Taumarunui

New Zealand Tablet, 7 April 1910, Page 537

Taumarunui

The bazaar which was organised for the purpose of liquidating the debt on the Catholic church and presbytery at Taumarunui was opened on Saturday, March 26, and continued on the following Monday and Tuesday (says the local Press).. It has proved the means of bringing together a large number of persons from distant parts of Father Molloy’s extensive parish, and uniting for a worthy object people of many different religious persuasions. A management committee, consisting of Messrs. E. Irvine, Gavin, Dunster, Monnock, and O’Hanlon, with Mr. C. J. Ryan as secretary, are to be credited with the general arrangements, which were very complete. On Saturday evening, when the formal opening took place, the hall presented a most animated scene. Mr. Jennings, in a very appropriate and graceful little speech, congratulated the promoters of the bazaar on the success that had attended their efforts. He thanked them for the honor they had done him in inviting him to be present, and said that one of the most pleasing features in connection with these functions was the assistance rendered by the members of various denominations to each other. This spirit of mutual help was always characteristic of early New Zealand life, and he was pleased to find it so strongly evidenced in Taumarunui. The following is a list of stallholders, etc.; —Art stall, Mrs. Dixon; jumble stall, Mesdames G. H. Thompson and Maher; plain needlework, Mrs. Tuohey (Manunui) and Miss Tuohey (Auckland); lollie stall, Misses R. Thompson and R. Clarke; soft drinks, Miss Dunne produce stall, Mrs. Thomas and Miss Kearney; refreshment stall, Mesdames McGrane and Moore; shooting gallery, Mr. Schellack; bran dip, Mrs. O’Donnell. The total receipts were £l3l, and with the proceeds of the art union a sum of £230 will probably be realised. A number of young ladies from Auckland gave valuable assistance at the bazaar. They were Misses A. and M. Courteny, M. and E. McGuire, and M. Dunne. They came from Ponsonby, one of Auckland’s suburban parishes, in which Father Molloy labored for two years. On Sunday they were treated to a very pleasant outing at Piriaka, and on Monday they had another enjoyable picnic at Kakahi. On Monday evening the officials of the bazaar entertained them in Mr. Riche’s hall. Mr. A. J. Whittaker very generously gave the use of the hall entirely free of charge for the bazaar. The band also performed gratuitously on the three separate evenings. Manaia • (From an occasional correspondent.) The usual Holy Week devotions were held at the Sacred Heart Church. On Holy Thursday a ‘ Missa Cantata ’ was celebrated by Rev. Father Bergin, the music- being excellently sung by the choir. Seventeen children made their First Communion, and a larger number of adults approached the Holy Table. On Good Friday a very large congregation assembled for the Mass of the Presanctified and the adoration of the Cross. In the afternoon there was the devotion of the Stations of the Cross. A very impressive sermon was preached in the evening by Rev. Father Bergin. On Holy Saturday there was a ‘ Missa Cantata.’ On Easter Sunday early Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Bergin at Kiawa, a large number receiving Holy Com-

