DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 25 September 1913, Page 47

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) In a lecture, ‘ Catholic Paris spiritually looked at,’ delivered recently to the members of the Holy Family Confraternity, Rev. Father O’Doherty gave the following interesting details:The diocese is 186 square miles in extent. It contains 4,154,042 souls, of whom about 92 per cent, are Catholic. The diocese contains nearly as many inhabitants as the whole of Ireland. The city is nearly six times as large as Dublin. It numbers seven times as many Catholics as Rome, and eight times as many as London. The diocese is governed by a Cardinal-Archbishop, who is aided in his arduous task by ten Vicars-General. There are in all 170 parishes, varying in population between 6800 and 96,000. The number of priests at present in the ’diocese is 1446, of whom 840 are engaged in parochial work. The rest are occupied in administration, in education, or in chaplaincies. One feature in the organisation of parochial work is the beautiful method adopted to reach the working classes in the floating population. Twenty-one provincial Catholic associations have been formed, through which immigrants from the provinces receive advice and aid to find employment and help in need. To each association a priest from the same province is attached, to look after the spiritual welfare of the immigrants. The same provision is made for immigrants from other nations. Chapels are opened where Italians, Spaniards, English, German, Flemish, Poles, and Arabs are ministered to by their own priests. At an early date the lecturer will deliver the twin lecture — £ Catholic Paris, temporally looked at.’ Palmerston North (From our own correspondent.) September 14. The amounts contributed towards the parish siistentation fund for July and August were £36 10s and £26 12s respectively. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea paid a brief visit to Palmerston on Thursday, and was the guest of the Rev. Father McManus at the presbytery. His Grace found time to visit the parish school on Friday morning, where he received a great reception. After addressing a few words to the children, he asked that they be given a holiday. A social will be given in the Empire Hall on Wednesday, 24th inst., in aid of the funds for the forthcoming bazaar. The members of the St. Vincent de Paul conference purpose holding a concert and social in the Empire Hall on Wednesday, October 8, in aid of the St. Vincent de Paul stall funds. The very best local talent are to assist, under the management of Mr. W. T. Tabor. The secretary (Mr. V. A. Dallow) and the committee are making very elaborate plans for their patrons’ amusement and comfort, and as it will be the last chance parishioners will have of contributing in some way towards the success of the bazaar, a crowded house is anticipated. Mr. Boken, who has come 1 to the Dominion for the purpose of making a study of the flax-milling industry, and of a scientific treatment of flax with a view to opening up an entirely new industry in the interests of

his country (Germany) has settled down in Palmerston for a few years. .He is v at present busily erecting new machinery for experiments » which, , if , successful, will revolutionise the trade. Mr. Boken, who is a practical Catholic and a brother of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, has joined the local conference, and at the last meeting .gave an address on the conferences to which he had been attached, both in his own country and in England and Ireland.