St. Gerard's Church, Wellington

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 35, 7 September 1922, Page 11

St. Gerard's Church, Wellington

NEW ALTAR UNVEILED. On last Sunday (the 27th ult.) a beautiful altar of Our Lady, under the title Mother of Perpetual Succour, was unveiled at St. Gerard's Church, Wellington, by his Grace Archbishop Redwood. There was High Mass at 10 o'clock, Very Rev. Father Whelan, C.SS.R. (rector of St. Gerard's) being celebrant; assisted bv Rev. Fathers Duffy, C.SS.R. and WaLshe, C.SS.R., as deacon and subdeacon respectively, and Rev. Father Mitchell, C.SS.R., master of ceremonies. The sermon was preached by Rev. Father Campbell, C.SS.R. His Grace the Archbishop presided. The music was Gounod's "Messe de Paque No. 3 Solennelle," Rossi's "Magnificat," Tozer's "Proper of the Mass," Elgar's "Ave Maria," and the responses in harmonised plain chant all well rendered by the choir. At the evening devotions the sermon was preached by the Rev. Father Mitchell, C.SS.R., to a crowded congregation. The music included Neidermeyer's 'Tie Jesu," in memory of the departed souls; Silver's "0 Salutaris" ; Lambillotte's "Magnificat" in C and "Tantum Ergo" in C minor; Oakes's setting of the "Divine Praises" No. 3, in D; and Giovanni Allegri's "Adoremus in aeternum." The rendering of the lengthy programme of music by the choir of St. Gerard's was most artistic and devotional in detail, and reflected the highest credit upon the conductor and singers alike. Mr. James Skeddan presided at the organ very ably, and played the extremely difficult accompaniments' well. Mr. Frank J. Oakes, the conductor, was responsible for the highly artistic finish to the choir's fine effort. Mrs. Oakes was soloist. '— <W—