Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 11 February 1915, Page 26

Diocesan News

AKCtlUiUCfcAfc OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.)

February 6. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea is at present on a yisit to Christchurch.

The schools re-opened during the week, and St. Patrick’s College commences work on Monday. The Rev. Father O’Connor, of Napier, who succeeds Father Herring, has now taken up his duties at St. Anne’s.

Mr. Geo. Gilding-Butcher left to-day to take part in the great Pan-Southland gathering of the Catholic Federation at Riverton.

Messrs. Girling-Butcher and Hoskins addressed a meeting on behalf of the Catholic Federation, and at the invitation of the Rev. Father Quealy, at the Sacred Heart Church, Petone, last Sunday evening. There was a fair attendance.

The Rev. Father 11. J. Herring, S.M., left for Blenheim to-day, where he has been transferred. Prior to his departure the members of St. Anne’s Club and St. Anne’s Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, of which he was spiritual director, presented him with tokens of the esteem in which he was held by them.

The Catholic Education Board met at the Catholic Federation rooms on Tuesday evening under the presidency of his Grace Archbishop O’Shea. The Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, Very Rev. Father O’Connell, and the Rev. Fathers Tymons, S.M., and Hurley, S.M., were present. A consider amount of business affecting the welfare of the schools under the jurisdiction of the board was dealt with.

The St. Patrick’s Day celebration committee met at St. Patrick’s Hall on Thursday evening under the presidency of Mr. J. P. McGowan. The Very Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M., and the Rev. Brothers Basil and Fidelis were present. It was decided to celebrate the day at Newtown Park, and hold a concert in the Town Hall in the evening. Messrs. W. Farquhar Young (Christchurch), and Misses Wrighton (Christchurch), and McEnroe have already been engaged. Negotiations are in progress for the playing of a hurling match between the Wellington and Auckland clubs on the sports ground. The question of organising a procession was held over, pending the result of inquiries from the different bodies concerned.

St. Joseph’s Church, Buckle street, was the scene of a pretty wedding on Wednesday of last week, when, at a Nuptial Mass, celebrated by the Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., Mr. Michael McWilliams, son of Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams, of Webb street (and electrical engineer of Ross Goldmines), was married to Miss Honoria (Queenie) Doherty, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. Doherty, of Webb street. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in a dress of ivory crepe-de-chine, and a veil of Limerick lace becomingly arranged and fastened with sprays of orange blossoms. She also carried a beautiful shower bouquet. She was attended by three bridesmaids, the Misses May and Ray Doherty, and Miss Dolly Rossbotham, of Gisborne. The chief bridesmaid was dressed in a delicate shade of rose silk taffeta, with a hat to match. The two younger maids wore pale blue san toy frocks, with mob caps of muslin and lace. The bridegroom was attended by Mr. A. Kenney, of Invercargill, as best man. A breakfast was held at Godber’s Rooms, Cuba street. Many presents were received from friends of the bride and bridegroom, including several cheques. The bridegroom’s presents to the bridesmaids were a handsome chain bag and two gold bangles. After the breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams left by train for Wanganui, where they will spend their honeymoon. The bride’s travelling dress was a saxe blue tweed, with a hat of tagel straw trimmed with pink roses.

Napier

(From our own correspondent.) Rev. Father Bore, chaplain to the Expeditionary Force in Egypt, writing to the parents of the late Mr. John Campbell who died of pneumonia shortly after arriving at Cairo, says— I feel confident that the account of his holy death will be a great consolation to 'you. I was called to his bedside at the Egyptian Hospital for New Zealand military, and I found he was suffering from pneumonia. He was quite conscious and wished to receive the last Sacraments, which I administered. His preparation was exemplary, and he received the last rites of the Church in a manner which anyone might envy. But what impressed us most was the noble spirit of reconciliation which he showed. Both Father McMenamin and myself visited him frequently, and until his last moments he greeted us with a cheerful smile. He assured me that he felt that God had been very good to him, and he was quite prepared to die. He asked me to write to you and tell you not to fret over him. He was blessed with the full consolations of the Church and needed no more. His funeral, which was attended with full military honors, was very impressive. Both Father McMenamin and 1 were present as well as all the Napier men of his regiment. His body was laid to rest in the Catholic Cemetery near the Citadel, Cairo, on Wednesday, December 16.—R.1.P.

