Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 9 May 1912, Page 24

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OP WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) May 4. Mr. J. W. Callaghan has resigned the office of District Deputy of the H.A.C.B. Society in Wellington. ; ... r. To-morrow at St. Mary of the Angels’, Boulcott street, 35 , girls will make their First Communion at the 8 o’clock Mass. The Rev, Father Hickson, S.M., Adm., Sacred Heart Basilica, Thorndon, has been elected vice-presi-dent of the Wellington Competitions Society and also one of its trustees. ' • The members of the Auckland Glee Club, who, with the Rev. Father Holbrook, are travelling to the West Coast, will be entertained by members of the Catholic Club on Monday evening. On Monday Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M., Rector of St. Patrick’s College, celebrated his Feast Day. In honor of the occasion the students of the college held a most successful picnic at Day’s Bay. . Miss Fama, senior typist in the head office of the Labor Department, and one of Wellington’s prominent Catholic young ladies, has been promoted to the secretarial staff of the Minister for Labor. Mr. J. J. L. Burke, president of the H.A.C.B. Society, is to take up the position of District Land Registrar, Deputy Commissioner of Stamps, etc., at Invercargill during Mr. Pauling’s absence on sick leave. About 55 children made their First Communion at St. Joseph’s, Buckle street, on last Sunday at the 7.30 o’clock Mass, which was celebrated by the Rev. Father G. Mahoney, S.M. Despite the inclement weather there was a large congregation, and the Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., who prepared the children, preached a brief but very touching sermon on the love, of Jesus for little children in the great Sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist, During the day there was Exposition and in the evening there was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, preceded by a sermon by the Rev. Father Barra, S.M. The annual meeting of the members of the Wellington Catholic Literary and - Debating Society was held in St. Patrick’s Hall last Tuesday evening. The Rev. Father J. Herring (president) occupied the chair, and there was a fair attendance of members. After the adoption of the half-yearly report the election of officers resulted as follows;—President, Rev. Father Herring; hon. secretary, Mr. M. Finnegan; committee, Messrs. M. O’Kane and G. Dee, with officers ex-officio. It was decided to endeavor to resuscitate inter-club debating competitions on the lines carried out in former years. The latter portion of the evening was devoted to impromptu speeches. The bazaar at the Lower Hutt has been a great success. It concluded on Wednesday night. A good and varied programme of children’s dances and tug-of-war competitions interested the large attendance each evening. As a wind-up a concert and social were held in the Town Hall,-. Lower Hutt, on Thursday, a firstclass programme being presented. The following ladies and gentlemen contributed items:—Mrs. B. Wilson, Misses Agnes Segrief and McEnroe, Dr. Purdy, and Messrs. F. Haybittle and T. Hill. Very Rev. Father Lane and his energetic committee of ladies and gentlemen are deserving of the highest praise for the manner in which they worked to make the bazaar, which was organised for a most laudable object—the erection of a convent at the Lower —such a success. The various branches of the Hibernian Society in Wellington have formed a council with the object of furthering the interests of Hibernianism in this district. The council is made up of delegates from each branch affiliated. The following branches have affiliated:— Peter and Paul’s (Lower Hutt), Sacred

Heart (Petone), Sacred Heart (Thorndon), St. Aloysios’ (Wellington South), St. Mary’s (ladies), and St. Patrick’s (city). The following are the council’s first officers:President, Bro. J. W. Callaghan; vice-pre-sidents (representing city branches), Bro. J. J. L. Burke ; (representing suburban branches),) Bro. J. McCarthy (Petone); treasurer, Sister K. Robinson; secretary, Bro. P. D. Hoskins. The council meets quarterly, and at such other times as are necessary. The council, it is claimed, will supply a long-felt want by keeping officers and members in touch with one another, and enkindle interest in the work of the society.

At a meeting of the committee of the laity set, up to make arrangements for the celebration of the silver | jubilee of his Grace Archbishop Redwood, it was announced that the large Town Hall had been definitely engaged for May 22. It is the intention of the committee to present his Grace with an address and a purse oft sovereigns. Subscription lists are now in circulation, and the committee trust that the movement will meet! with the hearty response of the Catholics of Wellington., Whilst the presentation is being made by the Wellington| Catholics, donations will be thankfully received from his Grace’s many friends throughout the Dominion, who would like to contribute. Mr. Bernard Doherty (of Messrs. IT. Fielder and Co.) is treasurer of the fund. It has been decided to • ask the various Catholic cadet ! companies, H.A.C.B. Society, St. Vincent de Paul Society, confraternities of the Sacred Heart, Catholic! Club, and St. Anne’s Band to co-operate with the committee in making the occasion a memorable one. The occasion is a most unique one, and is one that seldom happens in the Catholic world. It is hoped, therefore, that the people of Wellington will rise to the occasion. It is recognised on every side that the Marist Fathers proposal to erect another college at Palmerston is a very wise step, and the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (Provincial), is to be congratulated- on his excellent business activity. The people of Palmerston, oi course, view the decision with great satisfaction, especially in view of the proposal to add a section dealing with agriculture, dairying, and fruit-growing. The decision to retain the present college as a high schooand hostel for University students is another forward step. - The fact that the seat of Government is id Wellington attracts many of our Catholic, youths tender age hex e for the purpose of securing employment in the Civil Service. , These youths may or may not secure suitable board with Catholic people. The pie sent college will therefore prove a boon in this directionexits will be able to arrange with the college Fathers tn board their boys, and at the same time coach them for further _ examinations Civil - Service, Matriculation, University, etc. Parents will therefore feel easy wheii they know that their sons are under such excellent supervision. _ The new college will rank as one of the finest institutions of its kind in Australasia. It will bs ighted with electricity, generated on the premises, ami will be fitted with all modern conveniences The spacious grounds will mainly be laid out for recreatioT purposes, handball and tennis courts will be made/ and a large area will be set aside for football and cricketIt . is also the intention of the authorities to build swimming baths for those who do not like to use the rivet, which bounds the property.