CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 1 January 1914, Page 17

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

DOMINION COUNCIL

MONTHLY BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE DOMINION EXECUTIVE.^

No. 1. December ■ 15, ' 1913. A Foreword. Now that the Federation is firmly established in every district in New Zealand, and the branches are taking a whole-souled interest in its welfare and doings, ' we think the time has arrived when it is advisable to - issue a monthly Bulletin, conveying the latest information regarding the progress of the movement, as well as affording hints by which its effectiveness can be greatly assisted, by local branches. Copies will be sent to each secretary of branch committee, and the Executive trusts that the Bulletin will be read and discussed at the meetings of members. ' The time for issuing this first number is considered opportune in that this month December — the second year of the Federations existence. Progress During the Year. It is with pleasure that we- record the excellent progress of the Federation during the year just closed. The excellent co-operation of the clergy and laity has had the effect of establishing a branch of the Federation in practically every parish in the Dominion, and considering that the Federation is in its infant stages the result must be considered very satisfactory indeed. The work at headquarters had grown so much that the appointment of a permanent officer became an absolute necessity. The Executive was fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Georg© Girling-Butcher, and he, with the necessary clerical assistance, has opened offices kindly placed at the disposal of the Executive by Mr. Martin Kennedy, K.S.G., at the Brunner Buildings, 51 Lower Cuba street, Wellington. Here the many activities of the Federation are carried on, and although the offices have been opened only since October 1, 1913, an enormous amount of work has been put through, work which clearly demonstrates the absolute necessity of such an organisation as the Federation. Although so much has been done, there yet remains a great deal to be accomplished, and parish committees, who form the backbone of the Federation, are requested to study the remaining items of this Bulletin, with the object' of giving a fresh impetus to the already excellent work accomplished. . • >' Organisation. - This. is the most important work, of the Federation, and a work that can never be accomplished unless each .parish committee takes it up enthusiastically/ and makes some little sacrifices. The officers of each committee should therefore be members who are imbued with the spirit of the Federation,^and are prepared to make • sacrifices• on- its behalf! It ; should be the aim l of each committee to secure every Catholic in the parish as a ;member of the Federation. • The following "plan- of ■ campaign should be adopted; -—First, with the - consent of the parish priest, an, appeal should be made at the church doors. for one or more Sundays, but before doing so : arrangements 1 should- be 'made ■ with the priest to jannounce l tho fact, and on - the Sunday -prior -to the -canvass^ ■ /•

'V . After the church-door canvass, arrangements should be made to - find out -the names of those who have not