Wanganui

(From our own correspondent.) Rev. Father Eccleton, S.M., of St. Patrick’s College, preached in St. Mary’s Church- last Sunday evening.

The St. Patrick’s Day concert committee is actively engaged in making arrangements for this annual event, and present indications are that it will be most successful. It is possible that in the near future a sports gathering will be held in connect-on with the celebration.

Messrs. J. Hill, F. Jago, and C. M. Morgan have been elected as the three vice-presidents of St. Mary’s branch of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The fortnightly meeting of St. Mary’s branch of the Hibernian Society was held on Wednesday evening, January 27, when there was a fair attendance. One candidate was proposed. Accounts in connection with the recent social were passed for payment. The quarter' just closed has been one of marked progress for the branch, the funds having increased considerably, whilst there are no liabilities. Members are reminded that the meetings now take place on Wednesday evenings. Tho secretary in his report for the twelve months ended December 29, 1914, stated that the year closed with a membership roll of 73 full benefit and 11 honorary members.

Temuka

(From our own correspondent.)

At St. Joseph’s Church, Pleasant Point, on Septuagesima Sunday celebrations ordered by his Lordship the Bishop were carried out (1) for those who were killed in the war, (2) intercession for the cessation of hostilities, (3) reparation for the sacrileges committed to churches, etc. Solemn High Mass was celebrated at 10.30 o’clock, the celebrant being Rev. Father Kimbell, S.M.; deacon, Rev. Father Herring, S.M., and subdeacon, Rev. Father Geaney, S.M., D.D. At 3 o’clock Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament was held, followed by prayers for the dead. After a sermon on ‘ Faith ’ by the Rev. Father McCarthy, S.M., all took part in a procession through the church grounds (which were gay with flags and banners) to the Altar of Repose, where prayers were offered for the cessation of hostilities. On the return to the church, where numbers were unable to gain admission, acts of reparation were offered up, and the ceremonies were brought to a close with

Benediction. In addition to the clergy previously mentioned, Very Rev. Dean Tubman, 'S.M. (Timaru), and Rev. Father Tymons, S.M. (Temuka) were also present. A feature of the proceedings was the congregational singing, which was conducted by Rev. Father Kimbell, S.M. The Pleasant Point Choir was also very much strengthened for the occasion by the assistance of the members of the Temuka Choir, who journeyed out for the occasion.

Mr. Ryan, representative of the Tablet , is at present in Temuka. He expresses himself as highly pleased at the support given to this excellent Catholic paper by the Catholics of this district.

Rev. Father Tymons, S.M., leaves to-day to take up his new duties as parish priest of Nelson. His many Temuka friends join in wishing him a very successful future.

Timaru

(From our own correspondent.)

February 8

There was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday from the last Mass until the evening devotions, when the usual procession took place. The schools of the parish resumed work on Monday last. The convent boarding school is to re-open on Wednesday next.

On Monday evening the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M., is to give a lecture in the Choral Hall on his recent travels and experiences in Northern France and Belgium. The proceeds are to be devoted to the British and Belgian relief fund.

The ladies of the Catholic Patriotic Society have resumed their usual Thursday afternoon sewing meetings in the workroom of the convent technical school.

' On Tuesday morning last, the Feast of the Purification of our Blessed Lady, there was a ceremony of reception and profession in the convent chapel. One Sister received the holy habit and two others received the black veil. The Very Rev. Dean Tubman presided, and preached a short sermon suitable to the occasion.