St. Patrick’s Convent, Teschemakers

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 6, 8 February 1923, Page 25

St. Patrick’s Convent, Teschemakers

DEDICATION OF NEW WING. An interesting ceremony, marking another milestone in the progress of the educational institution associated with St. Patrick’s Dominican Convent at Teschemakers, took place on last Sunday, in the presence of a distinguished company of prelates representative of the Catholic Hierarchy of New Zealand, and a large gathering of friends of the Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic (says the North Otago Times).

The new building is a substantial structure in Oamaru stone, with tiled roof, comprising commodious study, community room, and office, also spare rooms and upstairs accommodation for the Sisters, making a handsome addition to the sugstantial pile of buildings already at Teschemakers. The new- building is equipped with all modern conveniences, such as electric lighting and up-to-date heating facilities, and is in every way a fine addition to the convent. The contractors are Messrs, O’Connell and Peterson, of Dunedin, and the architects Messrs. Mandeno and Fraser, also of Dunedin. The contract price, with the new lj -erected school and the new wing to the convent, is close on £IO,OOO, while the assembly hall now in the course of erection, is to cost £ISOO. The fittings for the buildings are estimated to cost £I3OO. The Right Rev. Dr. Whyte, Bishop of Dunedin, presided, and there were also on the platform the Right Rev. Dr. Brodie (Bishop of Christchurch), the Right Rev. Dr. Liston (Coadjutor-Bishop of Auckland), Right Rev, Mgr. Mackay (Oamaru), Rev. Father Foley, Adm. (Dunedin), Rev. bather Whelan, C.SS.R. (Wellington), Rev. Father Oxenham, O.P. (Adelaide), Rev. Dr. Buxton * (Mosgiel), Rev. Fathers Graham and Fenelon (Oamaru). After the dedicatory ceremony in the chapel, the procession entered the new building, which was blessed by the Bishop of Dunedin.

Dr. Whyte, in opening the proceedings, said his duties were very light. All ho had to do was to' call on the Coadjutor-Bishop of Auckland (who had come all the way from the north to be present at this ceremony) to address the people.

Dr. Liston, who delivered the address, paid an eloquent tribute to the work of the Sisters of the Order of St. Dominie. He said the occasion was one of joy and thanksgiving to Our Divine Lord for tho success that had attended the labors of the Dominican Nuns, and he was sure the Bishop of the diocese and the friends of the Order throughout Otago and New Zealand would join in tho expressions of appreciation that w-ere voiced in connection with the work of the Sisters of the district. Fifty-two years ago Dr. Moran and ten Sisters had come to New Zealand with not a little sadness and some apprehension. But the success of their labors was a bright augury, and the character of their work had given them a life of blessedness to this community and to the Catholic Church of New Zealand. They had labored in close touch with the community, and he rejoiced that the roots had struck deep into the life of this district. It may be said that not very much could bo seen at present for the labors of 50 years, but what was that small span of time in the life of a Church that had lived through many centuries. They were only at the beginning of the work and he praised God for the self-sacrificing work of the Sisters of the Dominican Order. His Lordship went on to .refer to the wide influence of the Order upon the life of the com munity, which had drawn into their number from the soil of New Zealand, and he felt they could that day say with the psalmist that “Thou hast planted tho roots and hast filled all the land.” This was the inspiration which actuated the good Sisters of the Order, that they might do more to spread abroad the Kingdom of Godthe Catholic Church. The Sisters had taken the threefold vow of chastity, poverty, and obedience. They had dedicated themselves to the work of the Church. They were free from all family ties; they were friends of the poor and their Order fused all classes (for they belonged to all ranks) into one whole by the devotion of their lives. They were as a. welldrilled army, ever obedient to the call of duty. “What inspires the good Sisters?” his Lordship asked.

