ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 28, 2 July 1924, Page 31

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

ST. PATRICK’S CONFERENCE, SOUTH DUNEDIN. The annual general meeting of the St. Patrick’s Conference will he held in the Catholic Schoolroom, South Dunedin, on Sunday, July (5, at 7.45 p.m., all active and honorary members, Ladies’ Auxiliary, and all subscribers to the funds of the society are heartily invited to be present. Report and statement of accounts in connection with the St. Patrick’s Conference for rear ending June 30, 1924: The executive in submitting its report and balance sheet for the past year would like to draw attention to the fact that the system laid down in the rules of the St. Vincent do Paul Society dealing with cases of distress has been found to work very satisfactorily in this district. The number of active members on the roll is 32, 23 meetings being held during the year with an average attendance of 16, and the zeal and interest of the brothers were maintained throughout. Most important is the work of visiting the sick and needy, and we have to report that brothers in this conference have made 47 visits to homes, 24 to Boys’ Probation Home, and 20 to the Benevolent Home. In every case they have the satisfaction of knowing their visits were productive of much good. During the year we lost the valued services of Bro. M. McAllen, our president, and Bro. T. Power, who have both left this district. Relief granted as per balance sheet shows that £57 10s 6-J-d was spent in groceries, £24 7s 3d in coal, 55 pairs of boots provided (£4O 11s Id), also drapery, stationery for some school children, medicine and sundries £l7 2s 2d. A special collection taken, at the church doors enabled our conference to give a special Christmas treat to the children-in the orphanage and to the boys in the Probation Home. The Ladies’ Auxiliary Society continued its valuable aid during the year, holding 18 sewing meetings with an average attendance of 6 members. They distributed 47 new and 65 second-hand articles, 2 parcels-of clothing to the orphanage, and 1 parcel to the Little Sisters of the. Poor.

Nurse Boys reports having made 260 visits to homes in this district, and we express appreciation of her tact and attention in dealing with so many cases. We desire to convey our thanks to his Lordship Bishop Whyte who re-organised the society, to the clergy for their assistance and advice, the executive of the Particular Council, Bro. A. Neill, our honorary solicitor, for invaluable services rendered, and to all those who have so generously helped our efforts during the past twelve months. The large sum (£173 os 4£d) which we have spent in relief, irrespective of creed, would not have been met by the contributions of our subscribers were it not. for the share (£6O) of the Blakely Trust handed to this conference by the Particular Council, hence we appeal to the public to continue their generous help, ‘

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE TO JUNE 30, 1924. Receipts. 1923- £ 3. d. July —Annual Collection ... 100 19 3 Dec. — Special Christmas Collection 23 16 1 1924. March —Particular Council (H.M. Blakely Trust) ... GO 0 June I—-Donations 2' 5 Juno 3o—Conference (secret collections) ... ... 17 9 Juno —lnterest 1 q ‘**V» ’ £205 10 6 Expenditure. £ s. d. Groceries 57 ip 6i Boots 40 11 1 Coal 24 7 3 Drapery 13 16 7 Particular Council 31 4 0 Sundries—Milk, 12s 3d ; meal, 10s; medicine, 16s 4d; Benevolent Home, 13s 4d; Boys’ Probation Home, £1 12s; stationery, £1 12s 5 15 11 Cash in Bank as per bank book ' ... 32 0 1 Cash in Hand 0 5 01 £205 10 6 JAMES J. MARLOW, President. W. L. McEVOY. Hon. Sec. - L. F. CASEY, Treasurer. Audited ami found correct. Jno. H. A. McK KERRY, A.1.A.N.Z., Regi. A eel. FORTY HOURS’ ADORATION The observance of the Quarant’ Ore in the various parishes of the diocese lor the present year was commenced at the Sacred Heart Church, North-east Valley, 011 Friday (Feast of the Sacred Heart). There was Solemn High Mass at 9-o’clock, Father Spillane being celebrant; Father Monaghan, deacon; Rev. T. Hally • subdeacon ; and Rev. Father Kavenoy, Adm., master of ceremonies. His ..Lordship the Bishop was present in the sanctuary, and at the conclusion of Mass officiated im the procession and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. After devotions in the -'evening a sermon on the Blessed Sacrament was preached by Rev. Dr. H. O’Neill (Holy Cross College), followed by Benediction. Father Spillane celebrated a Miss a Cantata on Saturday, and in the evening there was Benediction. The music of the Mass on Friday and Saturday was sung by the pupils of the Dominican Nuns’ local school in a mod devotional manner, their interpretation of the lalin being perfect. On Sunday there was an early Mass followed by a Missa Cantata celebrated at 11 o’clock by Father Spillane. After devotions in the evening in the presence of a crowded congregation, a sermon on the Blessed Eucharist was preached by his Lordship the Bishop, who also officiated in the closing ceremonies which included procession and Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The parishioners attended in large numbers during the Forty Hours’, and practically the whole congregation approached the Holy Table. The impressiveness of the early Mass on Sunday was enhanced by the members of St. Joseph’s and Strick’s branches of the Hibernian oSciety, in regalia, as an annual custom, attending at the church and receiving Holy. Communion. They were afterwards entertained to breakfast in the adjoining schoolroom' by the Children of Mary. The chaste decorations of the high altar were due to the taste and devoted industry of Miss N. Mu ruby, and the result of her work in this direction Avon, as usual, the admiration of ail who visited the church.

They that do alms and righteousness shall be filled with life; but they that sin are enemies to their own life.St. Raphael.