HOKITIKA SILVER JUBILEE OF A SISTER OF MERCY

New Zealand Tablet, 22 July 1909, Page 1144

HOKITIKA SILVER JUBILEE OF A SISTER OF MERCY

(From an occasional correspondent.)

In the year 1878, just thirty-one years ago, the first house of the Irish Institute of Our Lady of Mercy was established in the South Island at Hokitika by the venerable and lamented Dean Martin, S.M. Sister Mary Joseph, known in the world as Miss Margaret Mandl, daughter >f Mr. J. Mandlj of this town, was the first New Zealander to join the Sisterhood. Sister Mary Joseph had been the Sisters' pupil for three years, and passed from the schoolroom to the Novitiate. These circumstances were specially emphasised by the impressiveness of the ceremonies in connection with her silver jubilee of profession on July 7. On Wednesday morning St. Mary's Church was densely thronged. The Sisters of Mercy, robed in their white church cloaks, occupied the front benches on the Epistle side, whilst the immediate relatives and friends of the jubilarian occupied the corresponding benches on the Gospel side of the church. As the procession of clergy, preceded by fourteen acolytes, filed into the sanctuary the organ pealed forth its glad strains. The officiating priests were Rev. Father Taylor, S.M., celebrant, Rev. Fathers Kimbell, S.M., and Gilbert, M.S.H., deacon and subdeacon respectively. The vestments worn were specimens of the artistic work of the Sisters of Mercy. Rev. Father Henry, S.M., was master of ceremonies. The other clergy present in the sanctuary were Very Rev. D. P. Carew, S.M. (Dean of Westland and ecclesiastical superior of the Sisters of Mercy on the Coast), Rev. J. O'Connor (Ross), Rev. T. Creed (Kumara), Rev. Fathers Nouyoux and Goodman, M.S.H. (Ahaura), and Rev. Father Creagh, C.SS.R. Tho music for the occasion, Wilkins' Mass of St. Anthony, was rendered by the nuns' choir, assisted by Rev. Father Ainsworth, S.M. After the Gospel, Rev. Father Creagh, C.SS.R., preached an appropriate sermon on the daily lifo of a Sister of Mercy, taking for his text, ' For which cause I suffer these things, but I am not ashamed,, for I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day ' (11. Tim. I. 12). The rev. preacher concluded by congratulating the jubilarian and wishing her many years of life in the vineyard of the Lord. The Sisters entertained the clergy and Mr. Mandl at diuner at the convent, during the course of which the latter made a happy speech, .reminiscent of early days and the lamented Dean Martin's devotion and tender solicitude for the nuns. Before leaving the convent Mandl quietly slipped into Sister M. Joseph's hand a substantial jubilee gift, in the form ofa cheque for £100. In the afternoon the celebration concluded with Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the convent chapel. Very Rev. Dean Carew officiated, and Rev. Fathers Nouyoux and O'Connor were deacon and subdeacon respectively. This important, and in many respects unique, event will fill an honored page in the records of St. CoWmbkille's Convent.

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