ST, JOSEPH'S BOYS' ORPHANAGE, TAKAPUNA, AUCKLAND An Appeal

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 14, 12 April 1923, Page 33

ST, JOSEPH'S BOYS' ORPHANAGE, TAKAPUNA, AUCKLAND An Appeal

God’s ways are strange, but they are wise. Wo can be quite sure then that He had some very good purpose in sending the fire that has reduced the Boys’ Orphanage, Takapuna, and everything in it, to complete ruin. Perhaps it was to give us all—Bishop, priests, and people—an opportunity of practising charity to Our Lord Himself m the person of 109 orphan buys. And certainly the many good Catholic people who eagerly claimed the privilege of giving a home for the next few months to SO boys, and the many others who claimed the same privilege but for whom there were no orphans left— these,performed a very beautiful act of charity.

Whilst we return heartfelt thanks to God for His kindly Providence in prtecting the lives of the little ones and the Sisters, 1 am sure we are all determined to make sacrifices in order to provide another home for our orphans. We are appealing to our fellow-countrymen of other faiths, for charity knows no bounds, but we must take up our own responsibility and give the example. he position is this: The new wing, happily untouched by fire, is costing about £10,900. We have to add to that and rebuild what is left of the old orphanage (the walls of one part are standing). These additions and the furniture will cost at least another £IO.OOO. We require therefore, the sum of £20,000.

Me have now £7OOO in hand, and the insurances will come to £3OOO. So we have to find the sum of £IO,OOO. Others will help— kindness of non-Catholics at takapuna to the orphans was unbounded—but it is mainly our work, and with God’s blessing we will take it up and carry it out. . We earnestly beg of you, dear friends, to make a not unworthy offering to the Divine Babe of Bethlehem in the person of the orphan boys. Every one of us will give—men women, and children. No offering can be too big no offering if given at a sacrifice can be too small. Those who haven’t much wealth will give what they can; those "'"I have been blessed by God with the goods of fortune "1 Klad| y seize thls opportunity of thanking Him All will be generous, giving at the cost of a sacrifice twice as much as they first i tended to give. Fathers! Mothers! Help generously to build a (mod home for these 109 boys, even as you would like other fathers and mothers to build a home for your boy were he an orphan. ‘

Young Men and Women! Give cheerfully a week's wages-you can do. this easily by cutting out some amuse-ments-aud so do your share towards providing for these orphans what you have yourself—a good home Children! God is very kind to you because you have good parents and a comfortable homo. Come and help your little orphan brothers. " Let us all earn the reward promised by Him who repavs even u cap of Mater given in His name to "the least of these My little ones." * JAMES M. LLSTON, Coadjutor-Bishop of Auckland ♦ J. J. O'BRIEN, G. 11. FOSTER, Treasurers. H. F. HOLBROOK, Secretary. Takapuna Orphanage The following letter (£5 enclosed) has been receiver] h„ the Superior of the Sisters of Mercy, Takapuna -n ' V Rev. Mother-Owing to having received a «??!+ » n "!' favor through the intercession of St Jo enh T am lK? 1 a small donation as a thanksgiving. Th?L,fi TSS?* towards the building fund for the Orphanage l s T <*&g ike to know it you receive this money sfdv Lnl would kindly acknowledge it in the X Tablet b ' you % \ - ..Truly Thankful.