OPENING OF A NEW CHURCH AT BROOKLYN

New Zealand Tablet, 22 June 1911, Page 1155

OPENING OF A NEW CHURCH AT BROOKLYN

(From our Wellington correspondent.) It was raining steadily and heavily oh Sunday afternoon, June 11, and the streets of Brooklyn were running little rivulets of muddy water, but nevertheless every seat in the new Catholic Church at Brooklyn was filled at the opening ceremony. The church stands prominently on the Brooklyn hills, and overlooks the city and the harbor. Across the valley of the city can be seen the little sister edifice above Oriental Bay (St. Gerard’s Redemptoifist Church). On the, left again is the new St. Brigid’s Catholic c michroom, and the tune of their circle of bells will now be heard echouTg round the hills. A His Grace Archbishop Redwood, the Yen. .Archdeacon Devoy, \ ery Rev. Father O’Shea, V.G., the Rev. Father Hickson, Adm., and many others of the Wellington clergy were present. ■■ fair „ A brief address was then given by the Vicar-General. He expressed the pleasure it gave them to have his Grace with them, and he apologised for the absence of the Very Rev. leather Murray, Superior of the Redemptorist Order, who had sent a donation to the building fund. A few years ago, continued the Vicar-General, it had been considered advisabk to purchase for a church a piece of land in Washington avenue, Brooklyn; and very soon about £SOD was raised by socials, etc. The cost of the land they had purchased was £6OO. They had paid off £3OO of that, and had £2OO in the bank. Ihen they had found that the site was not central enough, and they decided on the present !?%9nn a i bo S thalf anacre - , lts cost was £625. The sum ot £2OO had been paid on deposit, and a contract was let for the church at £i o7. With architect’s fees, etc., the amount reached £/40. There was, altogether, a debt on ninn prpei;ty w £ll6o ; but they also had, as an asset, the. pioperty in Washington avenue, for which they hoped mentuady to i get £6OO. The Vicar-General continued that the Brooklyn people were deserving of every thanks for their work in connection with the obtaining of the t dMr y r friends in the city. The altar was the gift of Mr. N. Crombie, Mr. Healy, and a few friends; the T e ,V" f , 'p St; m xv ad ci been made and presented by the Lad es Guild of the Sacred Heart Convent, Island Bav; the names of several other donors were also mentioned. His Hrace had , given five guineas towards the cost of the churCrh. -R The building, continued the speaker, was built by Mr. Brownian, and Mr. Swan was the architect An payh?i off the debt. * 8 C °"® tioll for .towards

I. oiV i Gr i i Archbishop Redwood expressed his thanks to all who had contributed so generously towards the purchase of the land and the building of the church. He felt off 6 t Til lp r r 01 i g I th , e deb 1 t ;y° llld he completely wiped off. The building had been dedicated to St. Antony. His giaee wished to say that the church was a credit‘'to the locality and to those concerned in it. It would be the El°H ™ fl T'i n u P. on the district and families the frn+ nn blessi ' R f f nd happiness. He felt sure the emigreation appreciated the advantages they had in . possessing the church. + They : would now be able to participate in the two greatest gifts brought into the world'by the Divine. Master— pointed to by St. John in the beginning of Ins gospel where he said ‘ The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us full of Grace and Truth.’ Grace and as”to Jw + th n r V b,es ? ingS - , .Truth enlightened a man as to vhat to believe and gave him the principles on which to guide Ins conduct. In the church they would hear expounced, explained, and when necessary, defended, those truths which 1 Christ + Himself came into the world to teach. In tilt °WW also they would receive grace in the Sacraments. V hat a blessing they had in being Catholics- in having the Tr , l as taught by Christ, which could never be overcome or destroyed, no matter what enemies might rise nothin/ 1 of science corruption, or tyranny of State—nothing would he able to extinguish the Truth which pi”’s S awav g b,;t M ri T k 5? ft Heaven and’ earth”liiav pa s an ay, but My Truth shall never pass awav ’ What a blessing to belong to the Church and have such a Truth manner™ ft brought , home in a familiar and efficacious manner. He hoped they would appreciate the church and nf e tbo°Ar b eSSIIgS Jt w°u. d bring to them in the Sacrifice of the Mass. ■ In inclusion,- his Grace hoped that as they arrr appTeciate the church so highly they would contribute largely and generously to pay off the debt. The collection taken up totalled £llO. The ceremonies ended with the Benediction of the Blessed-Sacrament the music being supplied by the choir of St. Mary of the Angels’ Boulcott street, under Mr. E. J. Healy. ■' • " ngtls ’