DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 20 January 1916, Page 35

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph,’ from our own correspondent.) '■ ’ ' January 17. Rev. Father Murphy assumed control of the Cathedral parish,-on Sunday, and., was the recipient of many hearty welcomes, congratulations, .. promises of hearty support, and co-operation by the parishioners. At the Sacred Heart parish , Rev. Father .Carran, who took over control on Sunday, .was also similarly' welcomed and promised the whole-hfearted support and assistance of the people. , His Lordship Bishop Cleary, accompanied by the Right Rev. Dr. Brodie, Bishop-elect -of Christchurch, and the Rev. :Dr. Ormond, left for Wellington on Saturday. ' Bishop Cleary will accompany his Excellency the Most Rev. Archbishop Cerretti through ’ the Dominion, and will return with him to Auckland on February 19. Rev. Father Doyle, who has been in charge of the Remuera parish since February, 1911, was on last Wednesday evening entertained, in St. Mark’s Hall, Remuera, by a large number of friends and parishioners on the occasion of his departure for the front as Captain-Chaplain, of the Forces. The Hon. J. A. Tole, on' behalf of the parishioners, presented Father Doyle with a purse of sovereigns, and expressed the best wishes of those present for his speedy and safe return. A further presentation of a chalice and vestments was made by Mr. J. J. O’Brien, on behalf of the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Children of Mary, and the ladies of the parish. Father Doyle expressed his appreciation of the gifts. A number of musical items were rendered during the evening. Father Doyle was an invaluable member of the Newman Society, from whose ranks he will be much missed. Very Rev. Father Cahill assumed charge of the Parnell parish as successor of the Right Rev. Dr. Brodie on Sunday last. After the evening devotions the parishioners met in St. Bonaventure’s Hall, Mr. J. O’Sullivan presided and, on behalf of the confraternities and parishioners, bade their new rector a hearty welcome. While regretting the great loss sustained by them owing to the departure of the Right Rev. Dr. Brodie, they were pleased to have as his successor one who was eminently worthy to fill the position. Messrs. Patrick Gleeson, James Smith, Patrick Carr, and Andrew Markey, on behalf of the parishioners, also welcomed their new pastor. Very Rev. Father Cahill; on rising to respond, received a very enthusiastic reception. In earnest and sympathetic language he conveyed to his new parishioners the great pleasure and gratification he felt at the warm welcome given to him. It augured well for the future. Where priests and people were united nothing could withstand them. He assured them of his hearty support in ail matters pertaining to the honor and glory of God, to their spiritual welfare, 'and, wherever possible, to their temporal welfare. A very pleasant evening was subsequently spent. . . ' A large and representative gathering took place at'*’ St. Benedict’s Club rooms on Tuesday evening to bid farewell to the Rev. Father Forde, ’ who is leaving to take charge of the parish of Taumarunui. The president of the club (Mr. F. G. J. Temm) presided, and amongst- those present were the Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, V.G., Rev. Fathers Kelly and Flynn, the diocesan executive of the Catholic Federation, members of St. Benedict’s Catholic. School Committee, Marist Brothers’ Club, .and representatives of the parish. The president on behalf of the club, expressed the general regret of the members .at Father Forde’s departure, and thanked him for the many services he had rendered to the club as chaplain. Monsignor Gillan, on behalf of the club, presented the guest of,the evening with a gold watch suitably inscribed as a mark of .the esteem in which . he was held byt members. Father : Forde. suitably responded. A lengthy toast list was honored, , and the gathering, concluded with : the singing of * Auld lang syne’ and the National Anthem. ■ Father Forde has j been.stationed in St.-Benedict’s parish since bis arrival

in the diocese, and has there < worked* with energy and zeal, many of the undertakings in this ’.widely spread' parish being due to his efforts. Father Forde left for his new. parish by the express train on Friday night. Many friends from the various city parishes assembled to bid him. farewell.; ; ' - " Rev. Father McMenamiu, who left the Dominion as chaplain with the First contingent for Europe, and who returned in broken health, delivered at the Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby, pn Sunday evening a highly interesting discourse on matters particularly connected with the Catholic soldiers and his duties towards them. He said that one of the results of the war was the knowledge acquired of the universality of , our Holy Church by colonial soldiers. In every country they visited Catholic churches existed. To attend church at all was tor go to a Catholic church. A characteristic displayed by our Catholic soldiers was their utter disregard of what the world thought of them. In most public,places. they ~ would kneel ..and go through their confessions. It was dangerous for. two or more to assemble, because they would instantly be, targets for Turkish gunners. This made it difficult to say Mass and attend Mass. He often thought of the Roman Catacombs and the penal days in Ireland, when he found himself saying Mass under ( many and strange circumstances. Many a time he said Mass with a doctor’s medicine case for an altar. War was an awful reality, and he hoped and trusted that all would . emerge from it, as from a crucible, cleansed and purified. Father McMenamin, being unable to stand, was seated in . the * sanctuary during the delivery of his interesting discourse, which was listened to throughout with the closest attention by a crowded congregation.