CATHOLIC NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 194, 12 May 1919, Page 6

CATHOLIC NOTES

Thn mission at St. Joseph's Church, Buckle Street, was brought to a close Inst night, and was the most successful Catholic mission held in the ■archdiocese of Wellington. A unique record of the lamest number to approach Holy Communion in any one Catholic parish was established yesterday morning, when 1-87 went to the altar rails. Tins makes a total of 12,000 communicants during the fortnight's mission, which is- a Rfeat tribute to tho inissioners, the Ret. Fathors Ainswovth and M'Carthy, S.M.», and to tho local, parishpriests, the Rev. Fathers Hurley and O'Connor, S.M. s. At the 10.30 Mass yesterday, and also at Ihe evening, devotions, the missioncrs congratulated tho parishioners on then unitSJf., preached an eloquent sermon ontho "Credentials of the Catholic Church to an overflowing congregation. After tho sermon tho solemn ceremony of tho •"Renewal of tho Baptismal Vows'took place/and tho Papal blessing was given. The congregation was exhorted by tho missioncrs to continue the example of perseverance in the Holy Faith they had shown during tho mission. His Grace Coadjutor Archbishop O Shea thanked tlio inissioners for their zeal aiid earnestness and tho parishioners for their constant attendance at Uio mission. Tho Rev. Fathers Ainsworth -aimM'Carthy, S.M.'s, will next transfer their missionary labours to Gisborne,where they will commenco a mission on May 21 nt' St. Mary's Church. The priests of the archdioceso of iWellington, numbering about fifteen, will go into retreat to-morrow. This retreat, which will bo of one week's duration, was postponed last year on account of the influenza- epidemic, which called so inucii of tho priests' time. ' . Tho Rev. Father Duignan, S.M., of ■ tho Thorndon parish, is at present taking, up hie priestly work on Somes Island, attending to the spiritual needs of tlio Catholics forced to stay on tho island through precautions being taken 'by the authorities to prevent tho recurrence of the influenza scourge.