KAIAPOI ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2427, 16 January 1882, Page 3

KAIAPOI ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The Ohuroh of Bt. Patrick, erected in Per&ki street, Kaiapoi, to which full reference as to its design, architecture, and finish has already been made in our columns, was solemnly opened for divine worship on Sunday last by the Soman Catholic Bishop of Wellington, Dr. Bedwood. The ohuroh, it may be said, looked indeed very pretty for the occasion, and is an edifice of whioh the Catholic members of the Kaiapoi oommunity may feel proud. It is capable of seating about 200 persons, but far in exoess of that number found admission on Sunday morning at the opening mass. The lighting is very good, and the appointments neat and in order. An altar and super-altar have been introduced since our last notice, which have been made by Mr A. J. White, of Christchurch, which correspond and are in harmony with the finishing of the cburoh. The ladies' altar oommittee have been enabled to purchsso a suitable brass crucifix and set of candlesticks, and the adornments of the char.cel and the altar were in excellent taste. An American organ, lent by Dr. Ovenden, was placed in the choir gallery. The grounds round the church had been planted and made to look neat by a number of willing workers on Saturday. Soon after the arrival of the special train from Christchurch, which was well patronised, the services of the day were began with matins. An address was presented to Bishop Bedwood, and read by Mr Lynskey in the presence of about 350 persons. The text of the address was as follows :

"To the Bight Bev. Dr. Bedwood, Bishop of Wellington. " My Lard, —We, the Catholics of Kiiapoi, beg leave to offer our respectful welcome to your Lordship on this your first visit to Kaiapoi. In common with the Catholics of your large diocese, we return our most heartfelt thanks to Almighty God for your safe journey to and from Borne, whither you had gone on behalf of our spiritual welfare and that of our children. We greatly rejoice to have heard of your Lordship's success in. scouring more priests for the diocese. Neither are we unmindful of the special debt of gratitude we owe to your Lordship for the establishment of a much-needed Catholic Orphanage at Nelson, which we hope will, under your Lordship's untiring zeal and fostering care, grow into a most flourishing institution. Your Lordship will be pleased to know 'that our holy religion is steadily and hopefully progressing in this mission, as is evidenced by the handsome church which haa just been erected to the honor and glory of God, and in which labor of love we have been most liberally assisted by non-Catholic friends. The absence of Catholic schools for our children haa long been felt by us, and has frequently been brought before us by our beloved pastor; bat our great distance from a centre, and the limited means at our disposal, have offered insuperable obstacles towards the realisation of our ardent wishes in this regard. Begging your Lordship's blessing, and especially the apostolic benediotion granted to you by his Holiness our beloved reigning sovereign Pontiff to the whole of your diocese, we have the honor to be your Lordship's most humble children in Christ." (Signed on behalf of the residents at Kaiapoi.) His Lordship said that he should take an opportunity to fully reply to the address on another occasion.

A procession was then formed, and the Bishop, assisted by Fathers Bins field and Ginaty, began the outward blessing of the building, the priests reciting the Psalm liv. Miserrimus. Upon entering to bless the church, the choir, whioh was assisted by the members of the Loughnan family and (Miss Mary Loughnan presiding at the organ, intoned the Litany for All Saints, with the addition of a part appropriate to the occasion. The doors were then opened to the people, and Psalms ozix., cxx., cxxi. were repeated by the Bishop and clergy. High mass was -celebrated by Father Binsfleld, his Lordship the Bishop being assisted on his throne by Father Qinaty. After a prayer suitable for the occasion, his Lordship gave a short exhortation from Corinthians, " This is eternal life that they believe in Thee, and in whom Thou has sent," but as he was suffering from an acute attack of bronchitis his address was' brief, concluding by congratulating the members of the Catholic faith upon their zeal and efforts to obtain this church, and also expressing: acknowledgments to the non-Catholic portion of the community who had liberally assisted. He pointed out that there was an existing debt upon the building, which it would be advisable to olear away as early as possible. The offertory was then taken, and amounted to £lO4. The church cost in all about £750, and there is still a small portion of the sum owing. At the termination of. mass the Bishop gave the papal benediction. Vespers were held at 4.30 p.m., when the choir officiated in a very satisfactory manner, and the proceedings of the day terminated after a short address of advice from the Bishop.