Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 13 February 1913, Page 24

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) February 8. Mrs. T. G. Macarthy intends leaving shortly on a visit to Japan, with Mr. and Mrs. Ledingham, of Melbourne. Rev. Father A. T. Herring, S.M., of St. Anne's, Wellington South, has been engaged for the past week in conducting a retreat at St. Mary's Seminary, Greenmeadows, for the ecclesiastical students of that college. Rev. Father Walsh, of Lower Hutt, who was to have taken over the charge of the Dannevirke parish from Father Cahill, is to stay at the Hutt, much to the delight of the Hutt people, other arrangements having been made with regard to Dannevirke. The new residence for the Marist Brothers, Te Aro, will soon be ready for occupation. A number of ladies and gentlemen are endeavoring to raise the necessary funds wherewith to furnish the residence. The monthly meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society (Particular Conference) met at the presbytery, Boulcott street, on Friday evening. There was a good attendance of members, and good reports were received from the various conferences of the circumscription. The quarterly meeting of the society will take place at St. Anne's Hall, Wellington South, on the second Sunday of Lent. The Rev. Father Venning memorial committee met last Wednesday evening under the presidency of Mr. J. W. Callaghan. Very Rev. Dean O'Shea, S.M., V.G., was also present. Arrangements were made to canvass for donations at the various churches of the city. It is expected that, owing to the high esteem in which the late Father Venning was held, a good sum will be raised to perpetuate his memory. An enjoyable euchre party was held in St. Patrick's Hall on Monday evening by St. Mary's branch of the Hibernian Society. There was a large attendance of members and friends, and the games were keenly contested. The lady's prize was won by Miss M. Curtis, and the gentleman's by Mr. P. McMahon. The committee, with Sister G. O'Flaherty as secretary and Sister D. McGrath as president, is to be congratulated on the success achieved. Rev. Father A. T. Herring, S.M., who has been stationed at Wellington South for the past five years, has been appointed by the Very Rev. Provincial (Dean Regnault) to the Marist missionary staff. Father Herring will not take up his new duties until hi 3 successor has been appointed. He will be greatly missed by the parishioners of St. Anne's, especially by the Catholic Club, St. Anne's Cadets, the St. Aloysius' branch of the H.A.C.B. Society, St. Vincent de Paul, and other societies in which he has displayed an active interest." The executive of the Federated Catholic Clubs of New Zealand met in St. Patrick's Hall last evening. Mr. H. McKeowen (president) was in the chair, and there were present Messrs. J. McGowan, B. A. Guise, A. H. Casey, and J. L. Leydon (hon. sec). The annual conference takes place in Christchurch at

Easter, and various matters in connection with the same were discussed. The following diplomas were awarded:—Debate—T. Purcell (Ashburton), W. Jones (Christchurch), J. B. Crowley (Timaru), A. J. Fernandez (Newton), B. McLaughlin (Onehunga), C. Coakley (Thames). Services—E. F. Noonan (Auckland), G. Dee (Wellington), J. A. Lennon (Ashburton), E. L. McKeown (Christchurch), T. Lawson (Thames), L. Dwan (Hokitika), T. Knight (Timaxu), D. Slade (Newton), J. E. Dempsey (Onehunga). The St. Patrick's Day celebration committee held a special meeting last Tuesday evening to consider an alteration in the date fixed for the day celebration . It was pointed out that the life-saving and aquatic carnival which is to be held on March 15, the day originally fixed, would act as a counter-attraction and might militate against the success of both functions. The St. Patrick's Day celebration committee unanimously decided that, as a considerable portion of the community interested in the day's celebration is desirous of whole-heartedly supporting the object of the carnival, it alter its date from Saturday, 15th to Monday, 17th March. The City Council has granted the use of the Newtown Park for the day, and the large Town Hall has been secured for the evening. All that is required to make the forthcoming production of ' The Emerald Isle' a complete success is a large attendance. Competent critics who have witnessed recent rehearsals speak very highly of the work of the company, which includes several members whose names are familiar to the Wellington public as leading amateur actors. A feature of the production will be the introduction of well-known Irish songs and dances. Mr. W. McLaughlin (conductor of St. Joseph's Choir) is arranging the various choruses, and will also have charge of a full orchestra. Mr. D. McPhee, who invariably acts as judge of dancing at the St. Patrick's Day celebrations, is coaching a team for the Irish reel, and declares himself satisfied with their work. The proceeds are to be devoted to St. Patrick's Seamen's Conference—an object which appeals to all. Anyone who attends the Opera House on Monday and Tuesday, the 17th and 18th insts., can rest assured that he will be given a good night's enjoyment. THE NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC FEDERATION The Provisional Dominion Executive of the newlyformed Catholic Federation is meeting every week, and arrangements are in full swing for the routine matters in connection with the formation of the various branches throughout the Dominion. Good reports have been received from Auckland, Gisborne, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The various societies in Wellington are electing three representatives for the various parish councils. The executive are busily engaged in preparing the requisite stationery for the Federation. A neat certificate of membership has been drawn up and will be issued to each member upon enrolment. Correspondence from the general secretary of the Victorian Federation (Mr. T. J. O'Brien), congratulating New Zealand on the inauguration of the movement, and supplying the executive with valuable information and offering further assistance should it be required, was received. By next week every parish in New Zealand will be supplied with all the necessary requisites to enable branches to be established forthwith.

New Plymouth

(From our own correspondent.) February 5. The parish school, conducted by the Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions, re-opened on January 27 with a good attendance of pupils. Rev. Father O'Beirne, of this parish, has been transferred to Inglewood, and is succeeded here by Rev. Father Molloy. The annual school picnic was held last Monday at the Ngaire Gardens, and the day being an ideal one, a very enjoyable time was spent. , ( ■■- A meeting of parishioners : was held in the parish hall, Inglewood, on Monday evening, when Rev. Father

McManus, who has been transferred to Palmerston North, was presented with a purse of sovereigns as a token of the esteem in which he was held; A meeting of the congregation was held in the Rolland Hall on Sunday evening in connection with the St. Patrick's Day concert. A strong eommittee* including Rev. Father Molloy, was formed, and everything points to the concert being a great success.