Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 15 November 1917, Page 18

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OP-WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.)

November 10. The retreat for the Children of Mary, Newtown, conducted by the Rev. Father O’Leary, S.M. (Marist Missioner) concluded last Sunday. Recent arrivals from Australia include the Rev. Father Lore, D. 5.0., chaplain to the Forces, who was severely wounded at Gallipoli, and the Rev. Father Hartnett.

Mr. John Brennan, who was for many years in the Chief Inspector’s branch of the General Post Office here, and for the past two years senior clerk at the Oamaru Post Office, has been appointed Postmaster at Newton, Auckland.

The parishioners of the Thorndon suburban district held a most successful sale of work at Guildford Terrace Schoolroom last Saturday and realised over ,£IOO, which will go to liquidate the debt on the church which serves the Catholics of Knrori, Northland, and Kelburnc.

A concert party, organised by Miss Agnes Segrief, went out to Trentham last week for the purpose of entertaining the soldiers at the Catholic Camp Hall. An excellent programme was rendered, and was thoroughly enjoyed and greatly appreciated by the men, who voiced their gratitude to the performers through the Rev. Father J. Cullen, S.M., acting camp chaplain. The quarterly rally of the Thorndon branch of the Catholic Federation took place at the Guildford Terrace Schoolroom last Sunday. The Rev. Father Smyth, S.M., Adm., presided, and at ins invitation the Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm.. president of the Wellington Diocesan Council, delivered an able and stirring address on the aims of the Federation, for which he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The Boxing Day Picnic Committee met at St. Patrick's Hall last Tuesday, and in the absence of the chairman Mr. W. F. Johnson presided. The Rev. Father S. Mahony, S.M., was present, and apologies were received from the Veil, Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., and the Rev. Fathers Hurley, S.M., and Smyth, S.M. The secretary reported that the tickets for the art union would soon be in circulation and that the grounds at Karori Park were secured ; also that the tramways manager promised to arrange the necessary timetable to run a ten minutes' tram service and provide special cars for the children. Several sub-committees were appointed to arrange other details connected with the event. The Wellington Diocesan Council Executive of the Catholic Federation met at St. Patrick's Hall last Wednesday evening. The Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., presided. Mr. E. Burke, of the Victorian Federation, who has come to reside in Wellington, was present, and was accorded a hearty welcome. Mr. Burke briefly thanked the members for their kindness and gave a general outline of the work of the Victorian Federation, and assured the executive of his assistance in the work of the N.Z. Federation. The fixing of the date of the half-yearly diocesan council meeting, .which is to take place at Wanganui, and other details in connection with that meeting were left in the hands of the rev. president and secretary. - The devotion of the Forty Hours' Adoration commenced at St. Anne's Church, Wellington South, on last Sunday. The special devotions of All Saints' and All Souls' Days prepared the parishioners for the worthy observance of the ceremonies of the Forty Hours. The whole of the congregation at the early Masses on Sunday' approached the Holy Table. There was '■ Solemn High Mass at 10.30, the Rev. Father O'Leary, S.M. (Marist Missioner) being celebrant, Rev. Father Kimbell, S.M., deacon, Rev. Father Dalton Campbell,

S.M., subdeacon, and the Rev. Father Mark Devoy, S.M., master of ceremonies. The Ven. Archdeacon Devoy was"present in the sanctuary. The music of the Mass was rendered by St. Anne's Choir, under the conductorship of Mr. E. B. L. Reade, with Miss Henderson at the organ, assisted by St. Joseph's Marist Brothers' Boys' Choir, under the conductorship of Rev. Brother Fidelis. The Rev. Father Kimbell preached an eloquent discourse on the Blessed Eucharist, and exhorted the congregation to make the best use of the exceptional facilities afforded by the Forty Hours' Adoration to increase in virtue. The procession of the Blessed Sacrament, following the custom of previous years, took place out of doors, around the church grounds, some six hundred taking part, including the Sisters of Mercy, Children of Mary, choir, choir boys, and the Hibernians, who provided canopy bearers and guard of honor. In the evening the Rev. Father Gilbert, S.M., of St. Patrick's College, preached a most impressive and eloquent sermon on the Mass to a crowded congregation. On Monday morning a Missa Cantata was celebrated, and in the evening the Rev. Father Mark O'Leary, S.M.,' preached an able and instructive discourse on the Blessed Sacrament. The ceremonies concluded on Tuesday morning with a Missa Cantata and procession of the Blessed Sacrament. During the ceremonies an all-night watch was maintained throughout by the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

CATHOLIC FIELD SERVICE FUND. The Dominion treasurer of the Catholic Federation acknowledges the receipt of the following donations to the Catholic field service fund :—- Amount previously acknowledged ...£2341 3 1 Through Dunedin Diocesan Council Gore branch of the Catholic Federation... £4O 0 0 Though Wellington Diocesan Council Mrs. Walter Johnston, "Highden," Feilding ... 10 0 0 Through N. Z. Tablet— Mosgiel and Taieri branch] 8 15 6 "Forlorn" 0 50 Edmund Harris, Pahiatua 0 17 6 .£2401 1 1 Less expenditure— Previously detailed ...£1704 17 10 Rev Father (Chaplain) Murphy 25 0 0 ■ 1729 17 10 Balance at credit ... £671 3 3