The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1888. THE MAGDALEN ASYLUM,

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1897, 19 July 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1888. THE MAGDALEN ASYLUM,

The effortß of tho Bey. Father Ginaty m the direction of founding such a worthy institution are about to be culminated, and on Sunday next the long deeded asylum for penitent Magdalene, at Mount Magdala, near Phrlstchurch, will be formally opened by Bishop Grimes, tho lately-appointed Roman Catholic Bishop of Canterbury. Wjj have before commented upon the object which Father Ginaty has so long had m view, and it is with pleasure we Dote the success which has followed him m hip arduous and self-imposed labours for the benefit of tjje polonial fallen women, Such poems as •' The bridge of Sighs " and " Beautiful Snow " have m eloquent words preached pity for the fallen, and Father Ginaty's sustained efforts havo furnished a means whereby this pity may take practical shape, and these outcasts be shown tho light of a better life. The sisterhood of the Good Shepherd has done noble work m the reformation of penitents, and for nearly tw WW* $hey have m temporary premises m Cbjristchurch carried out their aims with devout seal. Their work has been continued with surprising success considering the length of time they have been engaged m the work, and now tho Sisters have forty penitents from all parts of New Zealand gathered together at Mount Magdala. Onco within the fold pf the Sisterhood penitents are trained t<? ipfjustrious lives, and hence the Sisters of tjie Good fchepherd ask for the co-operatiofl qf all th'o^e who desire to see real reformation .effected. The Mdunt Magdala Magdftlen Asylum is governed by the sarao rules which control the one hundred and fifty-six, Homes scattered over the globe, m which, at tho present moment, 4000 Sisters of the Good Shepherd bestow their devoted cape pn 20,000 young girls and women. Up to the present nioment tho sum of over £10,000 has been oxp/spded on tho building and its requirements a»d tho land, apart from the sum necessary to support the Penitents of the Institution ; and Although the Bey Father Ginaty has ' lately given frig undivided attention to raising funds for the Jwildingf of tho | Magdalen Asylum, fetill there remains a large cum to be secured for tho first portion of the work already completed. We hope, however, soon to learn that a sufficient amount has been raised to complete m every detail the grand scheme pf reform which has been instituted, i

As wo have said the formal opening of the Institution will be on Sunday next, 22nd inst., at two o'clock. This date has been fixed because Sunday next will be peculiarly appropriate, being tbfl anniversary day of the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen — tho especial patron saint <of th<e >york. His Lordship Bishop Grimes wilj giyc p. special service and there will, without doubt, ho present representatives of all classes and all creeds. Ihe Sisterhood recognise all creeds m their work of reclamation, and nono are sent empty away who make Application for admittance to the Asylum. We xjan .only wish tho promoters every success an their .work of mercy and charity.