SICK CLERGY RELIEF FUND, WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 12 May 1910, Page 731

SICK CLERGY RELIEF FUND, WELLINGTON

(From an occasional correspondent.) On the occasion of the annual retreat and synod of the clergy of the archdiocese of Wellington, held about the beginning of the year, a special meeting of the priests was convened to consider the advisability of establishing in the archdiocese a sustentation fund for the relief of sick and infirm members of the clergy. Previous attempts to set up such a fund were discussed, together with the obstacles that hindered any action from being taken. It was now pointed out that the number of clergy in the archdiocese was rapidly increasing, the diocesan roll of priests being the third highest in Australasia, while the need of having a sick clergy relief fund was growing more and more apparent. The priests of the Society of Mary being members of a religious Order were not exactly on the same footing in this respect as the secular clergy, but their religious superiors had consented to their making common cause with the other priests of the archdiocese in this project. As a result of the discussion it was decided at once, to establish a sustentation fund. This would, it was stated, be supported in the first place by annual subscriptions from the members'of the clergy. In the next place, the project would no doubt be aided by donations or bequests from charitable persons; for many of the faithful would be only too glad to give generous support to a fund which would preserve their devoted clergy , from want in infirmity or old age after they had spent their health in their apostolic labors. Rules were formulated for the good government of the association, and submitted to the sanction of his Grace the Archbishop. A management committee of six priests was next elected, with the Very Rev. Dean John McKenna, of Masterton, as chairman, the Very Rev. Thomas O’Shea, S.M., V.G., as treasurer, and the Rev. J. Hickson, S.M., as secretary, the other members of the committee being the Vein Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., the Very Rev. Dean James McKenna, and the Very Rev. Aug. Keogh, S.M. The rules and list of first year’s subscribers have* now been printed and put in circulation. Most of the rules concern only the priests _ in the association, but Rule X. refers expressly to the laity, and states that f all the laity who contribute to the sustentation fund shall be reckoned among the diocesan benefactors, and shall be entitled to a share in the diocesan suffrages for such benefactors.’ This should be an extra inducement, if any were wanted, to mem-

hers of the faithful to become benefactors by donations or bequests. They will thus help to make provision for • those who have borne the burden of the day and the heats ’ in their service, and they will at the same time avail themselves of the benefits of the special prayers and suffrages of the Church.