DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 1 August 1918, Page 22

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) July 26. The Bight Rev. Mgr. Hackett addressed the members of the Sacred Heart Sodality at St. Benedict’s Church on Tuesday evening last. Lieut. L. I . Cahill, of Ponsonby parish, has just been reported wounded and admitted to hospital,- His many friends will wish him a. speedy recovery. J he diocesan treasurer of the Catholic Federation has received this week through Mrs. Phil Barry, of Tokomaru Bay, a cheque for £IOO, being a donation to the Catholic Field Service Fund, from the Tokomaru Bay Patriotic Committee, as a result of an entertainment there tor patriotic purposes. The amount has been forwarded to the Dominion treasurer of the Field Service Fund, Wellington. On Sunday last a special meeting of the parishioners of the Good Shepherd parish, Mt. Eden, was held after Mass, to establish a branch of the Catholic Federation. Messrs. T. J. Molloy and F. G. J. Teinin, members of the diocesan executive, attended and addressed the meeting on the aims and objects of the Federation, and disposed of the various (erroneous impressions held of the movement. It was unanimously resolved to form a branch with a local committee to work in conjunction with the parish committee at St. Benedict’s. At the close, a vote of thanks was accorded the visiting officials. A very successful smoke social was held on Wednesday evening last in the Hibernian Hall to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Auckland branch (No. 81) of the H.A.C.B. Society. Mr. P. J. Nerheny, P.D P presided, and there were present Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook, Fathers Buckley, Brennan, and Curley the district officers, several visiting officers and Brothers, and a large gathering of members. The hall was tastefully decorated for the occasion. Toasts duly honored !'T'f “ J ’ be , Pope and King.” proposed by the chairman ; tile Auckland Branch.” {imposed bv Mr. I). McCarten and responded to by the chairman; "The District Executive,” proposed by Mr. Nerhenv, responded to by Mr. F. J. O’Meara, D.P.. and Mr. W. Kane, D.S. : “The Month,” proposed by Mr. INI. J. bheahan responded to by Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook and Father Brennan. The decisive win of Marist Old Boys over Grammar Old Boys, at the Show Ground, on last Saturday week, was quite well-earned, though few knowing the teams would have ventured an opinion favoring Marprior to the match. Owing to the greasiness of the footing, the game developed into a forward struggle except for occasional outbursts of combined play by re backs The first spell was dull, but eventually im--1 b T K 111 ° / 6nera l hustling tactics. Malists mustered tbeii best team this season, and this together with desirable reorganisation in the placing of the rear fOC^ d 1111 P rove merit. Bannister (full back), Martin Comrskey, and Pilling were reliable for Marists, while of a good r Se of eerpmmers, O'Connor and ayne played throughout what was a match contested

in a friendly and clean manner. The next opponents of Marists will have In play up.

MARIST MISSION AT PONSONBY.

Hie Marist Mission at the Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby, conducted by Fathers McCarthy and O’Leary, began for the children on July 9, and continued for the people generally from the 14th to the 28th, was brought to a successful close on last Sunday evening. Each evening the church was taxed to its utmost,, and rarely has such whole-hearted devotedness been so' strikingly manifest. During the first week a special evening was devoted to our Lady, when Father McCarthy preached a sermon on Our Lady’s Privileges and Prerogatives. On Sunday, July 21, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for adoration all day, and every hour crowds flocked to do honor to our Blessed Lord. On Wednesday evening the Blessed Sacrament was again exposed for adoration, and the church proved inadequate to accommodate those who came to take part in the evening devotions. The sermon was preached by Father O’Leary, when the doctrine of the Real Presence was explained. Willing workers had spent the day in lavishly adorning tin high altar, which presented a spectacle of surpassing beauty. Although the weather was anything but propitious, in fact, the coldest and bleakest that Auckland has experienced for 30 years, still the average daily communicants exceeded 600. On the last Sunday of the mission 1153 persons approached the Holy Table in the parish church, a wonderful and glorious manifestation of the faith and piety of the people, and an eloquent tribute to the good work of the mission. In the afternoon of Sunday the 28th. his Lordship Bishop Cleary administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to over 300 candidates, including 30 adults. In the evening the mission was brought to a clos j , when crowds could not be accommodated in the church. Father McCarthy, in a very fine concluding discourse, exhorted all who had been engaged in the mission to be faithful to God unto death. The imparting of the. Papal Blessing, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament terminated wjiat is to be considered one of the most successful and most enthusiastic missions ever he’d in the district, ample proof being given by the fact that 10.000 Communions were received during the period. Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated on Monday morning for the repose of the souls of C deceased friends and relations of all those who were engaged in the mission. The girls’ choir rendered the plain chant Mass, very effectively. Great good was done during the mission, many careless Catholics being brought back to the faith, numerous converts were received into the fold, many unhappy homes were again made happy, and the inspiring scenes witnessed during the mission will long remain a pleasant memory among the good people of Ponsonby.