Catholic Women’s Association, Christchurch

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 50, 20 December 1923, Page 45

Catholic Women’s Association, Christchurch

An association has recently been formed in Christchurch for the purpose of bringing women and girls together so that by association and suggestion the Catholic spirit may be strengthened and mutual help and edification given. As has already been stated in our columns a representative committee met at the Convent of the Sisters of N.D. des Missions early in October, when it was decided to commence the association’s activities by holding at the convent a general conference of Catholic women and girls. The day decided upon, the second Sunday in November, was beautifully fine and the meeting was held in the convent grounds, proving a remarkable success, fully 500 being present. His Lordship Bishop Brodie presided and expressed his great pleasure at the splendid attendance. Rev. Father T. Hanrahan, Adm., on behalf of the Sisters, welcomed the visitors and briefly explained the objects of the conference. Misses Farrow and K. Turner then read papers on “Dress” and “Home Life,” which will be given in our next issue. In the general discussion which followed the reading of the papers, the meeting was fortunate in having the benefit of such experienced speakers as Miss N. Hayward and Miss Mahoney. The former has just returned from Europe, where she came across many striking examples of the good being effected by Catholic organisations. Miss Mahoney .was a visitor from Europe who had taught in Catholic colleges and had been for some time Inspectress of Schools in India, and was therefore able to give the assembly the benefit of her wide and varied experience. Several of the clergy were present and after the ladies had finished their part of the discussion Rev. Father Cooney, in a few happy sentences, congratulated the assembly on their successful meeting. Very much, he said, was being effected in England and other countries by similar associations of Catholic women, and he was sure this new movement would ho able to do valuable work. His Lordship Bishop Brodie, having congratulated the readeis of the papers and the various speakers on their valuable contributions, spoke a few words of encouragement and inspiration, pointing out how a simple little seamstress by humbly collecting funds for mission work abroad had thus laid the foundation of the great Society of the Propagation of the I aith, while a simple peasant girl such as Joan of Aic had been able to do more for her country than all its soldiers and -statesmen. In conclusion he was glad to announce that the conference was to be an annual function, and he hoped that each year there would be the same response to the Sisters’ invitation, for such re-unions helped greatly to strengthen and foster the Catholic spirit. Tea was served in the grounds and a very successful afternoon was brought to a close by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament given by his Lordship in the convent chapel.