CHURCH JUBILEE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1930, Page 3

CHURCH JUBILEE

DR REDWOOD RECALLS THE PAST. Jjv 'lelegraph—Press Association) NELSON, March 31. Yesterday was a memorable day for tue Catholic community of the Nelson district, when the Diamond Jubilee of St. Joseph’s Church at Wakefield was fittingly celebrated in the presence o. a very large gathering. Added interest was lent to the occasion hv the presence of Arch bishop Redwood. His Grace, the Arch bishop, in a characteristic address, said how pleased he was to be with them on this very important occasion. The very sight of the church brought back t< him the memories of days long past. In connection with St. Joseph’s, one name above all others ’deserved to he held in remembrance by all and that wiu lather Charvre. Alter the service in the Church, nearly all present adjourned to the V.M.C.A. Hall and partook of a very excellent luncheon, provided by the Wakefield people. More than 200 persons sat down at the tables, whi h filled the hall. The guests were admirably waited on by the men and women of the township. In view of the fact that Archbishop Redwood will celebrate his 91st. birthday on Bth. April next, a large and beautiful birthday cake had been provided. On this there were 91 lighted candles. In the course of. another address, the Archbishop said that he left. Nelson as a young and inexperienced school

boy. Then at the age of tJ4 (in the year 1874) in the good providence of God, lie came hack to' New Zealand a Hi.sliop. At the Convent garden party later, ' lie Archbishop tokl jsome interesting stories of his early experiences, some in which had happened practically np>ll the snot o-n which lie was standing. The steep hank behind him.was the veiy identical hank where lie and otliiy; boys had vied with one another to -ee who could jump down the farthest/' 'file great crisis, of his life arrived at t!ie moment when the sailing vessel ‘Mountain Maid” happened to cal! at Nelson. The chance suddenly came to ’o to Franco —there to continue studies that were imnossible here at that early time. Would he go or would he not? That was the great question. Fie decided that he wouid go and only a very few days were available in which to arrange the necessary finances etc.