ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

New Zealand Tablet, 15 May 1913, Page 43

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

* ; •Auckland.:- : " ' _ - - (From our own correspondent.) ~; -' At St. Patrick's Cathedral an edifying spectacle was presented on Sunday/April 27, when over 100 members of both branches of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Auckland attended a special Mass at 8 o'clock, and received Holy Communion in honor of the centenary of Frederic Ozanam, founder of the St.Vincent de Paul Society. Mass was celebrated by v his Lordship Bishop Clear.y. , After Mass breakfast was partaken of in one of the: classrooms of St. Patrick's Convent School, presided over by Rev. Father O'Malley and Bro. C. Little (president of the Particular Council). At the conclusion of the breakfast the quarterly meeting, which had been postponed from the usual date was held. / Before proceeding with the business, Bro. C. Little referred to the great pleasure experienced by him that morning in meeting the members of all the conferences in Auckland congregated in "one body. It had been his hope for years to have a gathering such as he saw before him, and he was thankful to Frederic Ozanam in affording him this opportunity. The speaker gave a short account of the life and work of Frederic Ozanam, and referred to the centenary celebrations that had been held during the past week in his honor at Paris to further the cause of his canonisation. The business of the meeting was then proceeded with, the president of each" conference reading his report for the past quarter. A great amount of good work was disclosed in the various reports, and the society appeared to be in a very flourishing condition. The report of the " Particular Council dealt with the special work of the different conferences— the visiting of the Costley Home, Public Hospital, Gaol, ships in port, and the teaching of Sunday School, each being regularly carried out. The fund started for the education of a young man for the priesthood had been loyally responded to by all conferences, and there was now a good credit balance in hand. Reference was made to the Frederic Ozanam celebrations, detailing the special devotion carried out by each conference" The hope was expressed that the various conferences would go oftener to Holy Communion in a body in order that the blessing of God would be ever on all "the works undertaken by the society. The report concluded by thanking his Lordship the Bishop, the priests of the different parishes, and benefactors for the interest displayed in the work of the society. The financial statement presented showed that receipts for the past quarter amounted to £24 5s 2d and expenditure £l3 3s Bd, leaving a balance in hand of £ll Is 6d. The fund for the education of a priest showed receipts to be £2O ss, made up of levies from the various conferences.

PONSONBY.

The Frederic Ozanam centenary celebrations were carried out on an elaborate scale by the Sacred Heart Conference, Ponsonby, all the members entering into the various devotions with great fervor. The celebrations commenced on Sunday, April 20, with a special Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, celebrated by the Rev. Father Finn (spiritual director), at which a general- Communion of the members of the conference took place. On April 23 at 7.30 p.m., a special meeting of the conference was. held at which special alms were: authorised to be distributed 'to the poor in' honor of the occasion. On April 24, at 7.30 p.m., Benedic, tion of the Blessed Sacrament was attended in a body at the Sacred Heart Church. • On Friday-evening the poor, weie,' visited in their own homes, and the special alms distributed at the same , time, the visiting brothers explaining the reasons for the special visit, and giving a short description of the life and work of Ozanam. On Sunday, April 27, the conference visited St. Patrick s Cathedral and took part ,in the ceremonies of the morning. In addition to the above, visits were made to the Blessed Sacrament every day by the brothers, reciting the special prayer composed in honor of the centenary, and offered prayers for the usual intentions.