Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 20 July 1916, Page 21

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) July 15. The Very Rev. Dean Smyth, S.M ovincial), is at present on a visit to Australia. St. Patrick’s College, "which is now closed owing to the mid-winter vacation, re-opens on Monday, 24th instant. An excellent concert, arranged bv Miss Marie Fix, was given at the Catholic camp hall, Trentham, last Wednesday evening. t The Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., is organising a euchre party and social for the purpose of liquidating the parish debt. It is to be held in St. Anne’s Hall on August 30. The Marist Brothers’ boys assisted at the concert given on Thursday evening at the Town Hall, with the object of raising funds for providing motor cars for concert parties attending the Trentham Training Camp* It will be interesting to learn that a number of the crew of the Japanese men-of-war, who are visiting New Zealand, are practical Catholics. They attended Mass at the various city churches during their stay here. Messrs. W. F. Johnson (hon. secretary of the diocesan council of the Catholic Federation) and Mr. Walsh left to-day for the purpose of addressing a special meeting of the Federation at Palmerston North on Sunday. By the kind courtesy of Mr. Allen Doone, the popular Irish actor, the boys of the Marist Brothers’ schools were present at his popular plays, ‘ O’Leary, V.C.’ and ‘The Colleen Bawn.’ Mr. Doone has had a very successful season here. I very much regret to record the death of Mrs. Power, wife of Mr. T. J. Power, of the St. Patrick’s branch of the H.A.C.B. Society, which occurred on Saturday. The funeral took place on Monday morning, the members of the H.A.C.B. Society acting as pall-bearers. Much sympathy is felt for Mr. Power, who is left with four young children.—R.l.P. The following officers were elected at the halfyearly meeting of the St. Patrick’s branch of the Hibernian Society for the ensuing half-year: —President, Bro. F. Whitaker; vice-president, Bro. M. Walsh, P.P.; treasurer, Bro. J. J. L. Burke, P.P.; warden, Bro. D. McLoughlin, jun. ; guardian, Bro. G. L. Gregory; sick visitors, Bros. M. Condon and P. O’Callaghan ; auditors, Bros. H. McKeowen and J. P. McGowan, P.P. The Dominion Executive of the Catholic Federation met last Wednesday, under the presidency of Mr. J. J. L. Burke, Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Rev. Brother Egbert, and Messrs. Johnson, Sievers, Walsh, Hoskins, and the secretary being present. Several matters in connection with education were dealt with, and the secretary reported that in most cases he was able to satisfactorily adjust the troubles that had arisen with the Education Department. It must have been a keen disappointment to the Catholic Club, who were the promoters of the concert at the Town Hall last Wednesday evening, to find an audience which filled only about one-third of the large hall. The object of those who had arranged the programme was a most worthy —to enlarge the fund of the Navy League for the dependents of sailors lost in the recent naval battle in the North Sea—and the local talent collected for the performance was of the best. Yet the response of the public was disheartening.- Lord Liverpool and party gave their patronage, while among others present were his Grace Archbishop Redwood and his Grace Archbishop O’Shea, Very Rev. Father O’Connell, and the Rev. Father Yenning.

Much credit is' due to Mr. F. O’Driscoll and Mrs. M. Hickey (joint honorary secretaries) for the excellent arrangements. The annual meeting of the Thorndon branch of the Catholic Federation was held last night. Rev. Father P. J. Smyth, Adm., presiding. The report stated that the number of members is 1100, which was regarded as most gratifying, but* the committee said, it must be borne in mind that there-are still many parishioners who have not yet joined, and to these an earnest appeal was made to at once become enrolled as members, and thereby help in consolidating the Federation. Messrs. U. McCabe and J. E. Fitzgerald had been placed on the life membership roll. The report also states;—‘Referring to the great war now raging in the Old World, and in which the British Empire is a most important participant, we are proud to be able to record that quite a number of young Federationists from this parish have responded to the call, and others have enlisted and await the summons. As it is the wish of the committee to inscribe the names of all who have given their services to the Empire on a Roll of Honor, and in order to the list as complete as possible, parishioners are urged to assist the committee by forwarding names as early as possible to the Administrator of the parish, or any officer of the Federation.’ Messrs W. F. Johnson, J. Duggan, and M. Walsh delivered stirring speeches. The following were re-elected members of the committee to represent parishioners;Messrs. R. Sievers, J. McGowan, J. E. Fitzgerald, M. Walsh, and J. McKeown. The very active interest taken by the Rev. Father Smyth, S.M., Adm., in the affairs of those parts of the Thorndon parish, known as Kelburn, Northland, and Karori, is likely at an early date to result in a very big improvement in the facilities afforded for hearing Mass there. The present church-room at Northland is to be removed to a new and valuable site near the Karori tunnel, kindly donated by the Hon. C. J. Johnston, M.L.C., whose generous assistance on previous occasions has been very acceptable. Tenders for the removal of the building are now being invited, and it is expected that the work will be completed by the middle of September. The. building will then be opened as the Thorndon-Suburban Church. Father Smyth expects to provide for Mass to be said there every Sunday, and probably to arrange for evening devotions occasionally. This will be a much appreciated innovation, and the Catholics of the three districts will, no doubt, rally round Father Smyth in the sale of work which he is ■ organising to assist in the expense by the removal. Already three stalls, representing the different districts, have been allocated, and meetings are being held to , arrange the preliminary canvass. It is hoped to hold the sale in the new location •of the church-room at the end of October. The Rev. Father Smyth has already received two large donations to the funds. Mrs. Putnam is to be in charge of the Northland stall, Mrs. Casey of the Karori stall, and Mesdames Gusscott and McNamara of the Kelburn stall. Mr. George McNamara is secretary to the committee. -