Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 2 August 1917, Page 17

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) Julp 28. The Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., the popular rector of St. Anne's parish, Wellington South, is organising a bazaar which will take place in October. The proceeds will be devoted to liquidating the parish debt. A "military barracks" was held at St. Patrick's College during the week when the students underwent ■a good course of training in the latest military curriculum under the able direction of Major Sleeman, Director of Military Training. The last issue of the Government Gazette notifies the following appointments as chaplains to the Military Forces:—Rev. P. J. Minogue, chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, Featherston; Rev. P. O'Flynn, Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, Trentham Camp. The annual afternoon "gift tea" of the Sisters of the Home of Compassion will take place at the Home of Compassion, Island Bay, on the first Thursday of September, when all those desirous of assisting this worthy institution which is in dire need of assistance, can send gifts of either money, goods, children's clothes or material. Lieut. Eric Reeves, M.C., son of Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Reeves, of Wellington, is now on his way back to New Zealand. Lieut. Reeves is an ex-pupil of Hie Marist Brothers' School and St. Patrick's College, and prior to enlisting was on the staff of the Public Trustee. He has been twice wounded and was awarded the Military Cross for his conspicuous gallantry. In the last Reinforcement Draft that left these shores no less than 338 members are Catholics and yet gentlemen of the Nosworthy type have the audacity to assert that Catholics are shirking and when challenged to either withdraw his cowardly statement or to prove his words he is not man enough to do either but shelters himself behind his privileges as a parliamentarian. Rev. Father Dore, who has recently been discharged from the Expeditionary Force, after having been incapacitated for further service through wounds received at Gallipoli, has been visiting Palmerston. It is understood that he leaves shortly for Australia, where he will remain until after the winter. Father Dore is the holder of the Military Cross awarded for heroic conduct on the field.

The Marist 0.8. Association third grade football team played a match with: the Boys' Institute on Saturday, July 21. ; Neither side scored' and thus the two teams remain on even terms for the championship. The' two teams are now leading for the championship with 12 points Karori being next with 8 points, and having a game to play. Owing to the wet condition of the ground the 4th grade team did not play. The sth grade went to Porirua where the local team was met and defeated by 6 goals to nil. The Dominion Executive of the Catholic Federation met last Wednesday evening. Mr. J. J. L. Burke presided, and there were present the Rev. Father Smyth, S.M., Adm., and Messrs. Hoskins, Halpin, Sievers, Walsh, Nolan, Reeves, and the secretary (Mr. Girling-Butcher). A large amount of correspondence ei[} .toj s-jruia-i pus 'tjiiav sum. ssatnenq eurrno.l pus

Dominion conference »which meets on the 22nd inst. were considered and, discussion postponed until next meeting. Mr. J. P. Kavanagh, parish secretary of Feilding, was present at the meeting and was accorded a hearty welcome. The statement of the Catholic Field Service Fund presented by the treasurer disclosed satisfactory results; although the sum of '£lloo had been donated to the chaplains and much necessary work done to camp halls at Trentham, and Featherston, there still remained the very creditable balance of £670. A letter written by the late Chaplain-Major McMenamiu acknowledging the last remittance of £3OO was read.

The quarterly meeting of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul took place at St. Joseph’s Hall, Buckle street, on last Sunday. Bro. J. E. Gamble presided, and their was a good attendance of delegates from the various branches' of the circumscription. Among those present were the Rev. Fathers Hurley, S.M., Adm., and Dignan, S.M. The reports presented disclosed that much good work is being accomplished both spiritually and materially. The Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., gave an interesting and instructive address on the causes, and the remedy for the much discussed question of the leakage from the Church. He said that the experience of the.clergy was that the greatest loss occurred after the school age and prior to attaining manhood, and he suggested that this was a work which required the vigilance of the members of the society, and one of the means to accomplish this work would be for the members to each take a number of boys under their own personal supervision. It was decided to bring this matter under the urgent notice of conferences for action. Father Hurley was thanked for his address on the motion of the president, which was carried by acclamation.