SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

New Zealand Tablet, 21 August 1919, Page 23

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

ST. PATRICK’S CONFERENCE, SOUTH /' / DUNEDIN. ’V*‘ • The annual meeting of St. Patrick’s Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, ' South Dunedin, was held on last Tuesday evening, at St. Patrick’s Schoolroom, Macandrew Road. Rev. J. Delany (spiritual director) presided, and there was a good attendance of members, Mrs. W. Duffy, president of the Particular Council, being among those present. The report (1918-1919) stated that the work accomplished during the period under review had been very satisfactory. Eighteen sewing meetings had been held, with an average attendance of 10 members. Owing to the war, and consequent increased cost of necessaries, the calls on the society were much heavier than in previous years. The poor and the sick have been visited in their homes and their wants attended to. The inmates of the Benevolent Institution have also been visited! The usual donation of fruit and sweets was sent to the Orphanage on the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul. The conference provided breakfast for about 60 children, who made their First Holy Communion on September 8. During the influenza pandemic 28 new garments and 36 yards of material were sent to the Orphanage. Fifty-nine orders were issued for groceries, 31 for wood and coal, 10 pairs of new boots, and 74 yards of new material were supplied, and 118 new and 57 second-hand articles were also distributed. The sincere thanks of the conference is extended to all who have aided, the members in their work. The statement of accounts showed: Receipts—Balance in hand (1917-1918), £32 7s 8d ; subscriptions, £34 13s; donations, £2l lls 6d ; Charity Sunday collection, £2O 5s 3d ; total, £IOB 17s sd. Ex-penditure-Groceries, £33 10s; boots, £9 13s 6d ; coal and wood, £ll 13s 6d ; drapery, £10; sundries (including payment of rent for poor people, £4), £lO 0s 6d; total, £74 17s 6d. Balance to credit, £33 19s lid. In moving the adoption of the report and statement of accounts, Father Delany congratulated the members of the conference on the successful results of their year’s work. Although considerable expenditure of means had been necessary, a fair sum was still available for immediate requirements. lie wished the conference continued success, and hoped the year just commencing would furnish a record equal to previous ones. The conference meets on each alternate Tuesday evening. The office-bearers are as follows: President, Mrs. j. J. Marlow; vice-presidents, Mrs. A. Nelson and Mrs. E. Lennon ; secretary, Miss K. Reidy ; treasurer, Mrs. J. M. Hade; wardrobe-keepers, Misses M. Mullin and A. Laybum; buyers, Mrs. B. Mullins and Miss E. Cart.

WOMEN’S AUXILIARIES, WELLINGTON. The annual general meeting of the auxiliaries of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was held in St. Joseph’s Hall, Buckle Street, Wellington, on Thursday, July 31. Mrs. O’Leary (vice-president) presided. A letter from the president (Mrs. Oscar Ellis) was read, in which members were urged to take practical steps to increase active membership, by each pledging herself to gain a recruit before the New Year, Reports from the different conferences were read by the secretary (Mrs. Chamnes). In the unavoidable absence of the spiritual director (Father Hurley, S.M.), Mrs. A. T. Reichel addressed the meeting. She heartily endorsed the president’s suggestion re added membership, and urged the necessity of working together in that spirit of unity which overcomes the taint of individual narrowness, and makes for whole-hearted zeal and purity of intention. In conclusion, she said; —“ln these troublous times, Holy Mother Church has a weighty end sacred mission to discharge on behalf of bewil-

dered, suffering humanity, struggling I blindly to solve many conflicting problems. A i mission ; in which all the faithful must co-operate.- especially the conferences of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, whose spirit and work constitute Christian socialisma simple, yet sublime, solution of many social disorders; a cult which teaches us to share, not only our worldly goods but ourselves—our riches of heart, intellect, or grace with our fellow-man." As a practical sequence to the address, a motion for the establishment of a parish conference at St. Joseph's was unanimously carried. Mrs J. Gamble gave an interesting account of a recent visit to Mount Magdala Institute, Christchurch. The details as related by Mrs. Gamble were much appreciated as they bear on a special and delicate phase of auxiliary activities. The reports were as follows : St. Mary's Visiting Guild.—Meetings held 11 • average attendance, 5; visits to sick and poor ' 105 • baptisms, 7; orders for groceries, 12. Five cases taken to Mount Magdala, also two en route for Mount Magdala from Auckland were met and placed on steamer. One infant placed in care of Nelson Orphanage and another sent to Home of Compassion. Hospital and several other institutions, including Ohiro Home, gaol, etc., were visited twice weekly. Girl inmates of homes were Uken to Sunday Mass. Three Masses were offered for friendless deceased. This conference again thanks St. Joseph's (men's conference) for share in poor-box funds, also Father Hoare for attendance at the weekly meetings. _.-■■•; St. Mary's Sewing Guild.— members 12 meetings held, 18 ; persons assisted, 13 ; garments given out, 120 new and 86 second-hand, also 20 yards of material ; garments made, 96; four parcels of new and six of second-hand clothing have been received. Donations were received from Mrs. J. J. Burke, Misses Flannery and O'Hagan. Receipts: Forward balance, £l9 9s 4d ; donations, collections, etc., £ls 13s 6d ; total, £35 2s. Expenditure: £l2 6s. Credit balance: Cash in hand, £2 6s; money in bank, £2O 10s; total, £22 16a. '."

Sacred Heart Guild.—Meetings held, 4 ; average attendance, 4; garments given out, 12, also two parcels of second-hand goods; material given out, 27 yards; funds received per chaplain (Father Dignan), £8 ; donations (Mesdames Coyle and Norwood), £6;'total, £l4 j material purchased, £3 ss; cash in hand, £6 2s. St. Anne's Guild.—Meetings held, 14; visits paid, 30; garments made, 60, 36 of which were sent to Home of Compassion. Receipts: Collection, £l2 10s; Children of Mary, £ll 15s; hon. members' subscriptions, ss; balance brought forward, £l3 18s 6d; total, £3B 8s 6d. Expenditure: Drapery and sundries,'£l9 18s 6d; balance in hand, £lB 10s; total, £3B 8s 6d.