NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CONVENT
OPENED AT KILBIRNIE
Standing on one of the most prominent sites in South Kilbirnie, and in the locality known as Childers Terrace, where the tram lines from the city via \ tho tunnel and Constable Street June- \ tion, is a large and commodious twostory residence containing some twelve , or. thirteen rooms, formerly the residence of Mr. M. F. Bourkc. This pro- , perty, nearly an acre in extent, and ; possessing a fine panoramic view of ; the Cook Strait, Evans Bay, Lyall Bay, and the surrounding locality, has been ; acquired by the Sisters of Mercy to i serve the dual purpose of a. high school and musical academy, and also as a residence for the teaching staff of sisters engaged in the local school at St. Patrick's School Chapel across the road. The residence has been renovated and converted into a convent and school, and yesterday afternoon tho ceremony of blessing ami formally opening the new institution} which is to be known as St. Catherine's Convent, was performed by His Grace Archbishop O'Sliea, assisted by tho Veu. Archdeacon Devoy, the Rev. Fathers Picquet (Sydney), Hurley, S.M., Adams, O'Connell, S.M., O'Loary, S.M., D. Campbell, S.M., and C. Outrim, S.M., and the Very Rev. Father Roche, CiS.S.R. There was a largo number of people present at the opening, and at the conclusion of tho ceremony of blessing the new convent the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, as rector of the district, briefly addressed the gathering before calling upon His Grace the Coadjutor Archbishop to perform the ceremony. Archbishop Devoy stated that in 190S there was neither a Catholic school nor a Catholic ohurch at Kilbirnie. A missiqn. for the Catholics of Kilbirnie was given that year by tho Redemptorist Fathers at 6'Donnell's Hall. The success of that mission was responsible for a movement to erect a Catholic church at Kilbirnie, and in the meantime Mass was celebrated every Sunday at O'Donnell's Hail. Originally it was intended to erect a church of the value of £6000—in fact the foundations were laid for a building of that value-7-but owing to tho urgent necessity of a Catholio school in tho district and the inability of the people to complete the suiemo within a reasonable time, it was decided to leave the erection of the church to a later period, and to immediately erect a building that would serve both as a 6chool and a church until such time as the latter was built. A fine substantial building was erected on the'same section, at a cost of £1000, and since then further additions and improvements to the building, made necessary the growth of the Catholic population in that district, brought the total cost to £1700. They woro present that day to witness the installation of the sisters • in tho beautiful convent that His Graco had just blessed. Ho wished to particularly thank the Bourkp family for tho benefactions they have made to tho Church, and it was through the generosity of that family That they were in the happy position of opening tho convent that day. Ho wished the good sisters every success. His Graco Archbishop U'Shea, in declaring tho convent open, said that it gave him much pleasure to bless and open such a beautiful convent. Besides the sisters belonging to the great teaching order, the Sisters of Mercy had done, and were doing, marvellous work for Catholic education in this Dominion, and thoy were to be located iu their midst. The Sisters of Mercy not only imparted secular knowledge to the children under their care,' but they also imparted a thorough knowledge of their holy religion, and in doing this they were conferring a great boon on the whole community. Those who thought that the teaching of religion and morals should be separated from the training in secular knowledge made a very great mistake, and although they might not know it, they were impeding the progress of this young country, and- as long as God gave him health and strength to do so Jie would voice the objection of the Church to such a system, in conclusion, lie congratulated the sisters en , acquiring such a fiue property, and he also wished to voice his appreciation of the generosity of the Bourke 1 family and the energy of the Venerable • Archdeacon Devoy in helping the sisters , to acquire the property, iie formally declared the convent open.
Those present were then invited to
the Convent Chapel, where Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by His tiraco the Archbishop, assisted by the clergy present. The nuns' choir rendered tho music, and at the conclusion afternoon tea was served by the sisters, who conducted the visitors through the building and grounds. The Key. Sister Alary Chanel will
be in charge of the jiew convent, and she will have associated with her in her work live other sisters. A collection was taken up and resulted hi the 6um of £60 being handed to the Rev. Sister Chanel, who desires to thank all kind friends and donors for their kindness.
The opening of St. Catherine's Convent in the parish of Wellington South, under the charge of tho Ven. Archdeacon Dcvoy, adds another to tho many Catholic institutions in his extensive parish, and it is interesting to note the following:—Sacred Heart Convent, Home of Compassion, St. Francis's Church, and the Parish School, Island Bay; Sisters of Mercy Preparatory College for Boys, and St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church and School, Seatoun; St. Patrick's Church and School, and St. Catherine's Convent, Kilbirnie; St. Anne's Church, St. Anne's School, St. Anne's Hall, and St. Joseph's Convent, Green and Daniel Streets, Wellington South.
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2989, 29 January 1917, Page 6
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940NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CONVENT Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2989, 29 January 1917, Page 6
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