DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 17 October 1918, Page 21

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

- (From our own correspondent.) October 11. His Lordship the Bishop will visit St. Benedict's Church, Newton, on Sunday next to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is expected that a good number of candidates will be presented. Last Sunday, being the first Sunday in October, the usual devotions appropriate to the month of the Holy Rosary were commenced in the city and suburban churches. His Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Cordon, Bishop of Dunedin, arrived in Auckland on Friday evening last. He was accompanied by Father Murphy, of Riverton, and stayed over the week-end with his Lordship Bishop Cleary, leaving on Monday last for Rotorua. A very successful fancy dress social was held in the Ponsonby Parish Hall on Saturday, October 5, in aid of the parish funds. The principal feature was the competition in fancy dress. The two first prizes were awarded to the Misses Huia Hyde (“The Lourdes Bazaar’’) and Basil Fitzgerald (“the Month”). A euchre social was held in St. Benedict’s Hall on Tuesday evening last under the auspices of St. Patrick s Young Men s Club, when a very pleasant evening was spent. On Wednesday evening the Children of Mary of &t. Benedict s held a successful euchre social in aid of the parish funds. The annual road races in connection with the Sacred Heart College sports took place on last Saturday afternoon, the competition being divided into senior and junior contestants. The day was ideal for running, and considerable interest was shown in the event. The senior division was responsible for .a most exciting finish, Henry and McPhillips breasting the tape with inches only between them, while the scratch boy Cook, who ran a great race, was only 20yds away. The handicaps worked out splendidly, the gaps Iretween the first 20 boys being remarkably small for the distance. Cook registered the fastest time, and his performance was a high-class one. The junior division was won by E. Leydon from the 2mill, mark, who also registered the fastest time. Private James O’Connor, recently reported wounded in France, is the eldest son of Mrs. A. O’Connor, of Ponsonby, and was born in Liverpool. lie arrived in Auckland in 1908. He was educated at St. Francis Xavier’s School, Liverpool, and later at the Marist Brothers' School, Auckland. He took a very keen interest in #ll branches of sport, and was a prominent member of the Evertop Association Foot-

ball Club.. Private O’Connor is 23 years of age, and served his apprenticeship with the Auckland Star, and prior to his enlistment in the Seventeenth Reinforcements was attached to the staff of the Auckland Herald. Private O Connor was previously wounded on June 7, 1917, in the advance on Messines. After* hrs recovery he joined the Machine Gun Section. The notable increase in the number of clergy and parishes in the Auckland diocese since 1912 has rendered advisable an increase in and partial reorganisation of the Deaneries established in that year. The Bishop-in-Council has, therefore, notified the followmg appointments to the clergy of the diocese:—The Auckland and Marrukau Deaneries are administered by the Right Revs. Monsignori Gillan and Mahony, V .G. s respectively. The Right Rev. Monsignor Hackett, V.F., is in non-resident charge of the new Deanery of Waitemata; the Very Rev. Dean Cahill, V.F., Parnell, takes non-resident control of the Waikato Deanery : Very Rev. Dean McGuinness, V.F. (Te Aroha), the Ohiuemuri Deanery; while the united Deaneries of the Kaipara and the Native Missions are confided to the Very Rev. Dean Van Dyk, V.F., Superior of the Mill Hill Missions. The Bishop’s circular defines the boundaries of the Deaneries, details the special faculties accorded to the Vicars-Forane (Deans), and directs their work of visitation, etc., in accordance with the new Code of Canon Law. The Marist Brothers’ scholars, Vermont Street, are again winners of the Schools’ A Grade football competition. They had a record season, scoring 358 points in nine games and finishing the season with their line uncrossed. Last Saturday, at the Domain, they played the pick of 25 Auckland schools, and though contesting against a much heavier team, played a draw (a try and a goal to 2 goals), their line still uncrossed. They had much the better of the game, though their two wing three-quarters were not playing. Casey, after a brilliant run by Hickey, scored. O’Donoghue kicked a penalty. In the seven-aside they won the A and B out of three grades, neither team having its line crossed or a point scored against it.