RIGHT REV. DR. WHYTE AT WREY’S BUSH

New Zealand Tablet, 28 April 1921, Page 21

RIGHT REV. DR. WHYTE AT WREY’S BUSH

It may readily be inferred that everything about the ' parish of Wrey’s Bush was in : jaj most flourishing state to ' hail the first visit of the Right Rev. Dr. Whyte (writes an esteemed correspondent). Having;; examined the children on Friday and Saturday ’ his Lordship after the 11 o’clock Mass on last Sunday week, confirmed 31 candidates at Wrey’s Bush, and on the same day, at three o’clock, the ceremony of Confirmation was held for the first i. time in the Church of the Assumption, Nightcaps, when 34 were confirmed. The Bishop on both : occasions addressed the children on the graces received, and . exhorted the parents to be solicitous above all in the spiritual welfare of their children. At Nightcaps, after Benediction, the whole congregation assembled in the school to welcome their Bishop. On the forenoon of Monday, a conversazione to welcome his Lordship, was held in the school at Wrey s Bush. An excellent programme of vocal and, instrumental music, patriotic songs, and choruses delighted the audience refreshments being served by the ladies of the parish. Near the end of the entertainment, Very Rev. Father Lynch, said he was very pleased to see such a fine gathering to . honor our Bishop and to hear words of wisdom and encouragement from one so eminent and experienced. Our friends (said Father Lynch) refer to us as “Little Ireland.’? we give your Lordship an Irish welcome. _ Mr. John Boyle on behalf of the people then, read the following address: To the Right Rev. Dr. Whyte, Dear Beloved Bishop—ln the language of the grand old Celtic tongue we bid you a cead mile faille. Through your Pontifical presence, Ave hear the voice of Peter in his successor, which for us is the voice of God, reminding us of eternal truths, giving us holy and unchangeable guidance. ; ; • , day, too, our souls are raised and excited to more tender piety by the remembrance that, bishop, priest and people are united, by those tenderest ties of a supernatural grandeur; “the Faith of our Fathers.” We are also consoled by the thought that you are not forgetful, as Ave are not ungrateful, to the land of St. Patrick, victimized and oppressed, but yet, great, glorious, and free.” . May it be our sacred privilege to , be honored again by many a happy and pleasant visit from the •* friend and Bishop whom we have learned to love. We remain, your devoted, obedient, and faithful people, the Catholics of the Wrey’s Bush parish. His Lordship said he was more than gratified in being present, with them in “little Ireland.” Everything he had seen and heard moved him to the deepest admiration, the sweet singing of - the choir on Sunday, the homely and s i cheerful entertainment here to-day, your two flourishing J schools in the parish. under the care of such excellent and world-renowned educationists as the Sisters of Mercy, your fine Convent and Boarding School, your Churches • point in no halting fashion to the fact that you are faithful to the faith of your fathers. From my position as Inspector of Schools, in the Diocese of Sydney, I have learned to take a great interest in the education and upbringing of Catholic children. They will be ; the men and women of to-morrow, and I feel sure they will be true to > the faith of their grand old fathers and mothers. Let us never forget that the principles, doctrines, and education, under English rule, are essentially, diametrically and fundamentally opposed to Catholic faith. It was quite commonplace to .those who knew history what agencies were put into operation by Protestant England to try to seduce the children of Ireland from the faith of their baptism and the faith of 'their fathers. The persecution, the intolerance, and uncharitableness of the enemies of the faith had burned into the very innermost soul of the Irish nation, and would require many years. of expiation before they could ; either ' be forgiven or forgotten. The sufferings and wrongs of a man might pass away in the fleeting years that ,measured fc his existence, but the age of a nation was measured by centuries, and the wrongs that had taken centuries to burn themselves into the heart of the Irish nation could not be forgotten. -So fierce was the onslaught of Protes- ; v tant England on Irish faith, and. Irish learning, that, Irish

parents had literally to smuggle their children to France and Spain and Italy that they might receive a Christian education. Thousands of children i were so smuggled to the Continent of Europe, who came back again to Ireland to fight the battle for. faith ; and fatherland. Now just let me mention one of those boys, Daniel O’Connell; the Liberator, the hero of Catholic Emancipation. (Applause;) We all rejoice that a brighter and' better day is dawning for Catholic Ireland, and that within measurable distance she" will be a nation once again. (Applause.) I now thank you all for ‘your address of welcome. It is a pleasure for me to be amongst you and I shall be glad to return soon again to “ see'the happy smiling faces of those playful children around me.; ,■ rv/'j; r '•