DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 18 December 1913, Page 27

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph, from our own correspondent.)

December 15. Very Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M., left for the south on last Saturday a , The St. Patrick’s Day celebration committee meets on next Friday evening in the Convent School, Hobson street. His Lordship the Bishop, accompanied by Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, V.G., paid visits to the Henderson and Helensville districts last week. This week his Lordship will visit Wade and the surrounding districts. Rev. Father Peters, of Maitland, preached a practical sermon in the Cathedral on Sunday night. He leaves for Sydney by the Niagara on the 17th inst., after thoroughly enjoying his holiday in various parts of the Dominion.

Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie left for Waihi at the end of last week. This. is his first visit since his recent severe illness, when he was compelled, in consequence, to relinquish his ministrations of Waihi. Preparations have been made to extend a hearty welcome to the popular priest by his parishioners. Very Rev. Dean Vandyk addressed the Holy Family Confraternity last week, and gave a most interesting account of the Maori missions. He began with the initial work of Bishop Pompallier, almost at the foundation of the Colony, showed the gross misrepresentations to which he was subjected, how he overcame them, and eventually won the love and respect of the Maoris. He dealt also with the work done by Rev. Dr. McDonald, for whom the Natives entertained the greatest love and admiration. After an interregnum the late Bishop Luck arranged with Cardinal Vaughan to send out the Fathers of the Foreign Missionary Society from Mill Hill, and Fathers Becker and Madan were the pioneers. The former is still with us, and the latter has gone to his eternal reward. The mission was at present in a flourishing state, both in the north and south of the Auckland diocese. Dean Vandyk gave several illustrations of life with the Maoris, whose kindness, geniality, and hospitality are proverbial, particularly so to the priests. On Sunday, December 7, a pleasing ceremony took place at St. Mary’s Convent, Ponsonby, when four young ladies received the habit and veil of the Sisters of Mercy. The names of the novices were— Annie Hayes (in religion Sister M. Teresa), Miss May O’Donnell (Sister M. Genevieve), Miss Mary Conroy (Sister Martha), and Miss Catherine Murray (Sister Madeleine). The ceremony was performed by his Lordship Bishop Cleary, assisted by Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie, Rev. Father O’Malley being master of ceremonies. Fathers Golden, O’Connell, O’Doherty, and 'Furlong were also present. His Lordship preached a very impressive sermon on the religious life. The music of the ceremony was effectively rendered by the convent choir. The proceedings terminated with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. On adjourning to the convent, the clergy and visitors were entertained by the Sisters. The community is to be congratulated on the addition of such promising young ladies to its staff. They are to be supplemented by five young ladies from Ireland who will, I understand, arrive by the Orvieto in January.