ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 22 May 1913, Page 13

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, WELLINGTON

- LADIEb' AUXILIARIES ; j- The last quarterly general meeting of the Ladies' Auxiliaries was held at' the Te Aro presbytery. About 25 members were present, and also Rev. - Fathers Hurley (spiritual 1 director), Barra, and Tymons. The reports, read by the secretary (Mrs. Chamness), were as follow:—Visiting guildsls meetings, average attendance, 14; 132 visits were paid to - the s poor and sick' in their homes, besides regular weekly- visits to the hospital and Victoria and Alexandra Homes; there were 5 baptisms ; 2 girls were transferred from the State school to the convent; 7 grocery orders were distributed. The sewing guilds reported — 11 meetings, with an average attendance of 13 garments. made, 72; distributed, 72 (new), 28 (second-hand). Miss K. ■ Sullivan, secretary of St. Mary's Sewing Circle, reported that 3 of the members pay regular visits to the Ohiro Home; also that members had rendered practical assistance at the kitchen tea given for the Marist Brothers' furnishing fund. Mrs. J. Gamble, president of St. Anne's, reported that owing to the kindness of the Ven: Archdeacon Devoy they now had the use of a very comfortable room for sewing. Mrs. Gascoigne, president of the Sacred Heart Sewing Circle, reported that the weekly meetings were well attended. Several letters were read by the secretary, one being from the president of the Ladies' Auxiliaries, Bologna, conveying friendly greetings in connection with the Ozanam, centenary about to be celebrated throughout the Catholic world. A letter was also received from the secretary of the Dominion Executive of the Catholic Federation, stating that action was being taken by the executive to secure facilities for the Auxiliaries to board the Home vessels on arrival in» port.

? The president (Mrs. L. T. Reichel), in her address, drew attention to the necessity of enlarging the sphere of spiritual activities, and again reminded the members that the St. Vincent de Paul Society was not a mere benevolent institution. She referred to the number of Catholic children attending non-Catholic schools, and pointed out the necessity of special zeal on the part of the Auxiliaries to help in guarding the faith of the little ones. She suggested, as one means of meeting the difficulty of gathering in Catholic children to their own schools, that a scout brigade be formed among the pupils of the Marist Brothers and convent schools. The president concluded with an earnest appeal to the honorary members, and the society generally, to combine whole-heartedly in a campaign to secure such funds as would enable the Auxiliaries, at some future date, to maintain their own hostel for. the convenience of immigrant and Catholic girls generally. To help in meeting the difficulty, sub-honorary members are invited to subscribe 6d per month, or 6s per year, thus every

Catholic woman would have an opportunity of assisting in a very useful and necessary undertaking, and of sharing in the blessings and indulgences of the society; Rev. Father Hurley (spiritual director) emphasised the necessity of keeping alive ; the spiritual - atmosphere of the weekly meetings by rthe practice of short pious readings, and a habitual spirit of mutual edification. He also applauded the idea of the scout brigade, and urged its speedy initiation. ' ' ' Rev. Father Barra warmly congratulated the ladies on their numbers, and on the good work reported, and added many very kind and encouraging. remarks. . ; . Rev. Father Tymons (recently appointed to the Sacred Heart parish) expressed the pleasure it gave him to have been present at- the meeting, which, he said, was also an introduction for him to the Auxiliaries He was much edified, and would- show his appreciation by practical sympathy with their efforts. v x;/ Regret was expressed at the absence, through illness, of the council treasurer, and Sacred Heart president (Mrs. Twohill). Mrs; Lyons (who expected to leave next day for America) was wished a very-pleasant voyage. , . Since the meeting, a letter has been received from the secretary of the Dominion Executive of the Catholic Federation, notifying the Auxiliaries that permission had been obtained from the Government for the members to board the Home vessels 'on arrival in the harbor, and welcome Catholic immigrants. This privilege does not involve any maintenance obligations. The girls will be housed at the Government subsidised hostels, where the St. Vincent de Paul ladies can keep in touch with them. By this means Catholic immigrants may be spared many inconveniences, and much of that heartache and loneliness peculiar to those who. find themselves among strangers far from home.