Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 5 February 1920, Page 19

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) January 31. Dr. and Mrs. Mackin left last week for an extended tour of the East. Rev. Father J. F. O'Connor, S.M., of St. Joseph's, is relieving the Rev. Father Quealy, parish priest of Petone, for three weeks. On Father Quealy's return Father O'Connor will proceed to Wanganui to take up his new position as assistant priest in that parish. \ Very Rev. Father M. J. O'Reilly, CM., who has been preaching retreats to the Marist and secular clergy, addressed a large meeting of members of the various conferences of the St. Vincent de Paul Society on the spirit and work of the society. Father O'Reilly, who occupies the position of chaplain-general of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Australasia, gave an interesting address, remarking that the conditions of the present time were similar to those that prevailed in the time of Frederick Ozanam, the founder of the society, and he made a strong appeal to young men to take up the work of this, the most important of all our organisations. His Grace Archbishop O'Shea, who introduced Father O'Reilly to the members, thanked their distinguished visitor for his interesting address, and also appealed to those present to take up the work enthusiastically. Tho Very Rev. Dean Holley, Provincial of the Marist Order, supported the remarks of his Grace tho Archbishop, as also did Major Corrigan and Mr. W. F. Johnson. The result of the address will no doubt galvanize tho various conferences in the city to further efforts, and keep the noble work of the society going.

The Rev. Mother Mary Aubert, who has been absent for the past six years in Europe, primarily for the purpose of obtaining the Papal recognition of the New Zealand Order of the Sisters of Compassion, which she has founded, returned last week by the Bremen. Rev. Mother Aubert is now over 84 years of age, and arrived in Auckland in a whaling ship 58 years ago. She founded the Sisters of Compassion at Jerusalem, on the Wanganui River. In 1883, the Rev. Mother discovered and compiled some excellent remedies for colds and other troubles from New Zealand shrubs and herbs. Soon after this, as there was no district nursing scheme in Wellington, Mother Aubert, at the request of some well-known local citizens came to Wellington with her little band of nurses, and accomplished excellent work. Finding many incurably afflicted persons, she then decided to establish a home for these afflicted ones, and settled in Buckle Street nearly 30 years ago, and has, during the course of time, accomplished untold good in the relief of such cases. In 1907, she set up the large Home of Compassion at island Bay, and worked there with her staff till 1913, when she took a journey to Rome to thoroughly establish tho Order of the Sisters of Compassion before relinquishing work. Soon after the Rev. Mother arrived "in Italy the great Avalina earthquake took place, and she was one of the foremost in the work of nursing the. sufferers. During the period of war she has borne a good part in the care of the Allied sick and wounded soldiers. The Rev. Mother well deserves the title of "Veteran Nurse" which was bestowed upon her, as she nursed in France with the. Sisters of Charity during the Crimean War. Those who have visited the Home of Compassion in Wellington can see a part of the great work which has been set going by the energy and wonderful faith of a very remarkable woman; and there are many who may not be able to do so personally, but who will wish her good health for the rest of her life, and welcome her back to New Zealand. The evening of her return was a very happy one at the Home of Compassion,

the Sisters being much rejoiced at the return of the Rev. Mother Mary Joseph Aubert. They had .hoped and expected that she would return any time during the past two years, but it: appears, that the venerable lady had much difficulty, in obtaining a passport. She is a French subject, and has never been naturalised; but as she had been over 50 years away from France, the authorities there j?--' "?*. recnis e her claim, and she was faced with many difficulties in her path homewards. However, Sir Joseph Ward was asked to interest himself in the matter, and by his kind offices the passport was-secured in the end. Another delay took place in London, as the Rev. Mother was kept there for three months awaiting her turn for a passage to New Zealand. She is rejoiced to be back again, and is in fairly good health. Her sight, however, 'is not good, and she wishes all her many friends to realise that she is not able to recognise them unless they stop to speak to her, which she hopes they will do.

The quarterly meeting of the Dominion Executive of the N.Z. Catholic Federation took place on Friday. The Very Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., presided, and his Grace Archbishop O'Shea and the following members were present:Messrs. F. J. Doolan (Christchurch), W. F. Johnson (Dunedin), P. D. Hoskins (treasurer), Major Halpin (Wellington), and Miss Girling-Butcher (general secretary). A grant of £SO applied for by the Auckland Diocesan Council for the chaplain attending soldiers in the Auckland Hospital, was approved. Remits forwarded by the Dunedin Diocesan Council were set down for discussion at the annual meeting at Auckland next August. Matters referred by the Dominion Council to the executive were considered, and the necessary action decided upon. It was decided to recommend diocesan councils to do everything possible to further the collection for the Irish Fund when that collection was: being taken up in their respective dioceses. The question of filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of the secretary was discussed, and held over until March 20, Mr. W. F. Johnson agreeing to carry out the duties until an appointment was made. Eulogistic references.were made to the work of Miss Girling-Butcher during her term of office, and regret was expressed at her resignation, by his Grace Archbishop O'Shea, supported by the other members of the executive.

The St. Patrick's Day Celebration Committee met last Thursday, under the presidency of Mr. J. P. McGowan. Rev. Father Smyth, S.M., Adm., and Rev. Brother Eusebius were among those present. Mr. H. McKeowen was appointed sports secretary. The meeting was most enthusiastic, and if the result will be as great as the enthusiasm displayed the 1920 celebrations should easily eclipse all those of the past. The concert committee reported that Mr. Fred Bourke, of Auckland, and Mr. Kevin Dillon, Mrs. Dallas, Mrs. Grant (Miss Agnes Segrief), and Miss Mary McKeowen had been engaged for the concert, which would be up. to the standard of previous concerts.