ST. MARY’S CONVENT, PONSONBY

New Zealand Tablet, 15 July 1915, Page 51

ST. MARY’S CONVENT, PONSONBY

The Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, in the unavoidable absence of his Lordship Dr. Cleary, officiated at the ceremony of reception, which took place on Friday afternoon, July 2, at St. Mary’s Convent, Ponsonby. The young ladies who received the white veil on the occasion were—Miss May Holbrook (Wexford), niece of Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook, who received the religious name of Sister Mary Louis; Miss Madge Davis (Wexford), Sister M. Aloysius; and Miss Katherine O’Donoghue (Blenheim), Sister M. Teresa. Among the clergy present on the occasion were the Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie, Right Rev. Mgr. Mahoney, Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook, Rev. Fathers Cahill, Kehoe, Murphy, Golden, Doyle, Dunphy, Kelly, Delach, and Farragher. A great many of the relations and friends of the candidates were also present. The convent choir rendered, in a truly devotional manner, the canticles, hymns, and psalms incidental to the ceremony. Monsignor Gillan preached a most-elocjuent sermon on the religious life and on the works of the Order of Mercy to which the young novices were consecrating their lives. After the ceremony Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by Monsignor Gillan, assisted by Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook. The convent chapel was beautifully decorated for the occasion, the altar being adorned with lovely arum lilies. The new stained-glass windows, representing St. Catherine, the patroness of the foundress of the Order of Mercy (Catherine McAuley), and St. Cecilia, patroness of Rev. Mother M. Cecilia Maher, who was the foundress of the Order in the Auckland diocese in 1850, were much admired. They were the gift of Miss S. Lynch in memory of her parents, Daniel and Mary Lynch, and of her sister, and were the work of a local firm, Messrs. Herbert and Sons. The ceremony being concluded, the visitors adjourned to the convent, where afternoon tea was dispensed by the Sisters.