Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 30 January 1919, Page 18

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE? OF WELLINGTON January 25. His Grace Archbishop O'Shea returned on Tuesday last from the south. A Solemn Requiem Mass will be offered at- St Joseph's Church, Buckle Street, on Wednesday, February 12, for the repose of the souls of Fathers Kinkead, Cronin, and Lewis, who died during the recent influenza epidemic. Father Bartley, S.M., M.A., invalided home after service with the Expeditionary Forces, and who subsequently spent some time in Australia for healthrecruiting purposes, recently arrived in Wellington. He preached at St. Anne's Church on last Sunday evening, and gave an interesting account of his experiences in France, where he ministered to some 500 New Zealand Catholic soldiers, whose conduct and splendid Catholicity were the admiration and edification of the French people. These boys were always prepared for death, and he assured those who mourned the loss of relatives that their boys died fully prepared to meet their Maker. He eulogised the work of the French nuns, who displayed conspicuous bravery. Right from the beginning of the war to the end these nuns were in the war zone, witnessing all sorts of human distress. How they survived when the most hardened of soldiers could not -withstand it was miraculous. The officers and men moved about and enjoyed short respites and furlough leave, whereas these brave nuns remained at their posts right through that long and awful period. The bravest man he met was the good cure of Nieppe, who displayed remarkable coolness and courage in the gravest of dangers. He feelingly referred to the death of Father McMenamin, to the temporary burial of his remains, exhumation, and re-burial in the vault provided for the cures of a parish in France. I very much regret to record the death of Mrs. M. A. Madden, relict of John Madden, a well-known officer of the New Zealand Police Force, which occurred suddenly at her residence, Coombe Street, Wellington, on last Monday. The deceased lady was born in Ireland, and arrived in New Zealand with her husband and family early in the 'eighties. She was a staunch Catholic, and reared a large family of sons and daughters. The sons are Messrs. Maurice (Auckland), Thomas, John, and David Madden (Wellington). Among the daughters, of whom there are five, are Mesdames T. Brennan (Nelson) and Manning (Wellington). The youngest son (Lieutenant David Madden), after being wounded, arrived from the Front on Tuesday, the day after the demise of his mother. The interment took place at Mount Street*Cemetery. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., officiated at the church, and Father Buckley, S.M., at the graveside. Very Rev. Dean Lane, Lower Hutt .also assisted.—R.l.P. Advice has been received that his Grace Archbishop Redwood, who has been in Australia for some time, and whose return to New Zealand has been delayed through the shipping trouble, now intends to remain there a little longer, as he has been requested to assist at the consecration, on Sunday, February 2, of Dr. Nicholas, lately appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Fiji. His Grace Archbishop Redwood is to preach the consecration sermon. Another old resident of St. Joseph's parish, Te Aro, in the person of Mrs. Beveridge, of Kent Terrace, passed away at her residence on Tuesday last, after a long illness, borne with Christian resignation. The deceased lady, who was in her eighty-first year, was a staunch Catholic and reared a large family. Mr. J. Beveridge, of Wellington South, . and Mrs. O'Goff, of Berhampore, are members of the family. Two grandsons are serving with the Expeditionary Forces. The interment took place on Thursday.—P. While the members of the French Mission were in Wellington they were waited upon by Father Nicolas,

a visiting Syrian priest, and a deputation representative of the Syrian community of Wellington. Reference was made to the traditional links of sympathy between France and Syria, and to proofs of friendship given to. France during the war. On behalf of the deputation Father Nicolas presented General Pau with a handsome Maori-carved pipe, for which the illustrious soldier returned his deep thanks. In addition, Father Nicolas has received the following letter from General Pau:"Dear Father Nicolas, —I desire to thank you very much, and to ask you to convey to your Syrian friends my most cordial thanks for the visit you paid me this afternoon and for the fine present which you left with me. As I told you, the ties of sympathy which link France and Syria are traditional. I know they have continued during the great war ; and I sincerely trust that they will do so in the future. On behalf of the French Mission and of my country I thank you, and I want to express to you all by best wishes for the happiness of Syria and the Syrians." • The following mention in the Gazelle refers to Sergeant-Major Du Flou, an ex-pupil cf St. Patrick's College, who was awarded the Military Medal: "8/3807, Company Sergeant-Major L. L. J. Du Flou, Otago Regiment, organised and led personally, through an intense barrage, parties -of carriers and kept the Lewis gunners and bombers of the front line well supplied with munitions, though suffering himself severely from the shock of a shell explosion. Lately he assisted in carrying out the relief of the company, which had lost all its platoon officers, displaying admirable qualities of organisation and initiative. In. last Saturday's junior cricket championship matches Marist Brothers' Old Bo}'s defeated Petone by an innings and 82 runs. The scores were: Marist 233 (Hanratty 38. Hayden 32, Fitz Gerald 28. Waller 21, Costelloe'2l. and Carruthers 19): Petone 84 and 67. Bowling for Marist, Carruthers took six wickets for 20 runs, and three wickets for 19 runs, Hayden six for 46, Waller two for 14.