ST. BENEDICT’S PARISH, AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 5 November 1914, Page 49

ST. BENEDICT’S PARISH, AUCKLAND

(From an occasional correspondent.) A • Owing to the increasing Catholic "population in St. Benedict s parish, it was decided to provide the Gatholics of the Mt. "Roskill district with a building which would answer the double purpose of a school- and church. With this end in view the clergy placed the matter, beor® their flock, with the result that a section containing 5 acres 25 perches *was purchased, and a vigorously energetic committee immediately set to work to. prepare the-ground for the erection of the building’. To prepare the rugged, boulder-like, and unlevel ground was indeed an _ uninviting task, but before the willing workers of the /band of free labourers at'Mt. Roskill the work,progressed rapidly, and it far Receded the hopes, of those who undertook the purchase of the property. Not only has the section , been cleared and levelled, but there stands to-day on the site, commanding a beautiful view of the surrounding districts, a fine building, the dimensions of which are 70 feet by 30 feet. ' Every Saturday afternoon for the past two months some fifty men could bev seen working strenuously to complete the schoolchurch. The building is now nearing completion, and will be opened on November 8, under the title of 1 The School of the Good Shepherd,’ when a short mission by a Redemptorist Father will be preached for the people of that district. The estimated cost of the building figures at something like £750, but owing to the generosity Of ? the ' workers, among: whom are several nonCatholicsj whoso services were fortunately offered free, it is estimated that the total cost will not exceed £4OO. His Lordship - Bishop Cleary visited the site sonic few weeks ago, and expressed himself as more than delighted with the keen enthusiasm manifested in the work. The good ladies of the district, with their usual kindness, were not wanting in their efforts to bring assistance to the generous working band, and on each afternoon supplied refreshments, which, needless to say, were highly appreciated. The site on which the Mt. Roskill building is erected bids fair to become one of the finest church properties in Auckland, there, being space for both a boys’ and a girls’ school. To Monsignor Gillan and Father Forde, whose joint efforts in this undertaking have brought about so satisfactory a state of things, much credit is due.

Another matter of interest in connection with St. Benedict’s parish, is that a grand effort has been made by the people to free their schools. To carry out this scheme, and provide salaries for the teaching staff, there has been set up a specially nominated committee, whose duty it is to exercise full management over the funds provided. The funds not only provide for the teachers but also maintain the entire upkeep‘of the schools. During the past winter season, St. "Benedict’s social committee, assisted and encouraged by Rev. Father Forde, succeeded in lightening the financial burden which hangs so heavily over St. Benedict’s parish. The receipts for the season amounted to £2lO Is Id, and

ex r n f tur f :° T 049 12s, leaving a credit balance of , 69 9s Id. Tins is highly complimentary to the committee s efforts. , v : '