Opening of a New Convent at Kumara

New Zealand Tablet, 29 June 1911, Page 1185

Opening of a New Convent at Kumara

'— ; _ For some considerable time past (says the Kumara Times of June 16) we have watched with interest the erection in our little town of a new convent of the Sisters of Mercy. The work has been completed, and on the Feast ?* ~9? r P us Christi, the solemn opening of the handsome building took place. The ceremonies began at 10 a.m., when a Solemn High Mass was celebrated in St. Patrick's Church. The celebrant was Rev. Father Finnerty, S.M. (Greymouth), Rev. Fathers O'Connor (Ross) and Gilbert, M.S.H. (Ahaura) being respectively deacon and subdeacon, and Rev. Father Clancy, S.M. (Hokitika), master of ceremonies. In addition, besides Rev. Father Creed (Kumara), there were also present Very Rev. Dean Carew, S.M., and Rev. Father Lacroix, S.M. (Greymouth). The Very Rev. Dean preached an eloquent sermon appropriate to the occasion. He dwelt on the great benefit that the Catholics derive from the Sisters of Mercv, on the efficiency of the education imparted by these Religious, and showed how from the dawn of Christianity it has been essential to the success of the Church to make use of those whose vocation is to labor wholly and solely for the salvation of their own souls by assisting those about them. He begged ol the very large congregation present to be loyal to the good bisters, and to support them in every way they were , At the conclusion of the Mass a very impressive part ot the ceremonies took place—a procession of the Blessed bacrament from the parish church to the new convent. On reaching the convent the children formed into two lines and knelt. Between the files the Blessed Sacrament was carried, then brought into the convent, and returned to the verandah where an altar had been prepared, and from which Benediction was given to the large and reverent assembly The procession was again formed and returned to the church in the same order as it had come. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was kept up through the day in the parish church. At evening devotions Rev. Father Finnerty, S.M., gave an impressive discourse on the love of Jesus for .mankind as shown in the institution of the Blessed Eucharist. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament concluded the ceremonies of the day. The altar and parish church were artistically decorated by the ladies of the altar society, and the whole space "in front of the new convent was tastefully adorned with fern trees and creeping plants. During the day the new convent was visited by numbers of local people as well as by the many visitors who came from the neighboring towns. All seemed highly pleased, and the day will long be remembered by those who had the pleasure of taking part in th» functions.'