THE COADJUTOR ARCHBISHOP OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 21 August 1913, Page 35

THE COADJUTOR ARCHBISHOP OF WELLINGTON

IMPRESSIVE CONSECRATION CEREMONY £ (By telegraph, from our own correspondent.) August 18. The Most Rev. Dr. O’Shea, S.M., was consecrated Archbishop of Wellington on yesterday morning in the Sacred Heart Basilica by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, , who was assisted by his Lordship Bishop Verdon, Dunedin, and his Lordship Bishop Cleary, Auckland. The ceremony commenced at .9 o clock, the church being packed, and hundreds were unable to obtain admission. There was a large number of visiting clergy present, including. Very Rev. Father Ryan, S.J. (Melbourne), Right Rev. Mgr, Brodie and Very Rev. Dean Darby (Auckland), Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (Provincial of the Marist Order), Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, Very Rev. Father Roche, and Rev. Fathers Lynch and Tuohy, of the Redemptorist Order, Very Rev. Deans Holley (Wanganui), Power (Hawera)’■ Smyth (Greenmeadows), Carew (Greymouth), Tubman (Timaru), Very Rev. Father' O’Connell, Rev. Fathers Keiley, McCarthy (Marist Missioners), Very Rev Father Keogh (Hastings), Rev. Fathers Le Pretre- (Wairoa), McDonnell and Kimbell (Greenmeadows), Ainsworth (Nelson), Fay (Blenheim), Delach (Otaki), and all the Wellington clergy. Ven. Archdeacon Devoy and Very Rev. Dean Holley were assistant’ priests at the Archbishop’s throne, whilst Very Rev. Deans Smyth and Regnault were assistants to the Most Rev. Dr. O’Shea. Rev. Fathers Hurley and Schaefer were masters of ceremonies. The religious Orders were represented by the Marist Brothers, the Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of Compassion, and Sisters of the Mission. Mr. John 0 Shea and Sister Mary Aloysius, brother and sister of the Most Rev. Dr. O’Shea, were present, and also Mi. G. W. Russell, M.P. An additional temporary altar was erected in the main sanctuary, the permanent altar being for his Grace Archbishop Redwood, and the temporary altar for the new Archbishop. The procession of hierarchy, clergy, and acolytes to the church commenced the ceremony. The Archbishop-elect presented himself duly robed in white, as a priest, to the consecrating prelate. The apostolic mandate was read by Rev. Father Hickson, after which the episcopal oath was taken, and the examination was proceeded with. After the examination, the Mass began,- the Consecrating Prelate at the high altar, and the Arch-bishop-elect at the special altar. During Mass the ceremony was continued. After the Epistle, the clergy present chanted the Litany of the Saints, whilst the Archbishop-elect prostrated himself. At the conclusion of the Litany, the Archbishop-elect knelt before the Consecrating Prelate, who, with the assistant Bishops, placed the Book of the Gospels over the neck and shoulders of the Archbishop-elect to remind him that he. accepted the tiara of the Gospels, and that, although he was head of his Church, yet he was under its laws. This was followed by prayer, and the consociation preface commenced. The hymn, * Veni Creator, was sung, after which the head and hands of the Archbishop-elect were anointed, the crozier, rings, and Book of the Gospels were blessed, -and handed to the new Archbishop. Then came an interesting part of the ceremony—the offering by the new Archbishop to his consecrator of two loaves and two small barrels of wine. After this the Communion followed, and*the mitre was then placed on the head of the new Archbishop and he, accompanied by the assistant Bishops thG main aisle and blessed the conVery Rev. Father Ryan, S.J., 0 f Melbourne preached an eloquent sermon, in which he described the

growth of the Church from the time of the Apostles until the present day. The ceremony lasted nearly three hours, and at its conclusion the prelates, clergy, and committee WCxv photographed and entertained at luncheon by Archbishop O’Shea at the Guildford Terrace school, and at which his Grace presided. The following toasts were honored; The Pope and the King,’ His Grace the Coadjutor-Archbishop,’ proposed by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, and feelingly responded to by Archbishop O’Shea, who thanked , the visiting prelates, clergy, and committee for their kindness to him ; ‘ The Hierarchy of New Zealand,’ proposed by Very Rev. Dean- Regnault, and responded to by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, and their Lordships Bishops Verdon and Cleary, and Dean Hills (representing Bishop Grimes), ‘ The Visiting Clergy,’ responded to by Very Rev. Father Ryan, S.J., and Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie; ‘ The Ladies,’ proposed by Very Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M., and responded to by Messrs. M. Flynn (Auckland) and B. Doherty (Wellington). At St. Joseph’s Church, Bupkle street, in the evening, his Grace Archbishop O’Shea sang Solemn Pontifical Vespers, the large church being packed to overflowing. Rev. Father Thos. McCarthy, Marist Missioner, preached an eloquent sermon from the following text: —‘Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the . Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own Blood’ (Acts of. the Apostles, xx., 28). At the conclusion of the sermon his Grace Archbishop O’Shea thanked the preacher, the clergy, and people for their prayers, Communions, and Masses, and many acts of kindness. To-day the visiting prelates and priests were taken out for a- motor drive to the suburbs and other places of interest. To-night a most successful conversazione was held in the large Town Hall. His Grace the Coadjutor-Archbishop was escorted from his residence to the hall by a procession, consisting of the Hibernian Society as a guard of honor, St. Patrick’s College Senior Cadets, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Children of Mary, and two bands —the City and Jupp’s. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea received a most enthusiastic reception from the large gathering assembled. Addresses were presented by the laity, clergy, Wellington * district, Hibernians, and the New Zealand Executive of the H.A.C.B. Society, which were read respectively by Mr. J. J. L. Burke, Very Rev. Dean Power, Messrs. P. D. Hoskins, and D. Flynn. A purse of sovereigns accompanied the address from the laity. Very Rev. Dean Power, and Messrs. J. J. L. Burke, Martin Kennedy, and D. Flynn delivered speeches, as also did his Grace Archbishop Redwood and his Lordship Bishop Cleary, who was most enthusiastically received, the large audience rising and cheering him as he rose. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea received a great reception on rising to respond to the addresses and speeches. He feelingly thanked the Archbishop, Bishops, clergy, laity, and Hibernian Society for the sentiments expressed. He spoke at some length, and was cheered again and again by the vast audience. His Grace Archbishop Redwood announced that the new Vicar-General would bo Very Rev. Dean McKenna, of Masterton, now on a visit to Europe. Apologies were read from his Excellency the Governor, the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, and many others. The following contributed to a splendid musical programme;— St. Mary’s Choir (under Mr. E. J. Healy), Miss Morrison, Signor Truda, Misses Agnes Segrief and McEnroe, and Mr. C. Hickmott. The proceedings terminated with the old and wellknown Hymn, Faith of Our Fathers,’ played on the large organ by Mr. W. McLaughlin, the large audience standing and joining with enthusiasm in singing it. Thus concluded one of the most enthusiastic and historical events in the history of the Church in New Zealand. [Additional particulars will appear in -our next issue.']