DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 29 May 1913, Page 27

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph, from our own correspondent.)

May 26.

Rev. Father . O'Brien, of the archdiocese of Melbourne, who had been spending some weeks at Te Aroha, returned to Auckland at the end of last week, and left by the Victoria this evening for Sydney.

St. Benedict's bazaar is being actively pushed forward. In this connection Rev. Father Forde is putting great energy into it, and consequently the committee of ladies and gentlement under his guidance and example are ably assisting him, and the result should prove eminently successful.

The splendid brick school in Vermont street, Ponsonby, is to be opened on Sunday next by his Lordship Bishop Cleary. Rev. Father Edge has visited almost every school in and around Auckland with idea of gleaning information as to the internal arrangements in order to apply the knowledge acquired to his own school. This he has done, and the school is second to none in this district.

The devotion of the Forty Hours' Adoration commenced at the Cathedral yesterday morning. Rev. Father Ormond was celebrant of the High Mass, Rev. Father O'Doherty deacon, and Rev. Father O'Malley subdeacon. Rev. Father Ormond explained the meaning of the devotion, and exhorted the parishioners to attend well. After Mass there was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the interior of the church, in which confraternities took part. In the evening the Cathedral was filled by a large congregation, when Rev. Father O'Doherty preached an impressive sermon. Throughout the day large numbers visited the Cathedral. This evening a special sermon will be preached. To-morrow evening the devotion will conclude, and before Benediction there will we a procession of the Holy Family confraternity.

A new branch of the Hibernian Society was opened on Sunday evening at Te Aroha, mainly through the efforts of Rev. Father Creagh, C.SS.R., and Rev. Father McGuiness, parish priest. Rev. Fathers Creagh and McGuiness, who during the fortnight had been conducting a most successful mission, specially advocated the claims of the Hibernian Society upon the congregation, the result of which was a large gathering in the Catholic school. Invitation was sent to the district officers to attend, and D.P. Bro. D. Flynn and D.S. Bro. W. Kane responded, and performed the opening ceremony. The utmost enthusiasm prevailed, and forty members were initiated, and the following officers were

elected and ; installed:— N. "Gavin president, Bro. J. Revell vice-president, Bro. J. Moloney secretary, Bro. J. L. Flynn treasurer, Bro. George Sheehan warden, Bro. T. McGill guardian, Bros. Brennan and Walsh sick visitors, Bro. M. O'Grady, T. Gavin, P. Flynn trustees. Rev. Father Creagh addressed the members. He said he felt proud to address such a body of true men; it was : the crowning work of the mission. His Order owed a debt of gratitude to the Hibernians of New Zealand they would not forget the beautifully stained glass-wi\idow presented by the society to their Church of St. Gerard in Wellington. Were it possible, he would be a member of the society. He urged every member to induce others,to join, so that every eligible Catholic in the parish would become a member, as he felt sure that by so doing they would become better Catholics. He thanked the district officers for coming to them, and felt sure their assistance would always be extended to St. Joseph's branch at Te Aroha.

Rev. Father McGuiness said it was one of the proudest moments of his life. He congratulated the officers and members upon the step taken in forming in his parish a branch of that grand organisation, the Hibernian Society. ■ He exhorted them to work with all their might to make the branch second to none in the Dominion and the pride of the Catholics of Te Aroha. The new president, on behalf of his officers and members, thanked the missioner and Father McGuiness and district officers for their valuable assistance in the formation of the branch. The district president congratulated the new branch and its officers upon adding one more to the fast increasing branches of the society in New Zealand. It was very comforting and encouraging to those who had in their hands the government of the society, and he hoped they would prove themselves worthy of the great organisation of which they were now full partners. The district secretary said he felt exceedingly gratified at the result of their visit, and heartily congratulated the Rev. Father McGuiness, the officers, and members on the establishment of a branch of the society. He would like the fact clearly understood that the H.A.C.B. Society in New Zealand was distinctly a New Zealand Catholic benefit society affiliated to the society in Australia. He could not express how deeply grateful he felt to the Rev. Fathers Creagh and McGuinessto the 'former for the invaluable assistance given by his able advocacy of the claims of the society, and to the latter for his kindly interest by having a branch established in his parish. Hibernians were deeply indebted to the Redemptorist Order and our good priests generally, for assisting so nobly in the marked progress of our excellent Catholic institution.