New Church of St. Patrick, Palmerston North

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 10, 6 March 1924, Page 21

New Church of St. Patrick, Palmerston North

LAYING OF FOUNDATION STONE. (From our own correspondent.) "The great day has arrived, and its raining! Oh, God be merciful to us!" These, and like expressions were heard on every side on the morning of Sunday, February. 17. For many years the parishioners had patiently waited for the red-letter day, when the foundation stone of our new

gregation, at the close of each Mass. At 9.30 the rain ceased, and every hour thereafter saw a vast improvement. At 2 o’clock the people began to assemble for the ceremony ; and as though awaiting the signal, the clouds gathered in a very, threatening manner. “If the rain will only keep off for another hour!” and again our prayers “stormed” heaven. Alas! at 2.30 heaven “stormed” us and the procession, which consisted of his Grace Archbishop Redwood, his Grace Archbishop Chine (Perth), Right Rev. Monsignor Power (Hawera), Chancellor Holbrook (Auckland), Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M. (Highden), Very Rev. Father O’Reilly, S.M. (Provincial), Rev. Fathers Dunne (secretary to Archbishop Clime), Cahill (Feilding), MacManus, Doolaghty and O’Beirne (Palmerston North), and the acolytes, made its way from the presbytery to the new church, beneath a canopy of umbrellas. Seated on the platform were the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Nathan), and members of the Borough Council Messrs. J. A. Nash, J. Linklater, and H. E. Holland, M.’sP., Mr. H. L. Young, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and many prominent local citizens. The Municipal Band added one more favor to the already long list, by rendering several appropriate items, prior to the ceremony. The function commenced with an address from tho Rev. Father MacManus, who welcomed his Grace Archbishop Redwood to the parish, remarking that the pleasure of extending a welcome to his Grace was increased by the fact that the venerable Prolate was so shortly to celebrate his Golden Jubilee. Archbishop Chine, the visiting clergy, the-band, and the other members of the gathering were also given a hearty welcome, and thanked for their attendance. Then the Rev. Father gave us a few figures to dwell upon: the presbytery and site for the church cost £7OOO, alterations to the presbytery, etc., £I9OO, the church, with incidental expenses, about £31,000, giving a total of nearly £40,000. Of this amount £15,000 had still to be found. The pastor finished his speech by saying; “I consider the building of this church an act of faith in the goodness of God, and the generosity of the people.” Certainly the people have been very generous and will remain so till the end, please God! The church committee has, right from the start, worked hard and earnestly, and has had the loyal, whole-hearted co-operation of the parishioners, who have given unstintingly of their time and money in a splendid effort to raise tho necessary funds.

church would be laid. That day had now dawned: the rain was falling in torrents,' and ' the dull, leaden sky looked—from a human viewpoint—hopeless. “That the afternoon will be fine,” was the prayer of pastor and con-

The bazaar and recent money-making events are a glowing tribute to the work of the people. Miss Cora Bartlett, on behalf of the convent school, children, then read in a clear, firm voice the following address to his Grace:

“May it please Your Grace, the children of St. Patrick’s parish, welcome you most heartily to Palmerston North. We congratulate your Grace on the attainment of the Golden Jubilee of your Episcopate, and we pray God that you may long be spared to rule over the destinies of this important archdiocese. We thank your Grace for the kindly interest you have ever manifested in Catholic education in the archdiocese, and we are pleased to state that, under your fostering care we have beautiful schools, set amidst congenial surroundings, and staffed with a body of teachers second to none in New Zealand. We look forward with hope to the day when your Grace will open and dedicate to the service of God the beautiful church of which to-day you lay the foundation stone.” In expressing his thanks for the address, his Grace said that the great aim of the Church was to give the children a good education—the best possible education, that would equip them for this world and the next. He hoped to see this grand church soon completed and be present at its dedication. His Worship the Mayor then addressed the gathering, remarking that he appreciated the invitation

