REV. MOTHER CLARE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1925, Page 3

REV. MOTHER CLARE

CELEBRATES H|ER DIAMOND

JUBILEE. TO-DAY’S CEREMONIES. RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL. A. unique celebration in the annals ol i cligious teachers engaged m educational work in our midst was. celebrated' .floklay at, St. Colnmhkille’s Convent, Hokitika. During the year the venerable Foundress, .Mother Marv ( hire Moloiiv completed sixty years of religious life as a Sister of .Mercy. Horn in Ennis, County Clare. Ireland, in 1811. the Jubilarinn entered the Novitiate of the Order in that town at an early age and was professed two years later. She engaged in teaching in the schools of her native city'for a period ol seventeen years when an appeal was made to the Ennis Community to send a hand ut its members to Hokitika, to undertake there the work of education. Mother Clare was chosen as the Superioress of the little Community of ten members who arrived in Hokitika in October, 1878. There are many amongst us who still remember the cordial welcome given them by the late Dean .Martin and the parishioners of St. -Mary’s.

Alter residing for some months in a temporary residence in Sewell Street, the Community transferred to the present Convent in Sewell Street. This building 'has been enlarged from time to time. Present additions in course .of construction have been undertaken to commemorate Mother .M. Clare’s Diamond Jubilee. A beautiful brick Gothic Chapel was erected to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Foundress. St. Columbkille’s Community to-day numbers 31 religious, including tense in charge of the schools in Kumara and Ross, apd directing those of Kaiiieri and Rimti. St. C olumbkille's is the parent House from which the present nourishing communities of Greyniouth, Lyttelton, and St. Mary’s Colombo St., Christchurch were founded. The educational work carried out by the Sisters ill the town of 11 ok Ilika is two-fold—the parochial mixed School with a roll number of 180, and a Secondary and hoarding School for which latter, additional accommodation is being provided. Excellent results have been obtained in the Schools and very favourable reports received at all times from the Board's Inspectors. St. Coluiilbkille's as a music centre, vocal and instrumental, lias always enjoyed a high reputation and gained distinctions gratifying to teachers and pupils alike.

To coinmeorate the occasion. the friends of the venerable Jubilarinn lime gathered from far and near. His Lordship Bishop Brodie arrived in Hokitika on Tuesday night accompanied hv a number of clergy several of whom are past pupils. Ihe celebrations began with early Masses in the Church and Convent, largely attended. At 111.30 II is Lordship pontificated at Solemn High Mass in the Convent Chapel. Eat her Herbert. S.M. (Reefton) being Assistant Priest. Fathers Herring S.M. (Reefton) and Rionlan (Ross) Deacons at the throne. Fathers Long (G rev mouth), and I'ogarly (Ahnura) deacon and subdeac.ui respectively and Rev. Dr. Kennedy Hokitika) Master of Ceremonies There were also present Rev. Fathers Walshe i Upper llnt-tl. Gilbert S.M. , Rector of St. Patrick's College Meljinglen). MacDonald S.M. 'Hastings'), .Min-pitv S.M. i Wellington >. .loy-e ! j.cbl. Mi M,,i,a-I<-. H i:, ".ail Madden . G liiMHf bI. Fiimerty (Kilinara). Kinghain Wellington) and Roche S.M. (Chi ist church). .Music appropriate to the occasion was supplied by the Sisters’ Choir. His Lordship delivered an impressive sermon on the religious state, He benefits to civilisation and religion which have followed from it and complimented the venerable !■ nundiess upon the great work which she had been the means of accomplishing in the cause of odiisoatioii on the M" 4 Coast, the influence ol which had oeeu extended to Canterbury in the ilmr.'isliiug Schools directed by the Sistei-. The Bishop and visiting Clergy were entertained at dinner by the Community. In the afternoon at 2.30, the parishioners entertained the veneranle Jubilarinn at a .Musieale in the Clubmoms. Items were contributed by Mrs. C. Hickman. .Misses Jones and Gillolv. Fathers MacDonald and Herbert. Mr. T. Stoplorth. .Miss Marie | f.iese being a very efficient accompanist. Mr MeCavin read an address embodying the sentiments of the parishioners 7ind Mr. V. Groufsky y.resmiird a Jubilee Offering. The day’s proceedings terminated with Solemn Benedict ion given I y the Bishop m the Convent Chapel,liis Lordship being assisted by Rev. I’Libers Kinncrly and O’Regan.