DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 31 May 1917, Page 27

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) May 25. Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook, D.S., has sufficiently recovered from his recent illness to enable him to make a visit to Marton and Te Aroha for a rest and change. His numerous friends sincerely hope that he will return fully restored to health. Very Rev. Dean Van Dyk is officiating at Grey Lynn during the absence of Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook.

A collection in aid of the Maori Missions was made at the Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby, on last Sunday. A liberal response was made to the appeal of the Very Rev. Dean Van Dyk for that worthy object.

A fortnight’s mission, conducted by the Rev. Father Mangan, C.SS.R., was commenced at Devonport last week. Although inclement weather conditions were experienced, the attendance has been very large, a striking tribute to the indefatigable efforts of the popular and zealous missioner.

The tennis club recently formed in connection with St. Patrick’s parish, held a formal opening on Saturday afternoon last. The showery weather prevailing did not appear to interfere with the attendance, a large number of enthusiasts being present. The courts are near the convent, and thus very centrally situated, and well appointed in every particular.

Rev. Father Kelly, Puhoi, addressed the men’s branch of the Holy Family Confraternity last Tuesday evening in the Cathedral on “The Virtue of Humility.” He said that through pride, particularly intellectual pride, many good and well-intentioned Catholics fell. In their every-day life, in their dealings with others, how many troubles have arisen, and if we look for the cause it will invariably be found traceable to pride. In matters of religion it is the same; our feeble intellect is too often ranged in opposition to God. We should ever practice humility, and by that means pride will be overcome.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Diocesan Council of the N.Z.C.F. has been fixed for Thursday, July 12. The appeal made to the parishes in the diocese to augment the Catholic Field Service Fund by means of penny collections once a month is meeting with unqualified success in the city parishes. It is too early yet to estimate how the scheme is operating in country parishes. The diocesan executive has issued a pamphlet explaining the object of the fund, and

distributing them .throughout the diocese. Owing to a situation that has/ arisen on account of the large number of' disabled soldiers arriving back in the city from the battlefields of the old world, the diocesan executive is appealing to branches to enter upon the work of visiting hospitals, and generally to take an interest in the social and spiritual welfare of Catholic men. Two delegates from each city and suburban branch will constitute a committee, whose duty it will be to meet monthly to receive reports, and deal generally with matters affecting the interests of returned Catholic soldiers. The Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, V.G., is deeply interested in this philanthropic work, as indeed he is with many noble works connected with the Church and her organisations, and has promised his support to secure co-operation in the movement. Addressing the congregation at St. John’s Church, Parnell, on Sunday last, the Rev. Father Cahill urged upon the parishioners the necessity of subscribing to their only Catholic paper. For the past 44 years, he said, the Tablet had consistently defended our faith from ever-recurring attacks. To-day we look to our Catholic paper for a lead in all matters affecting our religious convictions, and surely it was not found wanting. The Tablet's defence of Ireland and her people was a credit alike to its high sense of justice and editorial literary attainments. The power of the Catholic newspaper press could not be over-estimated, and one after another of the Sovereign Pontiffs had blessed and encouraged its extension. Father Cahill eloquently exhorted his hearers to maintain their splendid record as model Catholics and see that no home was without its weekly copy of the Tablet.