His Lordship Bishop, Whyte

New Zealand Tablet, 22 September 1921, Page 23

His Lordship Bishop, Whyte

EPISCOPAL VISITATION AT GORE. His Lordship Right Rev. James Whyte, D.D., Bishop of Dunedin, made his first formal visitation to the parish of Gore, when on Sunday, September 4, he administered the Sacrament of Confirmation in the parish church to 80 candidates including 5 adults. His Lordship celebrated the first Mass, and was edified to see that a large number of the parishioners received Holy Communion thereat. The Bishop preached a beautiful, discourse to the congregation at the 11 o’clock Mass, to the delight of the people who were present. At 2.30 p.m. the church was again crowded to witness the Confirmation of the children, and to hear his Lordship impressively address those confirmed and the congregation generally, on the meaning of the sacred rite, and the duties of those who were confirmed. Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament, given by his Lordship, was a finale to a day that was a red-letter one for the Gore Catholic congregation.

On Monday his Lordship, accompanied by the Very Rev. Father O'Donnell and Rev Father Farthing, proceeded to Mataura, where the Bishop confirmed 23 candidates in St. Lawrence's Church, in the presence of a largo congregation.

On Tuesday the 6th inst. a visit was paid to Wyndham for the same purpose, when 36 candidates were confirmed in the presence of a large assemblage of parishioners. The congregation arranged a conversazione for 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Father O'Donnell and two or three of the parishioners spoke a few words of welcome to"his Lordship, when Mr. Shepherd read to the Bishop an address of welcome to the district. A musical programme was rendered under the guidance of Mr. Percy Brennan. The Bishop expressed his pleasure at being present amongst the Wyndham people and making their acquaintance, and also the hope of being able to renew and perfect his acquaintance with them in the future.

On the same evening a large and representative gathering of the Catholic community of Gore met his Lordship at Holland's Hall. The Very Rev. P. O'Donnell, in a few well-chosen words, welcomed the distinguished guest. An address of welcome on behalf of the congregation was read by Mr. E. Smith, on behalf of the New Zealand Catholic Federation by Mr. D. L. Popppelwell, and on behalf of the Hibernian Society by Mr. D. Cronin. In replying his Lordship expressed his pleasure at being present, and hoped by degrees to make the acquaintance of the people of the diocese. One thing that gave him pleasure that evening (he said) was to be in the company of Father''O'Donnell, one of the old priests of the diocese. He had great reverence for those priests for they blazed the track and put the diocese in the condition in which he found it. He congratulated the people on their co-operation and generosity, and upon the possession of such a beautiful church. Referring to the Catholic Federation, he said, the Federation *liad no

desire to belittle people of other denominations. The sole object of the Federation was to propagate Christian principles for the good of society and the nation of New Zealand. As to the Hibernian Society, everything that pertains to Ireland were the subject of propaganda. People were frequently misled as to the true state of affairs in that country by the general newspapers, whose writers adjust themselves to whatever is the propaganda of the hour. Select musical items were given and much enjoyed during the conversazione, . members and friends of the phurch contributing to the programme. On Wednesday the pupils of the school of the Convent of Mercy entertained his-Lordship with a select programme arranged Ly the good nuns, bidding his Lordship welcome. The Bishop was very pleased and was quite at home with the young people of the school. During the remainder of the week some of the outlying districts of the parish were visited, his Lordship departing for Dunedin after a strenuous week. • '