DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 21 October 1909, Page 13

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.)

St. Benedict's bazaar and fete closed 1 last Wednesday night.. It- is not yet' known what the net results are, bi*t it is. thought that a substantial amount- will be available to reduce the parish, indebtedness. The manner in which the committee of ladies and gentlemen worked was the theme of general admiration. , ' -■

A largely-attended meeting of young men was" held last week in Ailsa House for the purpose of forming a society - which would embrace boys of fourteen years 1 ' of age and upwards -, for mutual benefit and" advancement. Rev. Father .Holbrook presided,- and Rev. Fathers Wright and Ormond were also present. Father Holbrook, in a brief speech, explained the,, objects, which were not antagonistic : to any existing society, but rather as an' assistance" to boys at a critical age. Fathers Wright" and" 'Ormond, Mrs. McKenna, Messrs. Mahon, Shinley^ and Sheahan also spoke, v and heartily approved of the scheme, ' which they considered so essential in, the interests of . young "Catholic men. -The greatest unanimity was shown -throughput. . '„ Speaking with reference to mixed marriages at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday, Father "Holbrook- said the ..Church, in the words of Pope Benedict XIV.; has always .referred -to them as detestable, and always .condemned' and interdicted them. The words of the Anglican" Bishop at -the recent -Synod in warning his people against the" dangers " of mixed marriages found an echo in every- Catholic heart; Why Dr. Neligan should warn his people especially against contracting marriage with Catholics "under the conditions imposed by ' modern ' Roman canon law is best know to his Lordship. The 'modern' -Roman canon law referred to by Dr. Neligan is not very modern, unless" the year 1545, in which the Council of Trent was held and at which clan- ■ destine' marriages, were forbidden, is modern; ' The -decree of Pius X. is but an extension of that iaw to these parts of. the English-speaking world. By vindicating the 'unity, the- sanctity, and ihdissolubility of marriage, the Church has conferred the greatest boon on woman.

His Lordship the Bishop, accompanied -by/Rev. Father Edge, returned from the Catholic Congress in Sydney yesterday. , Interviewed shortly after his arrival;- his Lordship stated that the papers, discussions, and deliberations were remarkable for their evidence of serious thought, t>road and -erudite reasoning/ and an absence of parochialism. Men of the highest theological and scientific attainments contributed opinions and papers on the various subjects ■ under discussion, the educational question, as it affected the Catholic community, being one of the foremost matters in point of importance and interest. His. Eminence Cardinal Moran put forward a scheme iii the course of the Congress for pecuniary support/ from the Government towards -Catholic schools, in which he asked for proportionate contributions from the trustees of the country for- Catholic and non-Catholic schools: He said' that Catholics have at th"c present time in Australia and New Zealand to pay _ twice for education — for the -maintenance of the State system and for their own schools-mand the Cardinal instanced how in England, Holland, Germany, and Canada a_ plan was f ollowed f similar to that which they wished to ' see .in operation in Australasia. , Catholics and Jews in those countries receive pecuniary aid from the. Government, while . being - allowed to manage .. their own schools, always, of course; following the State curriculum, to which is added religious instruction. The Catholic hierarchy had set its face steadfastly against secular education since its institution in the colonies, iand now the other religious communities were waking up to the danger of such a system by asking for the- introduction of the Bible into the. schools. The Catholics saw the- mistake at the outset, and actedraccordingly. Notwithstanding the greats expense involved (continued his Lordship), the~Congress was an unqualified) success both_from an e*ducational and from a social point of view. Representatives were present from every dipcese in New. Zealand, both clergy and laymen being well represented. No pains were spared to entertain the visitors* to the Congress, conversaziones and .concerts being arranged to lighten the more serious part of the business. An Excursion was made to Springwood" on the Monday following the conclusion of the business) -• where - the' fine new St. Columba's Missionary College 5 built of stone, on a site having an area of- 640 acres of freehold, was "opened entirely free of debt. The Congress ' generally was considered to have established itself as/a landmark in the history of the Church in Australasia.' The! next one is to be held in Wellington in five years' time, and already hope has been expressed by many Australians that portion of the proceedings may be held in Auckland- Cardinal Moran himself, though 80 years of age, looks forward with pleasure to being able to participate in it, and, incidentally, , of again visiting Auckland. -- *->.. ■-''"■ax