joined. This can be done by a few members and the officers meeting, going through the ; register, and writing the name and address of each member on" a separate slip of, paper. -These slips should then be sorted into street or address -order, and each person present allotted a certain district to canvass. The names of all members in the allotted ' area are given, and the canvasser is instructed to approach all other.- Catholics in his district with a view to their joining the Federation. • This is the only practical way in which our organisation i will be able to achieve the success we are all hopeful for. VThis work entails a sacrifice, it is true, but if committees take into consideration the fact that they are doing God’s work in organising a Federation having for its object the defence of our holy Faith,, no sacrifice, however great, can be too great for the cause we have at heart. Members of committees, and especially the officers, are appealed to, to give this matter their earnest and enthusiastic attention, ' and to make every effort to have every Catholic in the parish enrolled. 7 ' - . - Immigration. This work has been occupying the time and attention of the Executive, with very satisfactory results. Catholic Immigration Committees have been formed at Wellington,'Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The work’ undertaken by these committees consists of meeting each immigrant ship on arrival, welcoming each Catholic immigrant, lodgings for such as are not going to friends are found in Catholic surroundings, and assistance given in securing employment with people of their own Faith. At Hobart, arrangements have been made with the St. Vincent de Paul Brothers to board each vessel touching, and hand Catholic passengers cards instructing them to look out for the C.I.C. representatives at port of arrival. - Employment Bureau. The Federation has opened the foregoing at its offices, and already, a great many have been assisted. Parish committees can give much assistance in this work by acquainting the secretary of the names of Catholic employers requiring Catholic employees, and vice versa, or any other kind of labor that is available in the district. ; j--. Accommodation Register. The Federation has also established an Accommodation Register. A list of Catholic families and boardinghouse keepers Having accommodation in all parts of the Dominion is kept at the office, and visitors or residents wanting information in this regard can be supplied upon applying. Committees wishing to add to the list will please apply to the secretary. _ Care of Neglected- and Orphan Children. Children who ■ through various reasons are unable to be cared for by their parents or guardians, are taken care of by the Government, each case being considered by a magistrate. The policy"' of the Government is to have These children placed in private families, as it considers such training.much better for home life than that of an industrial school. Catholic children dealt with in this manner are in very grave danger of losing their Fayffi if they happen to be boarded out with uonCatholics. , To: overcome this difficulty, the Federation has undertaken to keep a register of good Catholic families who are willing to take these children into their homes. The Government pay eight shillings per week for each, child -so boarded. This payment is made monthly at’ any Money Order Office. Committees are urged to find out suitable families in their districts willing to undertake the care ;of \ these ’ children, and submit their -names to the secretary, P.O. Box 958, Wellington. This iis ; a most important work, and is designed to prevent the leakages which it is feared the Church must suffer- if no y such action ; is taken. V , , Meetings of. Diocesan Councils. . , In accordance with the Constitution, the half-yearly meeting jof Diocesan - ' Councils should fbe held in the month of ; January. Each parish committee -is j entitled to three delegates, viz., the parish priest .and two lay delegates! A strenuous effort should be made by parish

committees to send •at least one representative, - thereby assisting to make the meeting a success: / Matters of great interest are to be discussed, and■ it 'ft essential ’ that as many 'committees*' as possible in t: each diocese should be represented/ Committees / unable; to send ■ delegates should request the diocesan ; secretary 'to ap- ‘ point proxies/'. In connection with this meeting, - each delegate—whether direct or —should be in a posi- ' tion to give the number //of members enrolled in the i branch he, represents, : and r also the approximate Cath- . olic population of the district. ; Parish committees are '• therefore enjoined to give this matter their immediate attention. : : '/./V//.'< /■ ;/:■;£■•' ;, / - ./■ ■ . '££/,. | "... December Quarterly Returns.;;; .. -/ The attention; of committees is particularly directed to Rule 6, clause f, which provides that * a quarterly statement of - receipts and expenditure, accompanied by a remittance of all moneys due' to date to the Diocesan "Council, and a “concise report of the number of financial members and the work of the parish committee, shall be forwarded to the diocesan council in March, June, September, and December in each year. ~ ’ The December returns are now- due, and secretaries are particularly requested to be prompt in the rendition of the above, as it is desired to have full information as to the numerical strength of the ' Federation for the next meeting of the Dominion Council. . ' Subscriptions for the Year 1914. Parish committees are reminded that the subscriptions for the year 1914 fall due on January 1 next. Arrangements should be made to collect them. Permission should fie sought from the parish priest to collect at the church doors on the first and succeeding Sundays in January, and it is hoped -that in this work volunteers from each committee will undertake this duty, and not only renew all existing subscriptions, . but enrol as many new members as possible. This is a most important work, and-should on no account be postponed or neglected. Those concerned are reminded that the subscription for / children/^hasy been .fixed at ; sixpence per child, as from the Ist January next. :: Conclusion. From a few of the works, enumerated in the preceding paragraphs parish committees can see that there ; is plenty of scope for the activities of-their members, and this utterly disposes of the fallacious idea that there is nothing for the members of parish committees to do. . In the next Bulletin several more important works will/ be dealt with. ' ‘ - .///■/ It is to be hoped that the mere reading of them will not end the action of parish committees. /If arrangements are made to discuss the various subjects, and carry out the ideas contained therein, the Federation will become the power that it should be in the Dominion. This, ot course, can never be accomplished without the aid- of the . parish committeesas has been said before, they form the backbone of our organisation, ? and without their enthusiastic and hearty co-operation we can never attain the results hoped'• for., C / A strong appeal is therefore made through this the first Bulletin issued by the Dominion Council—to all Catholics to wake from their apparent apathy, and ; take more than a passing interest in things essential for the / advancement of our Holy Faith in this portion of ; the Lord’s vineyard. p / /?./'/.-• ' ' /.. / .. ; , INVERCARGILL. (From , our own correspondent.) - r. For some time past the : Catholic Federation committee, have been-, making arrangements for a.;, panSouthland gathering of Catholics to be held early in the new year at some* central and suitable place. The . project is now assuming definite shape, /and- it is expected that a huge ; Catholic picnic will "' eventuate at , Riverton/ about ; January 28. ’ The school children and parents from Gore, Wrey’s Bush, Nightcaps, Winton, H ;i,Tuatapere7 /Invercargill/ - and other surround- ; ing districts will be present, and will afford an. illustration ol the organisation possible under the auspices ’• of the Federation, r •