munion. At 11.30 a Missa Cantata was celebrated at Manaia by Father Bergin, who also preached. The music rendered by the choir was the Mass of St. Cecilia, and the ‘ Haec dies ’ and ‘ Hallelujah ’ chorus from the ‘ Messiah.’ After Mass there was Benediction; of the Blessed Sacrament. The altars were very tastefully decorated. Shannon (From an occasional correspondent.) On St. Patrick’s Day the annual Catholic bazaar was opened here by Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., in the presence of Mother Mary Aubert (who honored us with a short visit* and to whose admirable institution, the Home of Compassion, the proceeds were to be given). For months past goods from generous donors had been coming in, and‘articles which were the result of much labor and skill were contributed freely, showing how generally the Rev. Mother’s work is appreciated. Several ladies were invited as Mrs. Moynihan’s guests, who, with their business capacity and tact, contributed in no small degree to the success of the bazaar. Mrs. Moynihan was the ruling spirit, and much praise is due to her for the indefatigable energy she displayed in bringing the fair to a successful issue. She had able assistants in Mesdames W. Moynihan, May, Dalton, Curran, P. O’Connor, P. Gill, Better, Roach, Petterson, Hemingson, Lash, and Manning. The Misses Lynch, Delaney, Ryan, Cooper, Hogan, McMahon, Doherty, Owens, Larvig, Asquith, and Adams rendered much appreciated assistance. The more laborious work was cheerfully performed by Mr. W. Moynihan, and Messrs. P. and L. O’Connor, O’Hagan, and Murray deserve much praise for acting as doorkeepers. Great credit is also due to Mrs. May, who not only did good business at the stall ‘ Australia,’ but trained the juvenile entertainers in their admirable singing and dancing. On Sunday night a sacred concert was held in the Druids’ Hall in aid of Mother Mary Aubert’s Home. It was well attended, and an exceptionally good programme was provided. Miss Wallace (of Wellington) sang ‘Absent’ and ‘Abide with me.’ Miss McMahon (of Wellington) sang ‘Hush, little one’ and ‘ My dearest heart.’ Both items were greatly appreciated. Miss Cooper (of Aramoho) gave a splendid interpretation of The Star of Bethlehem.’ Mr. F. May sang ‘Anchored,’ and Mr. F. Denton Nazareth,’ and recited in his inimitable manner ‘ The old clock on the stairs.’ A quartet, consisting of Messrs. McMahon, Cooper, Wallace, and Denton, also sang. Mrs. Dalton acted as accompanist. Grey mouth (From our own correspondent.) Wednesday, March 30, was a happy day at the Convent of Mercy, Greymouth (says the local Argus), when members of the congregation, pupils, and ex-pupils of the school took occasion to mark their high esteem and love of Mother M. Regis, on attaining the silver jubilee of her holy profession. In the afternoon the large school was filled to overflowing, not only by the members of the congregation, but with well-wishers of other denominations, and ex-pupils who had received so many acts of kindness from her. The children and friends had been hard at work in decorating the building, which was most tastefully and artistically done. The clergy from all over the district were present to honor the occasion. The programme arranged for the day was a most pleasing one, and showed how carefully and faithfully the children had been trained by the good Sisters of Mercy. The Jubilee Chorus by a number of little children, carrying baskets of flowers, was a most appropriate item for the occasion, and Avas warmly received. Items were also given by Mrs. de Berry, Misses L. Higgins, E. Green, E. and K. Hannan, A. Moss, M. Yealie, N. Kilgour, G. Hannam, C. Baybutt, V. Michel, M. Egan, and the pupils. Miss L. Higgins read the following address: — ‘Dearest Mother Mary Regis, — is with mingled feelings of joy and gratitude that we, your past and present pupils, assemble to-day to offer you our warmest congratulations on the celebration of your silver jubilee. We are indeed happy, 'dear Mother, at having such an opportunity afforded us of thanking you for the kindly'interest you have taken for more than twenty-five years in the spiritual and temporal welfare of the children of the parish. Words are but poor vehicles to convey our deep sense of the gratitude we owe you, dear Mother, for the numberless benefits you have conferred on us during all these years, so we can only pray that our Heavenly Father will reward your labors and sacrifices a hundredfold. May you be spared, dear Mother, to celebrate your golden, and even your diamond, jubilee, and when at length your days on earth are ended, may the Master’s “Well done” resound in sweetest accents in your ears, and may a blessed jubilee be yours for all eternity. This, dear Mother, is the loving wish of the past and present pupils of the Convent School, Greymouth. _ The Rev. Father McCarthy then presented Mother M. Regis with a well-filled purse of sovereigns from a number of friends in commemoration of the happy event. He stated that the gift conveyed their best wishes for a long and

useful life. , Mother M. Regis was loved by one and all, and sr®''fskmd, i gentle and good to the pupils in the school. tier life s woik had been a noble and self-sacrificing one in the interests of religion and education They all hoped that she would be spared for many years to exert the beautipastll^ 1161106 ° Ver the childr °n. that she had done in the , Mother M. Regis accepted the presents with deep gratishmvna+d apl3r ® C1 +i d the many tokens of ; esteem-and love shown to her that day. The presents from the pupils and ex-pupils were much appreciated by her. ■RrnmL T r eS +1 aJ March 22, the pupils and ex-pupils of the nf^p tllo l l - C m &cl1001 , also many of the parents and friends of the children, assembled in the -schoolroom to offer their hearty. congratulations to Mother Mary Regis on the occasion of her silver jubilee. A short programme, consisting of musical items, recitations, and dances, was given bv the pupils, and an address was read by Miss Eily Creagh. lol.oif of the concert Mr. John Flynn, on behalf of Mother M. Regis, thanked the children for their concert, and the people for their attendance. In a few happy words he eulogised the work of the Sisters in the Brunner School, and concluded by wishing them a long continuance of success in their noble lifework. °