Need for Spiritual Education Emphasised

Grey River Argus, 16 April 1948, Page 2

Need for Spiritual Education Emphasised

“How wise were those who, when the secular system ot education was first introduced into this country, placed a higher value on spiritual rmngs over the material," remarKeu tn<; xtt. Rev. Monsignor .lames Long, z-.P., when presenting the prizes at the postopned annual prize-giving of me convent of Mercy .schools at the st. Coiumha Hall yesterday aiternoon. Monsignor Long was paying a tribute to the donors of special prizes and said that they had realised that great sacrifices would be entailed in maintaining a properly equipped and successful system ot Catholic education. In the earliest days of Greymouth, he painted out. there was only one school to serve the town’s needs, and that was the Catholic School conducted in Arney Street. “When, what I call the deplorable system of secular education was planted in this country, the pioneers realised the importance of spiritual things,” said Monsignor Long. Amongst tm-se. pioneers he named the late Mr Vincent Bevilacqua, donor of the Bevilacqua Medal. Miss Harriet Card, who had donated to her old school a medal for Christian Doctrine, and Mrs Teresa Bray (Greaney) who had donated a prize for New Zealand literature, and particularly for a study of the works of the New Zealand poet. Eileen Duggan. In presenting the prizes, Monsignor Long said that the occasion had been postponed on account of the health restrictions. He extended a welcome to the new assistant priests, the Rev. Fathers T. Farrell and T. Daly, who were present and said all hoped their stay in Greymouth would be a longone. ABILITY OF WINNERS Congratulating the winners, he said that it had been said that a race went not always to the swift, nor the prizes to the wisest, but the recipients that day were held in the highest esteem for their ability and work, by the Sisters of Mercy. He asked those who had also competed, to make similar efforts in the future.

' “Mr Bevilacqua took a keen interest in our Catholic schools,” said Monsignor Long, “and he established a trust fund that has enabled boys and girls to benefit by his generosity. He was a good industrious man, who had a thought for the future.” Miss Harriet Card, said the Monsignor. was a lady of outstanding merit who was a distinguished old pupil of the Convent School, and who had become Mayoress of Featherston. She had maintained a keen interest in St Mary’s School through the years, and had greatly assisted her old teachers. Mrs Bray was a member of a. noted Greymouth family, who became a schoolteacher of greqt ability. She had placed a high value on spiritual things and had set an example in providing a prize for literature.

The prize-winners were: — St Mary’s School, Harriet Card Gold Medal for Christian Doctripe:— Evelyn Kiely. Form IJJ Christian Doctrine prize.—Margaret O’Neill. Teresa Greaney literature prize:—Helen O’Regan. St Patrick’s School: Bevilacqua Medal for dux in Form II. —Anette Brown: Runner-up: Shirlev Myers On the platform were Mesdames J. Brown. T. Kiely, Kiely senr.. and J. Keating. During the afternoon the following items were given:—lnstrumental overture: “Irish Airs” —School Orchestra; Choruses: “Butterfly.” “Summer Goes O’er The Sky,” —St Patrick’s Choir; violin solo: “The Rosary,”'—Ula Drv.mmQnd; chorus: “Beautiful Spring,”—St. Mary’s College Choir. Accompaniestes were Anne Eadie and Rene Morgan- The proceedings ended with the singing of the Papal Anthem. “Long Live the Pope."