DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 2 November 1916, Page 29

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) Rev. Father Murphy is at present engaged in the inspection of the city and suburban Catholic schools. The inspection is apart altogether from the secular curriculum. The first meeting of the women’s confraternity of the Holy Family was held on Thursday evening' at. the Cathedral. Rev. Father Murphy addressed the members. It was announced that each evening a short discourse would be delivered on the life of each saint after whom tho guilds are named. The bazaar and sale of work in aid of St. Joseph’s parish, Grey Lynn, was opened in St. Benedict’s Hall on Thursday night, and continued on Friday and Saturday evenings. The attendances were well up to expectations. The entertainment provided by the pupils of St. Joseph’s Convent School and the Marist Brothers’ School, comprising songs, recitations, and dances, was highly appreciated. The whole setting of (he stalls was much admired, and showed the most excellent taste and care. The side-shows were attractive and inviting. One item, which was the theme of wide admiration, was the beautiful handwork of the Sisters of St. Joseph, especially the needlework and painted articles. The retreat for the women of St. Patrick’s Cathedral parish was brought to a close last Sunday evening by Rev. Father McCarthy, S.M. In the morning at early Mass Father McCarthy was the celebrant, and, assisted by Rev. Father Brennan, gave Holy Communion to the large numbers who approached the Holy Table. The choir of the Children of Mary sang excellently, particularly their new hymns. At • the 9 and 11 o’clock Masses Father McCarthy addressed the congregations, and in the evening the Cathedral was crowded. The women occupied the front seats, and were allotted for the first time their respective guilds. Father McCarthy blessed and inaugurated the confraternity, congratulated them upon their new organisation, and prayed that the grace of God would remain always with them. He then preached the concluding sermon of the retreat, on ‘ Perseverance,’ without which we should assuredly be lost. At the conclusion of an eloquent sermon he thanked them for their devotion and constancy during the retreat, and asked their prayers for the success of the missions. He, then imparted the Papal Benediction. The Right Rev. Mgr. Mahoney, V.G., diocesan Administrator, addressed, on Tuesday evening, a large gathering of the men’s confraternity of the Holy Family on ‘ The Church in Japan.’ He began with the advent to the ‘ Land of the Rising Sun ’ of St. Francis in 1549, and dealt with the great success attained by this devoted raissioner in spreading the faith, against the antagonism, which was fanned and kept alive by the Buddhist and Shinto priests, and which culminated in the massacre of the Catholics nearly 5Q

years later, in 1597. A considerable number who escaped the slaughter hurried to uie. mountain fastnesses, and there, like our forefathers who fled to the wilds of Connacht to escape the fury of fanatical Cromwell, for over 300 years these devoted sons of Japan clung to the faith. In the early 'sixties the French priests again landed in Japan, and though opposition was evinced towards them the knowledge that behind them was the mighty power of France was sufficient to deter active opposition. About this time an English missionary landed and worked hard to win the natives to his fold. A deputation from those who had adhered to the old faith waited first on the English missioner and then on the Catholic priest. " This deputation put three test questions: ' (1) Did you come here from Rome? (2) Do you practice devotion to the Mother of God? and (3) Are you married?' The Anglican answered the first two in the negative, and to the third he said : ' Wait here, and I am quite sine my wife will be so pleased to see you all.' While he sought his better-half the deputation decided that he and his organisation were not what they sought. They then interviewed the French priest, who answered the first two questions in the affirmative, and to the third, ' Are you married V he said. ' Yes, I am married to the Church, and'- with a wave of (he hand -you are all my children. Three hundred years of constancy had been rewarded—they were at home. In the year* 1865 on the 17th of March, St. Patrick's Day, the Catholics of Japan gathered together from all parts and publicly manifested once more their allegiance to the See of Peter. To-day the Church was flourishing in Japan. and Mgr. Mahoney gave evidence of what he himself had witnessed of the Church's progress there, and only a few days ago he had received a letter from the Metropolitan of Japan assuring him of the further progress of the Church in the 'Land of the Rising- Sun.' "