wi V ' /-■/ Pahiatua V:/ ■ •' P- //.- ■> 1 ~" :•.-.- ■ • - Despite the ’ unfavorable weather, a large gather-•, ing attended the entertainment the. King’s Theatre' on , December 17 given by the pupils of the Pahiatua Convent. / The programme, which was a ‘lengthy one, was full of merit, and some. very,/pretty j scenes were enacted in tableaux on the stage. The star item of the evening was a : violin sold.•played by Miss E. Cotter, of Napier, and fdrmerly"of£PaHiatua. - Miss Cotter also received an encore - for her vocal solo. ; Miss T. Sutherland (song) and Miss P. Shotlander (recitation) were , also encored. The first part of the / programmer concluded with an operetta, entitled ‘The dolls’ wedding,’ in which a large number of - children . took . part. They delighted / the audience with their performance. The concluding item, was a farce, entitled ‘ The girl from Mexico ’ t. The various items f throughout / the .. evening . were -well received, and the children’s work . reflected great credit on .the Sisters of -the: Convent. Mr. H. ■ McSherry,. on behalf ,of the Sisters, thanked the audience /and all who assisted to make the function a success, especially the members of other denominations. The programme was; /as ; follows:—Overture, Misses Hewat and Shetlander"; chorus, ‘The flag of our homeland ’; violin solo. Master Frank Chatwin; comic song, Masters H. Burt, C. Collins, and J. Walsh; recitation, Miss R. Shotlander; song, Miss. E. Cotter (Napier), song and dance, ‘ Skipping,’ Misses R. Hughes, K. O’Rourke, P. Hart, O. Cashin, and M. Collins; pianoforte duet, Misses O’Rourke and Walsh; vocal duet, ‘Bells of. gold,’ Misses Halliburton and Harris; comic song, Master H. Burt ; violin solo. Miss E. Cotter; song, Miss T. Sutherland; recitation, Miss P. Shotlander ; chorus and tableau, ‘The land of I dunno where,’ with colored limelight effects. Those who took part in ‘ The dolls’ wedding ’ were Misses P. Hayden, Burt, Cashin, Eames, Upton, • Stewart, Vile, K. O’Rourke, R. Collins, P. Vile, L. Vile, H. Burt, A. Hayden, T. Moynihan, A. Walsh, T. Oxley, J. Walsh, Cook, O. Cashin, A. Cleghorn, Walsh, A. Sullivan ; and in ‘ The girl from Mexico ’ Misses R. Shotlander, A. Rourke, B. Cleghorn, Harris, Spillane, Hart, Ryan, Hughes,: Twomey, Collins, O’Rourke, ; and Master C. WaHh. V ’ ■/ ‘