Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 6 May 1915, Page 26

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON From our own correspondent. May 1. Rev. Father J. J. Cullen, S.M., of the professorial staff of St. Patrick’s College, has passed the first section of the B.A. examination in applied mathematics, chemistry, and mental science. At Upton’s Laundry the children of the convent school at Petone, conducted by the Sisters of the Mission, held a juvenile bazaar in aid of the Belgian fund, the amount realised being between £7 and £B. Although all returns are not yet in, it is anticipated that the net profit of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations this year will be over £l5O. This amount will be handed over to the Catholic Education Board. Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Dominion treasurer of the Catholic Federation, acknowledges a donation of 10s from ‘ Anonymous,’ Johnsonville, towards the cost of providing a hall for Catholic soldiers at Trentham. Further donations will be gratefully acknowledged. On last Monday evening at St. Peter’s Hall, the Very Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M., entertained the ladies and gentlemen who assisted at the late parish festival. Father O’Connell expressed his appreciation of their efforts, which resulted in a net gain of £3OO for the parish funds, a sum that was very much in excess of what he had anticipated. Musical and elocutionary items were contributed, and a most pleasant evening was brought to a close with a hearty vote of thanks to Father O’Connell for his consideration and thoughtfulness. The mission, conducted by the Marist missioners (Very Rev. Father Taylor and Rev. Father A. T. Herring) at the ‘Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Thorndon, concluded last Sunday. There was a general Communion of the parishioners, many hundreds of whom approached the Holy Table, the Children of Mary and members of the H.A.C.B. Society being in regalia. The church was taxed to its utmost in the evening for the concluding service, when there was a renewal of Baptismal vows. Rev. Father A. T. Herring is conducting a mission at the residence of Mr. Thomas Campbell, Karori, for the benefit of the Catholics resident in that district. The mission services both morning and evening are well attended. The presentation of the handsome Curtis cup to No. 4 section of St. Anne’s Senior Cadets took place in St. Anne’s Schoolroom last Thursday evening, the proceedings taking the form of a social function. Those present included Lieutenant Mills, Lieutenant Fitzgerald, several members of the New Zealand permanent staff and the N.C.O.’s of the company. The cup, which was donated for annual competition in rifle exercises, physical drill, route marching, and section drill, was received by Sergeant Bradley on behalf of his section. During the evening a number of loyal toasts were hdtiored and several songs were sung. Special mention was made of the fact that there , are now no fewer than 23 old members of the company serving at the front. Miss Eva Gasquoine, eldest daughter of the late Mr. W. C. Gasquoine, general manager of the State Coal Mines Department, was married on Wednesday morning at the Sacred Heart Church, Hill street, to

