Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 15 April 1915, Page 24

Diocesan News

ARCH DIOCE3E OF WELLINGTON From our own correspondent. . April 10. At the senior military cadet tournament, held recently, the St. Anne's Cadets won easily the tug-of-war competition. His Grace Archbishop Redwood is at present in New York, and is expected to return to the Dominion in the latter half of the present year. A Solemn Pontifical High Mass for the repose of the soul of his Lordship Rishop Grimes will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church, Buckle street, on Thursday next. The combined Catholic school committees of the city are organising a monster Catholic social and picture entertainment to be held at the Town Hall on May 19. The proceeds are to go to the Catholic education fund. When the Rev. Father Joseph Herring, S.M., was transferred from Wellington South to Blenheim sufficient time was not given to organise a farewell. Since then an energetic committee got to work, and as a result a very nice chalice, etc., will be sent to him at Blenheim, and will be accompanied by the best wishes of his many friends in Wellington South for his welfare and happiness. The Holy Week ceremonies were observed with the customary- solemnity at St. Joseph’s Church, Buckle street. On Holy Thursday the Rev. Father Barra, S.M., preached on the Blessed Eucharist,’ and on Good Friday morning, Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., celebrated the Mass of the Presanctified, assisted by the Rev. Fathers Schaefer and Barra. In the evening the Rev. Father Hurley preached on the ‘ Passion.’ The festival of Easter‘(was observed with due solemnity at all the city churches. At St. Joseph’s Church, his Grace Archbishop O’Shea celebrated Pontifical High Ma:(i, Rev. Father Schaefer, S.M., being deacon, Rev. Father Barra, S.M., subdeacon, and Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., master of ceremonies. The choir, under the conductorship of Mr. Bernard Page, rendered appropriate music. His Grace preached on the feast of the day. In the evening there was a very large congregation, when Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy (Rector of St. Patrick’s College), preached on the ‘ Resurrection,’ which, he said, was but he pledge and the type of our own resurrection. At St. Anne’s, Solemn High Mass was celebrated by the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., the Very Rev. Father Taylor, S.M., b<png deacon, Rev. Father Peoples, S.M., subdeacon, and Rev. Father O’Connor master of ceremonies. The erection of a temporary Catholic social , hall arid church-room at the Trentham Camp is now proceeding, and it is expected that the building will be available for use in a few days’ time. So far the Catholics of the Dominion have made a very poor response to the appeal for the necessary funds for the erection and furnishing of the building. It must be remembered that this building is by no means a Wellington affair. Trentham is the permanent concentration camp for the Dominion, and our Catholic men from all the dioceses are located there, and, if other denominations are able to provide the necessary accommodation for their members, surely Catholics ought to be able to provide a hall for their soldier co-religionists. All remittances sent to the Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., Dominion treasurer, of the Catholic Federation, Patterson street, Wellington, will be very gratefully acknowledged. * J

5 TWO WELLINGTON PRIESTS HONORED. . . The Very Rev. Dean McKenna, - V;G., : of Masterton has received a letter from his Grace- Archbishop Redwood, who at the time of writing ‘(February 25) was at Rome, stating that the Holy Father had conferred the title of Monsignor on him and the Yen Archpriest Walshe, of Westport. 'i / ’ The Right- Rev. Monsignor McKenna, V.G., was born in Ix-eland. His first appointment was as curate in the Thorndon parish, and later on he was transerred to the Wairarapa where he has been stationed evex since. He did a good deal of pioneer work in that district, with the result that the Church in the Wairarapa is flourishing both in a spiritual and material sense. He introduced the Brigidine Nuns into his parish. A few years ago he was made Vicar-General of the archdiocese in succession to his Grace Archbishop O Shea, and he has filled this position with conspicuous ability and success. Some three years ago, in company with his brother, the Rev. Father T. McKenna, of Pahiatua, Monsignor McKenna visited the land of his birth, when they had the privilege of seeing their mother, who died shortly after their departure for New Zealand. Monsignor McKenna was in his early days in the Wairarapa an ardent footballer, and represented the district in representative matches. He is a keen Catholic Federationist, and is president of .the Wellington Diocesan Council. Although resident in Masterton, there are very few monthly executive meetings in Wellington which he misses. Needless to say that the appointment is a popular* one and well deserved. The Right Rev. Monsignor Walshe, of Westport, is the oldest priest in the archdiocese, and vex-y popular. He was one of the first priests ordained in New Zealand. He was educated in Ireland, and ordained at the same time as the late Right Rev. Monsignor O'Reilly at Auckland. lie has been stationed on the West Coast for many years, and has done a great deal for the Church in that part of the Dominion. He is an ideal priest in every sense of the word. Monsignor Walshe will have the congratulations of a great number of friends throughout the Dominion at the dignity conferred on him by our Holy Father the Poper