DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 9 November 1916, Page 43

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) The duplication of names of our city and suburban streets has been the cause of much annoyance, and last night the City Council altered the whole number. One street was altered to ‘ Redmond street.’ The newly erected hall for parish purposes at (he Sacred Heart parish, Ponsonby, was opener! during (he week. Father Carran and his people are to be congratulated on this useful addition to the parish. The women’s confraternity of the Holy Family held its second meeting on Thursday evening. Rev. Father Taylor gave out the devotions, and Rev. Father Brennan gave a short address on’ (he life of St. Bridget. Rev. Father Murphy, Adm., was also present. The renovation of the sacristy and surroundings of St. Patrick’s Cathedral 1 lave been completed. The cost has been ,£65, of which sum Mr. W. J. Ralph generously contributed £SO. The expenditure has been well justified, as the improvements are both ornamental and useful. At the last meeting of the men’s confraternity of the Holy Family Rev. Father Taylor announced that at the next meeting a ballot of the members would be taken as to the desirability or otherwise of amalgamating with the newly-formed women’s confraternity of the Holy Family. Each member was requested to write ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ over his name on a slip of paper and deposit the same in a box placed in the porch of the Cathedral. The bazaar in aid of St. Joseph’s parish funds, Grey Lynn, held in St. Benedict’s Hall, which was prolonged two nights beyond the original dates, was a pronounced success. Over £3OO was netted. The Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook desires to thank all who so ably and consistently worked and made such a success of the undertaking. He specially thanked the Sisters of St. Joseph and their pupils, and the committee, every one of whom merits his hearty gratitude. Auckland City has been rudely awakened during the week by the police action in raiding dens of iniquity, and one particular case was most revolting. Bishop Averill, . Anglican Bishop, addressing meeting of the Mothers Union, said, in reference to this case: ‘The Government was doing absolutely nothing to help on religion in the Dominion; there was no Bible-teaching in the schools, no teaching of purity, or effort to impart knowledge of the sacredness of the human body. Yet never before had there been a time when so much effort was needed, when such temptations beset the soldiers who were serving their country. Collections for the Dublin Distress Fund were taken up at the Cathedral and St. Benedict’s last Sun-

day. At the Cathedral Rev. Father Murphy, Adm., appealed at each of the three Masses in language which went home to the hearts of the people. It is easy upon such a subject for an Irish priest to declaim. In terms the most moderate and logical Father Murphy apportioned to the right quarter the true cause of the disaffection, misery, and want prevailing to-day: in Dublin. Father Brennan at Vespers was equally effective and stirred every generous impulse ift the Irish hearts of those listening to him. Ninety pounds was subscribed, which has since been increased to £ll2. The collection is to be continued at the Cathedral again next Sunday. At St. Benedict's £SB was subscribed at the Masses. Mgr. Gillan, V.G., and Fathers inn and Bleakley spoke strongly in favor of the appeal. On Sunday, November 12, a collection for the same fund will be taken up at the Sacred Heart Church I onsonby. ’ •, R ,"'; Fcither Taylor addressed the men’s confrateruity of the Holy lannly last Tuesday, and as the month o October m each year was, by direction of the Holy Father, to be.devoted to (lie most Holy Rosary, it was appropriate to speak to them on this great and potent means of prayer. It was very commonly believed that St. Dominic was by inspiration the medium through which the Rosary was inaugurated. Father Taylor showed that many years before St. Dominic was born prayers were recited upon beads. The word bead was derived from The old Anglo-Saxon word bede, which •signified prayer. Instances of the use of beads in several countries as a means of recounting prayers ante(edeii ,to St. Dominic were given. The prevailing idea that to St... Dominie the credit was due of inaugurating the devotion of the Holy Rosary is without emulation that this idea found currency at all was o be attributed to the vivid imagination and zeal of a great preacher,-Father Alan-de-Rupe, a Dominican, who preached about 1470. The Rosary was a very beautiful form .of prayer, one which should be daily practised, particularly in the family circle Its efficaciousness was very evident, because from it the most beneficial results have been chronicled.