St. Mary's "Presbytery, Christchurch

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 14, 12 April 1923, Page 26

St. Mary's "Presbytery, Christchurch

ADDITIONS BLESSED AND OPENED. (From our own correspondent.) The additions to St.. Mary's presbytery, Manchester Street, were solemnly blessed and declared open by his Lordship the Bishop on Sunday afternoon week. After theceremony of blessing, Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., addressing the large assemblage, expressed his gratitude to Dr. Brodie for having favored the function with his presence, notwithstanding his strenuous work in connection with the ceremonies of Holy Week at the Cathedral. Reviewing the rise and progress of St. Mary's parish during the past 37 years, Father O'Connell explained the demands that made the additions to the presbytery urgent and necessary. He paid a tribute to those engaged in the work especially Mr. 11. St, A. Murray (architect), and Messrs! Fulhvood and Hay (contractors), and thanked all who had assisted at the recent garden fete, which had helped to defray the expenses to the extent of £520. His Lordship the Bishop said he would have been distinctly disappointed had he not been able to assist and express his satisfaction at the progress being made by St. Mary's parishioners. Functions such as the one they were engaged in carried his mind to famous religious buildings he ! had seen and examined during his recent travels, and incidentally described some famous monasteries, and explained their very extensive fields of usefulness. The work of the clergy today (he said) differed from that of the priests of earlier times. The work of the priests now was specialised and was chiefly parochial, educational, and missionary. Continuing, he showed the relationship of the various avenues to that carried out in days gone by in the monasteries. The life of a priest is essentially a busy one, and consequently recreation and rest must ever be subservient to duty to which the priest is always subject. In connection with the growth and development of the parish, the Bishop mentioned the names of Very Rev. Fathers Le Menaut des Chesnais, Dean Ginaty, Father Marnane, and Dean Hills, all of whom had gone to their reward; but there was one still dear to them all, who was no doubt with them m spirit—Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M., and between him and St. Mary's people it was "hands across the sea." His Lordship expressed his satisfaction at the improvements to the presbytery building, which" was then thrown open for inspection. Afternoon tea was served by the Children of Mary on the tennis court adjoining,. and his Lordship officiated at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the church.