliarge of the Boulcott street school. On Friday evoning the usual monthly meeting of the men's branch of the Sacred Heart Association (Thorndon parish) was held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and, notwithstanding the inclement weather, there was' a fair attendance. Rev. Father Hickson, S.M., delivered "an interesting discourse on the life of St. Brigid.

The fcllowing are the officers of the St. Anne's Conference of the St. Vincent, de Paul. Society: — President-, Bro. J. E. Gamble; vice-president, Bro. B. Guise; secretary, Bro. G. R Harriss; treasurer, Bro. P. D. Hoskins; spiritual director, Rev. Father Herring, S.M. The weekly meetings are held on Sunday evenings after Vespers. At the meeting of the executive of the Wellington Catholic Club held on Friday evening it was decided that the annual Communion of the members take place at St. Joseph's Church, Buckle street, and not at St. Mary's Church, as mentioned in my last week's notes, on Sunday, February 28. As the members of the conferences of the St. Vincent de Paul Society approach the Holy Table on the same day, it was thought advisable to make the change, as many members of the club belonged to the society. The St. Patrick's Day celebration committee, composed of members appointed by the Hibernian Society and the Wellington Catholic Club, is working hard to make thi3 year's celebrations a great success. The Very Rev. Father Lane has offered the free use of his grounds at the Hutt for the picnic during the day, and it has been decided to convey the children attending our schools to the ground free of charge. In the evening a national concert will" take place in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. The profits from these celebrations will be applied to the schools of the various parishes. The committee has also in hand an amatetir athletic sports meeting for Saturday afternoon, March 27. I am pleased to state that the St. Anne's Catholic Club, Wellington South, is making good progress, considering the short time it has .been in existence. The membership at the close of its first half-year totalled 112. The new tennis court is now open, and a large number of intending players have been enrolled". Arrangements are being made for the fitting up of a library in connection with the club, and several handsome donations of books have been made. The club has suffered a loss in the removal of Mr. A. Guthrie, a member of the committee, from Newtown to the Masterton district. Several pleasant euchre parties have taken place lately, and have been well attended by the Catholics of Wellington. The members of the club are ably assisted by the members of the -Christian Doctrine and Altar Societies in many of their functions. The members are contemplating forming a dramatic branch. The annual retreat of the clergy of the Wellington archdiocese, held last week at St. Patrick's College, was concluded on Friday, 12th inst. It was under the direction of Rev. Father Creagh, C.SS.R., and 68 priests were present. At the Synod, which was held after the retreat, the following changes among the clergy of the Marist Order were announced: — Rev. Father Bowden, Thorndoii, to be Vice Superior and Administrator of St. Mary of the Angels; Rev. Father Herbert, from Newtown, to succeed Rev. Father Bowden at Thorndon; Rev. Father McDonald, from Temuka to St. Anne's, Newtown ; Rev. Father Le Floch, from Timaru to Temuka; Rev. Father Smith, from Nelson to Timaru; Rev. Father Finnerty, of St. Joseph's, Buckle street to Nelson; Rev. Father Maillard, to take sole charge of the Raetihi district ; Rev. Father Viband to be in charge of Jerusalem and Wanganui River district; Rev. Father Menard changes his residence from Okato to Opunake; Rev. Father Barra, from Opnnake to Wanganui. There may be some' other changes in about two or three months' time. . Preaching at the Petone Catholic Church on Sunday evening, February 7 (says the Evening Post), his Grace Archbishop Redwood made some trenchant remarks upon religious education generally, Catholic education in particular; and also on the duty of Catholic parents to see that their children were properly edticated in Christian doctrine. His Grace expressed his great pleasure in being at Petone to ' bless the house that was going to be used as a convent for a certain time. The good Sisters who had gone to Petone had done so at great sacrifice for the sake of the children. He also congratulated the parish priest- (Father Maples) on obtaining such a boon for his parish. There was no subject of greater importance than that of Catholic education, his Grace continued, for the individual, the family, the city, the district, the State, and the whole of society. If a child was to be educated in a proper and a complete way, then its education should be such as would continue for its lifetime and for its life beyond. The sacrifices made by Catholics in Australia and New Zealand in the cause of education were one of the most striking and . significant facts of the "present- day. Land had been bought (often at a high price), buildings erected and maintained, and teaching staffs had to be provided, all at great cost, which Catholics cheerfully met so that their children should be properly educated. In New Zealand alone, to say nothing of Australia, it would cost the State from £40,000 to £41,000 a year to give the Catholic children the education they receive. The Catholics in 25

years had spent nearly one million and a half to educate their children, and at the same time had contributed io the educational system of the State, maintaining schools in which they did ngt bolieve and sending their children to such schools in cases of necessity. He repeated that tha sacrifices made by Catholics in New Zealand in the cause of Catholic education was indisputably, magnificent. Why did they do this? It was because their children shoulch receive, a complete education — an all-round education.