Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 10 December 1914, Page 24

Diocesan News

ARCHDJOCE3E OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.)

December 5.

The children of the Sacred Heart Convent at Island Bay are holding a garden fete in aid of the Belgian Fund on Tuesday next.

Gunner A. J. Ridler, of the Reinforcement Expeditionary Force now encamped at Trentham, and late secretary of the Federated Catholic Clubs, has been promoted to acting-bombardier. The response to a request by the Catholic Federation for parcels of books, periodicals, etc., for the Catholic troops in Samoa, has enabled the secretary to send a large quantity over by the last mail steamer. As many of the donors are unknown, they could not be personally thanked, but the executive through these columns wishes to express its deep appreciation and sincere thanks to all those who so liberally responded.

I am very pleased to again record the success of the pupils of the Marist Brothers’ School, Hawkestone street, Thorndon. In the examination held recently by the Government inspector 22 boys gained the proficiency certificates for the Sixth Standard and two the competency. This is a splendid record, and is another instance of the ability of Catholic teachers to not only compete with State schools, where every opportunity is given to the State teacher at the expense of the State to aid him in his work, but at the same time to ground their pupils in our holy faith, making them God-fearing citizens and a credit to their parents, Church, and country.

A pretty wedding took place at San Antonia Church, Muritai, when Miss Iris Rose McKeegan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. McKeegan, of Rona Ray, was married to Mr. Patrick John McGovern, son of the late Mr. P. J. McGovern, J.P., of Pukekohe, and Mrs. M. A. McGovern, and a prominent member of the Wellington Catholic Club. The Rev. Father Bartley, S.M., performed the ceremony. The bride was given away by her father. She was attended by her sister, Miss Molly McKeegan, as bridesmaid, Mr. S. J. Moran was the best man. After the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. McKeegan held a reception at their home in Rona v Bay, where the bride and bridegroom received the congratulations of their friends, and the usual toasts were honored. Later Mr. and Mrs. McGovern left by motorcar on their honeymoon. There arrived by the Marama from San Francisco on Thursday, the Right Rev. Dr. P. Y. Dwyer, Bishop of . Maitland, and Dr. J. Carroll, Bishop of Lismore. Both are returning to Australia after having paid a visit to Rome, France, England, and America. Whilst in France the two prelates attended the Eucharistic Congress at Lourdes. They mentioned that the celebrations at the congress included a procession of the . Holy, Eucharist, which was banned by the British Government in 1910 at the congress held at Westminster. This year the congress was participated in by no fewer than 80,000 persons. Their Lordships were on the Continent when war was declared by Austria on Servia. The French army was immediately mobilised, and the two prelates had great difficulty in getting out of the country owing to the transport facilities being required for mobilisation purposes. Both had to stand in a crowded corridor of a train on the journey from Paris to Dieppe, whilst from there to Newhaven Dr. Dwyer had to be content with an anchor in the prow of the ferry steamer as a bed! Dr. Carroll left on Thursday evening for Rotorua, and will spend a few weeks in the north prior to leaving for home, but Bishop Dwyer will leave for Australia by the Marama on Friday. Both have been absent from New South Wales for nearly a year. '; • ■ , •

• The Dominion Bazaar has been running every nighty and to-night (the tenth) it will conclude. The attendances have been good, and brisk business has been the

result. The side. shows . have been attractive and responsible for good receipts, especially ‘ Houp la ’ and Bunty pulls the strings.’. The hall, as previously reported, is delightfully cosy and is decorated prettily. Three matinee afternoons for the benefit of the children were also held, and proved very successful. The management provided a different programme for each evening. Last Saturday evening the Misses Plimmer gave an exhibition of fancy dancing, and Messrs. Smith, Rex, and Clifford a laughable sketch, * Thou April fool/ A splendid programme was given by the 4 Charley’s Aunt Club ’ on Monday evening. On Tuesday evening a first-class entertainment was provided by the boys of the Marist Brothers’ School, who sang choruses, looking very neat in their white suits with pale blue belts. Master Fergus Reeves gave a recitation, and Master John McLean sang a solo and also danced a Highland fling. A clever little girl, Miss M. Howe, danced a step dance, and was warmly applauded for her effort. On Wednesday evening the girls of the Convent School gave an exhibition of physical drill under the conductorship of their instructor, Mr. J. A. Duffy, which- was greatly appreciated; and Miss Thurza Rogers gave several of her fascinating dances. On Thursday evening the Marist Brothers’ School Choir again sang a couple of choruses. Masters Harry and John McLean contributed Highland dances. Master Ben O’Brien sang, and Master Keble Hayward recited. On Friday evening Miss Mclnerney’s party gave an excellent concert. , The Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., arid his devoted committee of ladies and gentlemen, who have had a most strenuous time, are to' be congratulated on the success that has attended their efforts. A London paper of October 15 has the following interesting story to tell of the wanderings, of the party of members of the Marist Order in New Zealand who left Wellington about May 4 to attend the conference of the Order in Belgium : —‘ Very Rev. Dean Regnault, of Wellington, who has arrived in England, did not escape his share of the adventures that mark the progress of all passengers on the Continent in these days. He was in Paris, leisurely making his way to Belgium, on August 2, when war broke out, Dean Holley and Dr. Kennedy having come over to London on August 1. The first-named was detained in Paris owing to the fact that, on account of the mobilisation, trains and vehicles of all descriptions were required for the transport of troops. However, after exciting adventures on all sides the various members of the Marist Order managed to find each other. At the' Belgian frontier it was found the railway lines were cut, and some of the party had to walk forty kilometres before they , could find a train to convey them anywhere. Dean Holley and Dr. Kennedy, who ha'd managed to go back to the Continent for ‘the' meeting, now returned to England, and Dean Regnault set out for his home and relatives at St. Brieux, in Brittany, which he had not seen for thirty years. An incident that might have developed into something ugly occurred while the New Zealander was staying with a priest friend at St. Brieux, at which town he had arrived dressed as the clergy of his denomination are in New Zealand or in this country, but not as on the Continent. When, therefore, he assumed the cassock, and actually occupied the pulpit of his friend’s church the following Sunday, consternation spread over the village, the boldest of the distressed congregation hieing' him to the Chief of Police, with the news that here surely, in the mild and merry person of the Dean so well known in New Zealand, was a German spy ! His address saved him, the authority invoked Being prepared to vouch for any acquaintance of Dean Regnault’s host.’ With the exception of Dr, Redwood, the party are now in America, and may be expected back in Wellington about the beginning of the New 1 Year* ' \ <’■ '

