Archdiocese of Wellington

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 32, 26 August 1925, Page 30

Archdiocese of Wellington

w (From a correspondent.) ; / ■■ August 14. i -■, A Catholic Club is being started ‘in Island Bay. The room at the back of the hall is /requisitioned. If any kind parishioner has ■ a surplus of money a billiard table would • be a much appreciated gift. "■ .. Rev. Father Ryan, 8.M., M.A., lectured /to a' fine attendance of the Students' Guild on Sunday on “Some Difficulties of Catholic Students and Teachers, ’* with special reference to biased text books bn historical and •/; scientific subjects. The lecturer felt his ■ I subject : deeply, and his audience of students and teachers felt it too. The lecture was ' both learned and practical, and cleared many /briars from their path. When the mite box for the Chinese Missions was opened the other day at the Catholic Supplies, a five pound note from some " shy and wide-hearted donor was found withN in. The Chinese Mission staff will shower . prayers on the head of that silent giver. ip Rev. Father McCarthy, S.M., head of the Marist' Mission staff, has just returned from conducting highly successful missions in the v parishes of Pahiatua, Eltham, and Opunake. \ He has just concluded here a Retreat for the Sisters of Mercy, Hill Street. St. Pat’s and St. Bede’s have been having >their annual contest for the Holley Shield. St. Bede’s won the football last year. This 1 year- St. Patrick’s was, the winner. ' . ; Commander McFadden, a Chaplain of the /United States Navy, is the guest of Rev. Father Mahony, S.M., of St. Mary of the ' Angels, Boulcott Street. Commander McFadden is a constant visitor to the Rest Room /■ where Catholic sailors of the Fleet are being entertained by the ladies of each parish in ■ turn; The old Boulcott Street Schoolroom has been transformed with paper streamers and gay, lights. On one wall a picture of the old St. Mary’s Cathedral stands out boldly and catches the eye. Too much credit cannot be given to the men who have worked after their own day’s work to, achieve' this v effect. ; Chief among them are Messrs. J. Scott, W. Gamble,, Heevey, Carroll, Dwyer, and D. Kelly. They have worked like Trojans, all,the*men, and, of course, the women always work like Trojans. Tha goes without saving. . ,It happened to„ be Buckle -. Street’s night the night the scribe went, ami ./there was a fine crowd of dancers and a fine supper. Present were Commander McFadden, Rev, Father Mahony, S.M-., Rev. Father Cullen, Adm. (St. Joseph’s), Rev. / Fathers Murphy. and Butler;" A writing : room at the side of the hall was full of readers and writers. .. ... ... .Eastbourne has -been progressing lately. . Benediction is given there nowadays. Rev. , Father McDonnell (St. Patrick’s College) looks after Eastbourne. Mrs. Thompson has presented < a beautiful Monstrance for which /the seaside parish is very grateful: A most .successful dance in aid of St. Mary’s stall, Lewisham bazaar, was held, there recently, and the . secretary (Mr. J.. Perry) was able ' to hand in a substantial amount as the rev sult. " * " •'"■•■■■ ; . . . . ,r suit. - , - ' ■ .

/ To be. ordained on next Sunday a member of a popular and generous Brooklyn family. This is Mr. Michael Burke, son of Mr. and ■ Mrs. D. Burke of this city. : • X ■' ’ X/r ‘ ; SiX 5 : X. , ' / / . ; August 21. This week has been a veritable whirl of ? festivities for the sailors. They are all quite frank. They have found the country -small and cold, cold both meterologicaliy, and at first cold socially. But a certain national shyness is the cause of much of that. Australia is less formal. “We feel alright, but we can’t show it,” said the editor of a periodical here to a. visiting press man. However, from the ,very first the Catholic Rest Room here leaps into favor. Other sailors, not Catholics, became regular visitors. The permanent committee of young men, mentioned in last week’s notes, and the committees of ladies from the various parishes deserve unstinted praise. Officers are always well catered for on such visits, and the rank and file love a place where they can turn in from the streets and find a fire, and a song, and a chat. The Commander looked in constantly to keep an eye on his flock. All the nations were reprented there. There was even a Red Indian, proud and solitary, first owner by descent of that incredible continent from which they come. ■ On Sunday night the Rest Room was thronged with sailors and with visitors. The sailors aro very young and the old' ladies who turned up mothered them, and jested and lectured them as mothers do the world over. It was one of the sailors’ most pleasing traits, the reverence they showed for the aged who brought, hack to them memories of their fathers and mothers at home. The Guildford Terrace School Choir entertained the Fleet men at an afternoon concert during the r week. These children are well known for the grace of their singing. The Chaplain (Commander McFadden) in a felicitous speech, thanked the Sisters and the children for the entertainment, “I think I’d need a ladder to reach some of the notes you children have taken this afternoon,” said he. He told them of his days in the Navy and the hours passed pleasantly for all. The Catholic Girls’ Hostel entertained the sailors on Tuesday ,evening; dancing and games filled the hours with brightness and laughter. Miss Lemfert (matron) received the guests who all announced their gratitude at the evening’s end. One or two Fleet jokes for a change ; Ho was an electrician on one of the cruisers and he wanted his fortune told. “You have a passion for gambling.” “Too true, Ma’am, I made twenty pahnd off ' the crap-shooters yesterday.” “Your luck,,won’t always hold though!” That’s true, Ma’am, truer still; the little hoises clean me up every time.” A certain young lady, a clever mimic, reproduced -their drawl exactly. Another asked, “Do we sound different when we talk The American was reluctant but he had to admit it. He put the brightest . side out though: “You don’t all sound diff’rent. Now,, this young lady here, she talks just like us,” The democracy is strong in them. One of them having found this country untouched: as yet by ' Pussyfoot, watched two silk-hatted members acknowledging salutA-

tiohs in a crowd.' He turned to the crowd, ‘‘Bowin’P Bowin’? I bow to no King—but King Neptune.” King Neptune’s subject, missed , the curbing by a hair’s breadth, and . stalked proudly, if unsteadily, away. Even, as far out as Johnson dances are being I held. Last night a contingent’ of the Fleet ' went out to be welcomed by Father Griffin’s - • •• / ■ ' . *• -r parish. ' On Sunday night the Irish Club gave a , reception to the Denis ■ Kehoe Company. Sailors were present at this also. The president (Mr. Nolan) welcomed both. He stressed the clean and wholesome character .: of the type of play presented by Mr. Kehoe, and wished them all kinds of success whereever they went. Songs were given both by the company and by local artists. Mr. Tom Buckley, who has been sixty-five years an actor, sang three items and Mr. Kehoe’s own item was loudly applauded. His popularity was evident. Cheers were given at the conclusion of the entertainment. fKKKMMMJ