DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 26 November 1914, Page 26

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph, from our own correspondent.)' November 23.

The,mission at St. Benedict’s opens next Sunday and will be conducted by Rev. Father Kelly, C.SS.R.

At the conclusion of the men’s mission, on December 6, at St. Benedict’s, a week’s mission for the women of the parish will begin.

Parliamentary candidates here are coquetting with the Bible-in-Schools League by resorting to that -politician’s refuge, the referendum*

The opening of the new school at Mount Roskill, in St. Benedict’s parish, has been postponed. It is not likely that school studies will commence there until after the long vacation in the new year.

The newly-formed juvenile branch of the H.A.C.B. Society, which embraces lads from every city parish, is to meet next Friday evening in the Hibernian Hall. In this movement Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie and Rev. Brother Phelan, Superior of the Marist Brothers’ School, Vermont* street, are evincing an active interest.

' Clothing valued at £25,000 has been donated "locally for the suffering Belgians, which will necessitate the use of 650 half-ton cases in which to pack it for transhipment to Europe. The fund promoted by Mr. Bryns, the local Consul for Belgium, now totals £20,000, this being exclusive of several subsidiary funds. : ’

Six new priests, five of whose names appeared in last week’s Tablet, arrived to-day from Ireland. The' other priest is Rev. Father Farristal. Five' of them are from Wexford College, and one from Kilkenny College. Rev. Father Farragher was a student in the famous University of Louvain. The voyage out was uneventful, excepting the occasion when their ship was within 40 miles of the notorious Emden. The new arrivals were to-day entertained at dinner at St. Patrick’s Presbytery * by the local clergy. His Lordship Bishop Cleary from

Invercargill wired the young priests, a warm, welcome. During the afternoon they were driven round the beautiful Auckland suburbs, of which all expressed unbounded admiration, saying, ..that in all theif travels they had not seen anything superior to it. They will be the guests of the various local presbyteries until the Bishop’s return, when they will be allotted their respective appointments. /T . “ At the Town Hall last Wednesday evening the Celtic Society gave a very fine entertainment in aid of the Belgian fund. A very .large and enthusiastic audience assembled, including his Wbrship the Mayor Auckland, Mr. C. J. Parr, C.M.G., the Consuls for Belgium, France, and Russia, the Officer Comrpanding the District, and many -of the*clergy of the city. The hall was decorated with flags of the Allies and the flag of Ireland. The .pupils of the convent and Marist Brothers’ Schools occupied seats fronting the organ, and in their neat white dresses and colored sashes looked exceedingly well. Their singing, under the conductorship of Rev. Brother Heinrich, evoked rounds of applause, particularly the National Anthems of the Allies and God defend New Zealand.’ IMr. James Lonergan sang ‘Hearts of oak’ and the old Irish slogan, ‘ O’Dcfnnell Abu,’ assisted in the chorus by the children. Theduet, ' Ye banks and braes,’ was sung by Mrs. Blythe and Miss Martin, the former lady also singing ‘ Colleen Dhu.’ Master. Henry Lissack, the child violinist, played ‘ Valse Triste.’ Mr. F. G. Burke gave the topical item, It’s a long way to Tipperary,’ in which he was spiritedly assisted by the children. Mr. and Mrs. Burke gave the duet, ‘ True till death.’ ‘ For God, and honor the King ’ was given by Mrs. A. J McDonnell. During an interval a Belgian flag was auctione.d and brought £10; a blackthorn, grown on Vinegar Hill, brought 30s; and a photograph of the late Monsignor Macdonald brought £l. Mr. J. 11. Egan then sang ‘The death of Nelson, for which he was encored. Miss Mcllhone directed the. concert, and Mr. A. J. Woodley performed the secretarial duties. Brother Heinrich acted as musical conductor, and Mr. Harry Hiscocks as accompanist. All performed their allotted duties in an admirable manner, and to them is due the success of the evening. Speeches were delivered by the Mayor, Mr. Beddoe (Canadian Consul), and Mr. Hall Skelton (president of the society), in which all eulogised Belgium for her efforts to maintain her freedom.