The devotion of the Forty Hours’ 'Adoration commenced in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Thorndori, on Sunday, November 22. At the early Mass, in addition to-the general. Communion of the parishioners, the members of the Hibernian Society, and the Children of

_#■ ■■ ■ . . . . I ", Mary approached the Holy Table in regalia, after which breakfast was in the Guildford Terrace Schoolroom. Bro. J. A. Humphrey, president of the Sacred Heart branch, presided, and the Rev. Father Tymons and the visitors from the other city branches were present. The toast of the H.A.C.B. Society was proposed by Bro. Sellars and responded to by Bros. Humphrey and Jer. O’Brien, 8.P., of St. Patrick’s. The ‘ Catholic Federation ’ was proposed by Bro. Leo. Leydon and responded to by Bro. M. Walsh, a member of the Dominion Executive. The Rev. Father Tymons, in the unavoidable absence of the chaplain (Rev. Father Smyth, S.M.), congratulated the society on the attendance, and also the Children of Mary on their excellent muster. The branch also took part in the procession of the Blessed Sacrament at the 10.30 o’clock Mass. In the evening, before a packed congregation, the Very Rev. Father O’Connellf S.M., preached an eloquent sermon. On Monday evening the Rev. Father A. Yenning, S.M., of St, Mary’s, preached a devotional and_ instructive sermon to another crowded congregation. The ceremony concluded on Tuesday, and was remark able for the attendances at all the services and the large number of Communicants each morning while it lasted. : The altar was very prettily decorated by the ladies of the Altar Society, and the choir rendered appropriate | and devotional music. The Very Rev. Dean Smyth, S.M., Provincial, has taken up his residence at St. Mary’s, Boulcott street. The St. Aloysius’ branch of the Hibernian Society met last Monday, under the presidency of the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, B.P. The weekly socials have now been concluded for the present season, and the returns ■disclosed a very successful result, materially strengthening the funds of the branch, whilst the membership is increasing very satisfactorily. The" Boxing Day Committee again met last Thursday evening, Mr. T. J. Davis presiding. Efforts are being made to secure physical drill displays and maypole dance, and also teams for the inter-parish - tug-of-war. Seatoun Park, the locale' of the picnic, has the reputation^of being a very sheltered and ideal place for a picnic, and can be approached by both steamer and : tram. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea has returned from GreenmeadoWs, where he ordained several candidates for the priesthood and minor Orders. The Rev. Father Seymour, one of the newly-ordained priests, and a son of Mr, C. A. Seymour, postmaster, Lower Hutt, celebrated Mass at St. Anne’s yesterday morning. The Very Rev. Dean Regnault, of Wellington, exProvincial of the Marist Order for New Zealand, visited the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Ireland towards

the end of October, to convey to the national secretary, on behalf of the Hibernians of New Zealand, and especially of the Wellington Branch (of which Dean Regnault is chaplain), the congratulations of their fellow-Hiber-nians, the Irish party, and the Nationalists generally of Ireland on the success achieved in having the Home Rule Bill placed on the Statute Book. It was, Dean Regnault said, the crowning success of the efforts of the last forty years. The agitation carried on for the winning of Irish rights had been watched very keenly by all the Hibernians in the Oversea Dominions, and even in Ireland there was not greater rejoicing at the victory than amongst the Irish in New Zealand. Dean Regnault expressed himself anxious that Catholic organisations like the Hibernian Society in the United Kingdom should get in touch with Catholic organisations like the Hibernian Society in the overseas Dominions, with a view to making arrangements for the guidance and care of Irish Catholics who may be compelled to seek a living in Australasia.