Mr. D. Campbell, son of Mr. J. Campbell, of Newtown« Nuptial Mass was celebrated by the Rev.: Father Kim-: bell, S.M., uncle of the bride,'assisted, by the .Very Rev, Dean Regnault,; S.M., Adm. Miss Frances Gasquoine was the bridesmaid, -and Mr. Leslie Campbell was best man. ‘ The bride was given away by her brother. Lieutenant C. J. Gasquoine. Among the numerous presents was a charming gift from the Sisters of St. Mary’s Convent, of which the bride is an ex-pupil, and a beautiful collection, of flowers from the Sisters at the Lower Hutt Convent. The honeymoon is to be spent at Auckland. ; A pleasant social evening was spent last Monday evening by the members and friends of the Thorndon branch of the Hibernian Society at the opening of their new rooms in the Marist Brothers’ Schoolroom, Hawkestone street. Among those present were : the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, the Very Rev. Father Taylor, and the Rev. Father Herring (Marist Missioners), Mr. P. D. Hoskins (district deputy), Mr. J.. P. McGowan (president St. Patrick’s branch), and Mr. M. Walsh, representing St. Mary’s ladies’ branch. Mr. J. A.* Humphrey (secretary) stated that the progressiveness of the society had necessitated the occupation of the larger rooms. Mr. R. P. Smyth (vice-president), and Mr. R. P. Flanagan and other members spoke in congratulatory vein. Musical items were -rendered by Misses Butler and Mulhane, Messrs. G. Leydon, A. Levin, and Master Reeves. The Catholic hall at Trentham is now finished, and is a fine building. It is built of wood and iron, and is 75 feet by 35 feet, with a stage at one end, and two rooms—one to serve as a sleeping apartment for the chaplain, when he stays at the camp overnight, and the other as vesting room and confessional. The building has large and spacious windows, and is lighted at night by powerful kerosene lamps, suspended from the ceiling. Seating accommodation is available for 400, and deal forms are supplied for this purpose. The Bristol Piano Company has very kindly lent a piano and organ. The Sisters of Mercy journey from the Upper Hutt on Sundays, play the organ and sing the hymns at Mass. The hall is greatly appreciated by the officers and men, who are deeply grateful to the Catholic Federation and the kind benefactors who have subscribed towards its erection. Now that the hall is completed, arrangements have been made to entertain the men, and in this connection a party of ladies and gentlemen journeyed to the camp last Wednesday evening, and supplied a very enjoyable programme. The members of the Dominion executive (Messrs. J. J. L. Burke, Johnson, Reichel, and Hoskins), accompanied the party, and, although late in arriving, did much to make the evening an enjoyable one. The following contributed to the programme; —Misses Eileen Driscoll, Watkins, Peggy 'Reeves, and Myrtle McLaughlin, Messrs. R. Sievers, A. G. Hay, E. B. L. Reade, C. J. Houston, W. McLoughlin, and Master Fergus Reeves. After the concert the Catholic officers of the camp entertained the party at supper. The arrangements for the erection of the building were- left solely in the hands of the Rev. Father Daly, of the Upper Hutt, who is also chaplain to the camp, and great credit is due to him for the successful result of his exertions. It is by his energy and selfsacrifice that the men are provided with facilities for the practice of their religion, and also with a hall for social purposes. Catholics should, therefore, do all they can to assist Father Daly in the important work in which he is engaged. THE HOME OF ASSIGN, WELLINGTON ■ 1 1 —f It may be remembered (says the Dominion of April 26) that some five years ago a Jubilee Ward was added to the Home of Compassion at Island Bay to mark the jubilee of the remarkable work done by- the Rev. Mother Mary Joseph Aubert in the Dominion. That dearly loved helper of the afflicted is at present visiting Europe, and when last heard of was succouring the hurt and afflicted in the terrible. earthquakes at

Avezzanb, in Italy ■; While she is away the good work at St. Joseph’s Home for Incurables and the' Home of Compassion is being attended to by .the hard-working, capable Sisters. ■ The sad little colony of foundling babies and juvenile inepts is an ever-growing one, and it is the lot of the Sisters to ; twist and contrive to make the best of everything, and this they manage to do, and still keep cheerful. , To return to the Jubilee Wardthis apartment has up to the present been one large hall, but the Sisters have been advised that it is imperative that an infirmary must be provided, in order that the sick or ailing babies should not sleep* in the same room as those who are fit and well, so, to meet the need of the moment, the Jubilee Ward is being divided into three large and two small apartments. The large rooms will be utilised for the purpose of a dormitory, infirmary, and nursery. A glassed-in verandah is being provided on the north side, to get the advantage of the sun, and another shaded verandah will project from the eastern side of the nursery for the use of the little ones. This contriving will leave the present babies’ dormitory—the large room on the north-western corner of the home proper—and the refectory available as a play room for the other children. The two small rooms that are being provided in the Jubilee Ward are a kitchen (in.which there is a. boiler for the hot-water system) and a, bathroom, where the bairns can be conveniently attended to. The work of altering the wing is not being done for nothing—the* times are out of joint for that—but the Rev. Mother always maintained that the Lord would provide, and that He had never failed her yet. Perhaps some human help will manifest itself to meet the needs of the good Sisters. With the approach of winter comes the call for warm clothing (and plenty of it) for the children of. the Home. There are at present ho fewer than seventeen babies under twelve months, who find comfort and love all round them, and show it in their crowing, kicking, and crawling. A happier bunch of kiddies the writer never saw. This little colony has to be clothed, and though it may be that ‘ Sister Susie’s sewing shirts for soldiers ’ (as the song runs), it is imperative that someone will have to help the Sisters in this direction. To that end a nursery tea is to be held at the Home in about a fortnight’s time, and everyone who attends will be asked to bring something, however small, for the babies. The date of the tea will be announced in due course —in the meantime, needles and thread will doubtless be busily employed in the good work.