He said their work demanded courage and self-sacrifice. They possessed the courage which comes from the faith which burns in their hearts. The only motive which inspires them was the love of the Lord, their Saviour, and the beauty of the character of Christ was reflected, in them. The Catholic world witnessed the moving miracle in the hospitals, the homes of the needy and other Catholic institutions throughout the land, for the good Sisters of the Religious Orders had given themselves up wholly to do something for others. The record of their work would be simply written for they devoted their lives to doing good. They could well, however, on that occasion, brush over the past and think of the future. Let them think of the part the Order of St. Dominic would play in the life of the community. That magnificent institution they were viewing would play an influential part. His Lordship went on to refer to the vital need of Catholic education. He said that learning was necessary for. the progress of the Catholic Church., Eighty-three years ago the first Bishop had. arrived in New Zealand and had planted the cross on these shores. Learning had been brought by these pioneers of the Church. The conditions were harder in those days, but the Bishop was undeterred by the manifold duties ho had to face. But he felt that something more was needed than had been done in the past. Learning, sacred learning, was really necessary. There could be deep faith with little learning, but there could be no blazing light without deep learning, and he urged that they should let the people of New Zealand know of the treasures of knowledge Catholicity had to give them. But they should remember that while they should have learning, they must have learning that was not devoid of the sacred things of life. The young must be brought up free from the evils of the world. They had only to look around them to see how the young were being influenced by the inroad the hard and selfish spirit of the age was making. Their own Catholic Church would have, to fight to hold its place. But if they filled their hearts with innocence they would be shining lights. He did not expect any real progress in the Catholic Church, unless they held fast to the fundamentals of Catholicity. They need not go back to the old days, but they must hold fast, for without this recognition there could be no progress. Their Church was the Church of Saints, but the Church could not make progress without the realisation that the sacred things of life counted for most. It was true their people comprised only a fragment of the community and that the majority of the people still remained in the faithless anti-rooms of the Catholic faith. He felt like crying, “How long, oh, Lord, how long?” But the Church had the right to hope—duty to hope. The souls of their fellow-countrymen were immortal and dear to Christ. The Catholic community gratefully recognised the self-sacrificing work of their teachers who devoted themselves to their work without the prospect of fame or reward. And by their work, the Sisters of St. Dominic were carrying out their great work most conscientiously and with a large measure of success. He prayed that God would, through the Catholic Church, bring the light of faith into the hearts of all our brothers—our fellow-countrymen.

Dr. Liston concluded by describing the discovery which had been made in a church in Spain, where a silver bar had been found bearing the inscription: “Lord of the Blessed Sacrament; guard thou my jewels.” Beneath the bars was found a wealth of jewels, which had been placed there for safety. The Sisters of St. Dominic had labored faithfully in the building up of the magnificent institution that was now being further enlarged. Close beside their convent and their scholastic institution was their chapel. They had that day blessed the new building with the Sacrament at the Altar and he felt that no inscription could better convey the desires expressed by the Bishop of the diocese and the people of the community for the success of the work being done by the good Sisters than that found in the old Spanish church: “Lord of the Blessed Sacrament; watch over these jewels.”- (Applause.) Right Rev. Dr. Brodie briefly addressed the gathering. He commented on the great and solid progress being made in the southern part of the country. There had been a very fine advance at Teschemakers since his visit seven years ago. The progress depended upon certain factors, and one of the essential features, and he might say, do-

minant features, was the self-sacrifice of the good Sisters in the interests of the Catholic community. He congratulated the district on the splendid progress being made, and said the work of the Sisters was bearing good fruit, and there were evidences that their holy faith was being placed on solid ground in this community. He congratulated the Bishop of the diocese on the success of efforts at Teschemakers, and appealed to the people’s generosity on behalf of the Sisters.

- Rev. Father Foley, in moving that a subscription list be opened, to enable people to show their appreciation of the work of Monsignor Mackay and the good Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic, stated that in ten years the Sisters had expended £20,000 at Teschemakers —all for the good of religion and education in New Zealand. He knew they could rely on the people of the district to support the Sisters in their work, and he urged parents to remember that everything would come by their children receiving their education at the school at Teschemakers. Mr. P. C. Hjorring, who seconded the proposal, trusted the appeal would not tall on deaf ears, but that the people would give to the best of their ability, and so ease the financial burdens of the Sisters of St. Dominic.

After the subscriptions lists had been circulated, and then handed in, Dr. Whyte returned thanks on behalf of the Sisters for the generous response that had been made, the sum of £3OO having been contributed. He thanked the two bishops for their presence at the ceremony, and he thanked Dr. Liston for his magnificent address. The note of that address had been Catholic education for Catholic children. He announced that he was on his way to Rome, and he would be pleased to tell the authorities of the splendid work the Sisters were doing at Teschemakers. Parents should know that secondary education was being imparted with striking success, and the children were being given knowledge of the love of God. He gratefully acknowledged the presentation of a gold key to open the buildings, presented to him by the contractors, and he desired to say, on behalf of the Sisters, that very great credit was due to both the architect and the contractors for the conscientious way in which the work was beiim carried out. to n After the visitors had inspected the building, afternoon tea was provided. The ceremony concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.