Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 13 April 1911, Page 666

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our. own correspondent.) April 8. . The Redemptorist Fathers will conduct a mission at St. Anne’s, Wellington South, commencing on April 26. . . The Rev. Father Gilmartin, C.SS.R., left for Sydney by the Warrimoo yesterday, cn route for the Philippines. The children attending the schools of the city are being prepared for their First Communion, which takes place on Easter Sunday. The Rev. Father Taylor, lately of Grey mouth, is assisting at St. Joseph’s Church, Buckle street. Father Taylor will take up duties at Leeston, in the Christchurch diocese, after Easter. His Grace Archbishop Redwood has returned to Wellington from Western Australia, where he assisted at the consecration of the Right Rev. Dr. Clune as Bishop of Perth. Now that the Marist Novitiate at Island Bay is closed the parishioners of that district are being attended to by the Fathers of St. Anne’s. Mass is celebrated every Sunday 1 at 8.30 a.m. Mass will be celebrated for the first time in the new church-schoolroom, now being completed at Brooklyn, on Easter Sunday. The date of the formal opening has not yet been fixed. At the Island Bay Home of Compassion, conducted by Rev. Mother Mary Joseph Aubert; several young ladies were , yesterday received into the Order. Two of those received are Wellington ladies—viz., Misses Crombie ana O’Sullivan.

The Rev. Father Bartley, S.M., M.A., of St. Patrick's College, concluded his course of Lenton sermons at St. Joseph’s Church, Buckle street, on last Sunday evening, the subject being ‘ Explanation of Modern Unbelief.’ There was a large congregation present, amongst whom were a fair sprinkling of nort-Catholics.

The monthly meeting of the Particular Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society took' place on last Wednesday, when Mr. W. Perry, the well-known solicitor, was appointed secretary in succession to Mr. Alfred Jackson, who resigned through pressure of private business.

Mr. J. W. Callaghan, District Deputy of the H.A.C.B. Society, is in communication with Mr. W. White, of Foxton, a past secretary of Wellington branch,, with a view of establishing a branch of the Society in that town. With the whole-hearted support of the Rev. Father Kelly. who is very keen on the establishment of a branch, and the experience of Mr. White, a successful branch 'should be started before many weeks.

A pleasant function took place at Trentham on last Saturday afternoon, when the members of the St. Anne’s Defence Cadets shot off for the rifle belt presented for the championship of the corps. The conditions were ton shots at 500 and 600 yards. Three qualified for the final — Sergeant Turner, Q.M.-Sergeant Carrol, and Bugler. Hopkins. Sergeant Turner eventually won the championship belt and gold _ medal. Q.M.-Sergeant Carrol was runnerup, and carried off the trophy given for second place. Bugler Hopkins came third, and received a gold medal. Captain R. E. Martin, in presenting the belt, said, in addressing the boys, that the occasion was a memorable one in the history of the company, inasmuch as it was the first time the corps had held a championship meeting. In congratulating the winner, Captain Martin said that Sergeant Turner had shot well and consistently throughout the year, and the win, besides being well deserved, was ; a popular one. Captain Whittaker gave the boys some good advice, and the meeting concluded with cheers and chairing the champion off the ground.

A smoke concert was held by the Catholic Young Men’s Cricket Club at Mawson’s Rooms, Cuba street, last Friday evening, to mark the occasion of their winning the third-class cricket championship. The attendance was large, and the proceedings of a very enjoyable kind. Templars Cricket Club (runners-up) forwarded a very graceful letter, in which they congratulated the club on its success, and on the gentlemanly manner in which they had contested their games. In proposing the toast of the ‘ Catholic Young Men’s Cricket Club,’ the chairman (Mr. S. Moran) warmly congratulated members on the season’s work. They had always pulled together, both on, and off the field, and they thoroughly deserved their success. In replying to the toast of The Runners-up ’ (proposed by Mr. Carroll), Mr. Wright, captain of the Templars’ Club, also paid a tribute to the conduct of members of the C.C.C. They had, he said, proved themselves good sportsmen, and worthy opponents, and he looked forward with pleasure to meeting them when the cricket season came round again. During the evening songs were contributed by Messrs. Kearney, F. Eller, G. Reade, 0. Foote, P. J. M'Govern, and Gamble. W. Warne was presented with a gold medal for the highest batting average, and P. Toms with a silver cigarette case for the next best average. J. O’Dowd and L. Carroll also received presentations for obtaining the best bowling averages.

The Wellington branch of the Newman Society met in St. Patrick’s Hall on last Sunday, there being a good attendance of members; Mr. S. J. Moran, LL.B., being in the chair. The following officers were elected: Patron, His Grace the Archbishop; president, Mr. S. J. Moran., LL.B. ; vice-presidents, Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M., 8.A., and Air. M. J. Crombie, LL.B.; hon. secretary, Miss Mellsop ; hon. treasurer, Mr. P. Verschaffelt ; members of management committee—the officers, with Rev. Father Bartley, S.M., M.A., Miss Casey, and Mr. Boyce; delegates to the New Zealand Society, Rev. Father Bartley and Mr. _P. _ McNamara. A syllabus is being arranged which will include several interesting papers from the clergy and prominent members of 'the laity The first meeting will be devoted to an address on Cardinal Newman, by. the Rev. Father Bartley. Several members have signified their intention of visiting Auckland at Easter, to hold a reunion with the Auckland branch, and discuss matters of importance. _ As the society is a young one, and as its constitution is perhaps not yet understood by our Catholic people, it would be as well to enlighten them on the subject. The Newman Society has been formed to promote higher Catholic education, and to refute calumnies on the Church, such objects being attained by the preparation, reading, and discussing of papers dealing with history, literature, science, and art, by the delivering of lectures, holding of debates, the establishment of reading circles, interchange of articles with othei branches of the society, and by social reunions. All Catholics are eligible _ for membership, but the necessary qualification for holding office is the passing of a Matriculation examination of any University or any examination which, in the opinion of the committee, is at least equal to the standard of the Matriculation of the New Zealand University I here is plenty of scope for this society in Wellington.

Kaikoura The members of the choir of the Church of the Sacred Heart were on Wednesday afternoon royally by Air. William Smith (says the local Star of March 31), at his beautiful residence, Ludstono. Opportunity was taken at the gathering to make a presentation to Mrs. Staunton, on the occasion of her departure to the Old Country. This lady, who is the possessor of a fine rich soprano voice, acted as leader of the choir during her residence in Kaikoura, and her services were held in high appreciation. On behalf of the members of the choir, Air. Smith, in the unavoidable absence of the Rev. Father Johnston, expressed their heartfelt regret, and regret of all, that Mrs. Staunton’s visit to England was the cause of her severing her connection with them, and he voiced their thanks for . her able assistance. In bidding her Godspeed and a safe and pleasant journey, Mr. Smith begged Mrs. Staunton to accept a beautiful travelling rug from the choir as a memento of esteem, in union with the warm feelings with which it was offered. Air John Peoples, as senior member of the choir, spoke of the splendid work done by the guest of the afternoon, and Miss Borland read an address from the choir. Feeling acknowledgment of the gift and of the good wishes expressed was made. Mrs. Staunton left for Lyttelton yesterday, to catch the Orvieto at Sydney next month.