to the present parish priest, who deserved more praise than the speaker could accord him for his work in building the church. "The day will come-perhaps very soon—when this will be a cathedral," said his Grace, "for some of the secondary towns in New Zealand will shortly be having cathedrals. This is a great thing to say and whether it eventuates or not the name of Father MaeManus will go down to posterity as a church-builder, for it is he upon whom the work rests." The Archbishop commented upon the elaborate nature of the structure. The lofty spire would" rise to a great height and would be visible all over the district, while the whole building would be remarkable for its elegance, solidity, durability, and architectural merits "This church," said his Grace, "is going to give us two things so precious and so great that they sum up the whole career on this earth of Our Divine Lord. The Lord said: "I am the Living Truth and the Incarnate God"— an assertion which no philosopher, however great, dared to make; and being Divine, He taught the truths required for man's salvation, and was determined that they should live after Him. We have a supernatural end, and'all the

to the ceremony, particularly because it gave him an early opportunity of conveying to bis Grace the congratulations of the people of Palmerston North, on the attainment of his Golden Jubilee; and he hoped the Archbishop would long be spared to enjoy the distinction of being the oldest Bishop in the world. “I have listened with interest to the figures quoted by the Rev. Father MacManus (said the Mayor) and they made me wonder what was the foundation which caused the people to undertake to erect so great a church in so small a town as this. The only foundation on which this church has been built seems to be love, self-respect, self-deprivation, self-control, and love and respect for those* directing the instruction of its young people in Palmerston North. If the people were not satisfied with that teaching they would not deprive themselves of creature comforts to the extent to which they must have, to help raise the necessary funds. 1 have travelled a good deal and seen churches all over the, world, but I have seen none to equal this, in a town the size of Palmerston North.” Mr. Nathan, on behalf of the contractors (Messrs. Trevor Bros.), presented his Grace with a silver trowel, inscribed in honor of his Jubilee. In accepting the trowel the Archbishop thanked the Mayor for his kind remarks, and the foundation stone was then laid. His Grace then expressed his pleasure at being present at the function, and thanked all who attended, especially Archbishop dune, Monsignor Power, and other visiting clergy. He congratulated the people on the fine church in the course of erection. The structure would last for hundreds of years, find would be a lasting monument

genius and natural virtue cannot reach it: we require grace. Our Saviour gave us this while He lived: it came "om His Divine Presence; and this grace Ha I,as handed down for all time through the agency of His apostles. - m oil'll oh will, in turn, hand down to the people these .mall,h e truths and this grace. You are proud of your civilisation hut just what in it are you proud of? it is on y the Christian spirit. They are trying to do away nth God at the resent time, and if they go back to paganism, it will be worse than that of the olden days. Me are making strides in the wrong direction; but this church, the foundation stone of which we have laid, is going to stand up and fight that. The Lord said to' His Christians: “You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and this church will represent all these magnificent ideas.” - His Grace Archbishop Clone, who had “a way wid him, made a short speech. He commenced by remarking humorously that the rain reminded him of Shakspere’s words about the “gentle dew falling from heaven,” being “twice blessed.” “The rain will have a beneficial effect upon the pockets of the,farmers, and will induce them to give generously when the call for funds comes,” said his Grace. He was pleased at renewing his association with I almerston North, which was the scene of his labors in years gone by. There was no doubt that the church was badly needed. “The presence of so many people who are not members of our church is a pleasing feature, and a tribute to Father MacManus. It delights me that he has had the vision, courage, enterprise, and the spirit of faith

to conceive the construction of such a'magnificent building. 1 was amazed when 1 heard that over £30,000 was to be spent on a new church in Palmerston North. In Australia such a sum is spent only on a cathedral, but his Grace of .Wellington has said that this, is going to be a cathedral city, and lie speaks from inside knowledge,” stated the Archbishop, amidst laughter. In conclusion he made an appeal for funds; and set the ball rolling by donating £lO 10s himself, which he described as a donation from a “bush Bishop.” When the ball had finished rolling, the “bush, Bishop’s” £lO 10s had grown to nearly £7OO. “Once again, I thank all who have attended the ceremony,” and

with these words from Father MacManus, the proceedings ended. High time, too, for the “gentle rain” was by this time a mighty downpour. It" was very disappointing to strike such-a wet day; but the stone was laid, and God’s blessing is upon the work, just as if it had been fine. For the favors of the past, priests and people unite in a very heartfelt, fervent; Deo y ratios, and we pray that God may bless abundantly our labors in the future. Our new church of St. Patrick’s will be solemnly dedicated within a year’s time, we hope; ond opened with the £15,000 debt considerably reduced. Let’s start right now and pray 'for a fine day I