DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 20 August 1914, Page 31

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.)

August 17.

Father O’Doherty celebrated Mass on Sunday morning at the camp at Alexandra Park for the benefit of the Catholic'troops, with whom he is a great favorite.

His Lordship Bishop Cleary, after his arduous labor and fight in Wellington, returned home last Thursday. It is hoped he may now be enabled to seek a muchneeded respite. It will interest his friends to learn that for forty-eight hours continuously he had striven and worked, and crowned his efforts with complete success.

■ ' On Sunday afternoon the Bishop, accompanied by Father O'Doherty, visited the camp at Alexandra Park and addressed the Catholic troops, who muster 180. He presented them with scapulars and medals, and exhorted them always to cherish their holy faith, to serve their God, King, and country, and, shed renown upon themselves, as well as upon those whom they serve.

The Feast of the Assumption was celebrated in the city and suburban churches on Saturday./?.,. At - the 8 o’clock; Mass at, St., Benedict’s a large number of boys and girls received their First Communion. Monsignor Gillan officiated. The girls were neatly attired in white and formed an attractive spectacle. They were under the charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph, the boys being under Father Ford. Our Lady’s altar was beautifully adorned, this being the work of the Sisters.

The devotion of the Quarant’ Ore commenced after the 11 o’clock Mass, which was celebrated by Father Ford. After Mass a procession ■ formed, and after pass-

ing down the. centre aisle proceeded around the church. Preceding the procession were six young girls attired in white, who strewed 1 the path-with/flowers.' The-whole formed a most striking and devotional spectacle". The church was filled throughout the afternoon'.and evening. Large numbers visited the Blessed Sacrament, over which a special vigil was maintained by groups from various parts of the large parish. In the evening his Lordship presided, the church being packed. Monsignor Gillan preached. A special feature connected with this Quarant’ Ore is the magnificent lighting by electricity of the high altar. This-morning Masses were celebrated and the Bishop attended this evening. Very Rev. Dean Darby preached. The devotion will conclude to-morrow morning. . ■. A Solemn Mass for peace, Missa pro pace, was celebrated this morning at St. Benedict’s Church, which was crowded to the doors. His Lordship Bishop Cleary, after the last Gospel, addressed the congregation and exhorted all to pray for honorable peace. The war, the Bishop said, was urged on by a political clique in Germany comprised of army officials. The British Empire found itself obliged to defend its rights and the rights of weaker neighbors. He congratulated the Dominion , and the young men who had volunteered to go to defend the cherished rights of the British Empire. The Bishop further stated he was proud to see so many Catholic young men amongst those who had offered their services to the Empire. Two things he would suggest to his people to practise; first to make some sacrifice and contribute, according to their means, to the heavy expenditure caused by the present war; secondly, he exhorted all to pray, that peace might soon be restored, and that the young men who had gone to the front might return safely. The Mass which was offered this morning had been especially offered for this intention. He recommended each priest in his diocese to have prayers offered for peace. He further appealed to the Sisters and Brothers in charge of the schools to have prayers offered daily by the children for the same intention, which he hoped would be speedily realised. The music of the Mass was sung by the boys’ choir.