ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 15 September 1921, Page 21

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) ' J ' September 9. A very successful “afternoon” was held at the Convents of Mercy, Green Street, Newtown, last Saturday, in aid of the Convent Bazaar Fund. The ladies’ branch of the Hibernian Society held a social last Monday. There was a large attendance. of members representative of the city branches, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. The parishioners of Kilbirnie are at present actively engaged in the promotion of social functions to aid in financing a bazaar on a large scale, which it is proposed to hold in a few months to provide funds for parochial development. Although the parish of Kilbirnie is a new one, it is fairly extensive, and embraces Seatoun, Haitaitai, Lyall’s Bay, Miramar, and Kilbirnie itself. All these localities have seperate committees at work, and consequently a friendly rivalry exists regarding results. Among the number of successful events recently held was the children’s party the other Saturday, promoted by the Haitaitai committee, and upon whom it reflected the greatest credit. Rev. Fathers Connolly (parish priest), and Griffin, in their able direction of and assistance towards the various activities are most helpful to the parishioners. THE SISTERS OF COMPASSION. A full- and most enthusiastic meeting of friends , and sympathisers with the Sisters of Compassion and their charitable work in this city was held at the Town . Hall last Tuesday afternoon. The meeting was convened by Mr. J. J. McGrath for the purpose of assisting financially the Rev. Mother Aubert and her noble community of Sisters in the great work they are doing for the cause of humanity in New Zealand. The meeting was thoroughly representative of all classes and all creeds, and it was decided to have a series of entertainments, collections, etc., in aid of the,Sisters of Compassion. Mr. J. J.McGrath presided, and explained the purposes of the meeting. From his own personal knowledge, he said, in common with the gathering present, he felt that the noble work that was being done by the Home at Island Bay and Buckle Street was one of the most worthy of present-day objectives of Christian charity. Rev. Mother Aubert and the Sisters of Compassion looked for no earthly reward for their labors on behalf of the poor and afflicted, but worked for them, irrespective of their age, malady, race or creed. The city would be ungrateful indeed if all sections did not respond to the call for funds to continue the work. Mr. McGrath outlined projected systems for raising funds. The permission of the City Corporation had been granted to the holding of a street collection on Friday next.' Mr. Walter Fuller had generously promised the proceeds of a matipee at His Majesty’s Theatre. Several generous ladies had undertaken to give “at homes,” organise entertainments and socials, and to assist generally in a practical manner towards the object of raising funds to guarantee the continuance of the work of charity at the Home. At the instance of the chairman, the whole meeting resolved itself into a general committee, and pledged itself to make the campaign a success. Sir John Luke, Mr. T. J. Gill, M.A., Mr. Edwin Arnold, J.P., Mr. W. Perry (president R.S.A.), and others spoke in appreciation of the work of the Sisters of Compassion, and' in support of the present effort to assist them. , '

Lady Luke undertook to preside over the ladies' committee, and to assist the movement to the 1 utmost of her ability. She spoke, she said, from personal acquaintance with Mother Aubert's good work, and had reason many times to be grateful for her co-operation. The children of the poor were her sacred trust. 1 She remembered occasions when it had been impossible to accomodate children in other homes in the city, but Mother Aubert had always proffered, help. She urged the gathering to strain every effort to make ' the campaign for funds a prosperous business. .. . ' ".,*■>

Sub-committees were set up ;as followWelllingtoni North, convener, Mr. M. J. Crombie; Wellington Central, Mr. B. J. Doherty; Wellington East, Mr. D. R. Lawlor'; Wellington South, Mr-. H. O'Malley; ! Suburbs of Wellington and Island Bay, Colonel Hughes and Mr. Charles Odlin; Lower Hutt and Petone, Mr. J. J. Bourke Johnsonville, Mr. F. T. O'Neill; Brooklyn, Mr. Dan Bourke. Mrs. Gleesoiv and Mr. T. H. Gill were appointed joint honorary secretaries. Mrs. 0. Ellis was appointed treasurer. Apologies for absence and promises of financial help were received from Archbishop O'Shea, Mrs. Macarthy Reid, Miss Doris Guise, and others. Most of the prominent workers of the women's charitable movements in the city were in the gathering, and the sum of £2O 3s was handed in in cash. On the motion of Sir John -Luke, Mr. J. J. McGrath was appointed chairman of the general committee. An executive was elected, to consist of the president and. the chairman of the ladies' and gentlemen's committees.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mother Aubert expressed her gratitude and the thanks of the Sisters of her community for the splendid 'response by the people of Wellington. "Our work is God's work," she said, "Myself and three Sisters commenced in Wellington with half a crown, and our position to-day is the tangible result of the generosity of the citizens of this great country. We should have been able to do nothing without the financial help we have received from the people of New Zealand. Our work is to help the sick and needy. We get much more credit than we deserve. Such a gathering of ladies and gentlemen fills us with gratitude. I trust we will - never cease to carry on our work." , '

. After 1 the general meeting, the ladies met under the presidency of Lady Luke. The following undertook to give afternoons in aid of the cause: —Mesdames Ellis, Putnam, Bourke, Pearce, Clayton, Young, and Miss Butler. Miss Doris Guise, Mrs. Bolton, and Mrs. Connop promised to organise dance recitals and entertainments. Mrs. J. J. McGrath, Mrs. Dalton, Mr%. E. Dwyer, Mrs. Beauchamp, and the Misses Whelan promised to give a dance. A giant jumble sale was arranged to be - held during November. A central office at 10, Woodward Street, was placed at the disposal of the general committee by the president (Mr. McGrath). Persons desirous of giving financial donations to the funds are requested to forward them to Mr. J. J. McGrath, Box 757, G.P.0., Wellington, or to the treasurer (Mrs. Ellis), nr any member of the All donations will be acknowledged in the Press.