ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.

Kumara Times, Issue 1566, 4 October 1881, Page 2

ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.

ADMINISTERING THE FIRST COMMUNION TO CHILDREN. [contributed.] Yesterday, the Feast of the Angels Guardian, was commemorated in a most impressive manner at St. Patrick's Church. For some time past the Rev. Father Devoy had been preparing about thirty children for First Communion ; and, judging from the manner in which they approached the altar, they were duly imbibed with those wise maxims which he has been instilling into their young minds. Besides those happy innocents who partook of the Banquet of Love for the first time, there were some thirty other children, making in all about sixty who received Holy Communion. Shortly after eight o'clock a.m., the

children began lo collect in the vi l cinity of the church, their counfenances beaming iu smticipation of the happy event. At nine, they marched in procession from the sell>>ol-room to Rssisfc at Mas« ; the girls moat tastefully attired in white, with wreaths and veils ; the boys were also dressed in a becoming manner. The Rev. Father Devoy taking for his text " Suffer little children to come to me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God," preached a most elequent and touching sermon, intended chiefly for the communicants, but equally instructive to the adult hearers. At the " Domine non sunt dignus," he again impressed the children with the importance of the step they were about to take. They then approached the commnuion rail in the most perfect order, their every move* ment betokening that they were fully: conscious of the gravity of their situation.

At the conclusion, and at intervals during mass, the choir and children sang some suitable hymna in excellent harmony. After Mass, the children were invited by Rev. Father Devoy to the schoolroom, where tables were placed, under the superintendence of Mesdames M'Dermott and Mulvihill, and Misses O'Brien, Hannan,. aud Power, replete with good things, which were done ample justice to. The concluding ceremony, "The renewal of baptismal vows," for those who received Holy Communion in the morning, took place at 6 o'clock p.ra;They marched in the same order as that observed in the morning from -the schoolroom, and took the places set apart for them in front of the sancjtuary. After prayers proper : to the occasion had been recited, 'the Rev; Father Devoy again preached a most appropriate sermon, im pressing the children with the importance ; of preserving inviolate the alliance which they had that day the of forming with the adorable Son Hof God. He dwelt,with intense feeling on the necessity of avoiding the snares spread abroad by bad .companions, and exhorted them to practice piety suited to their state. At the conclusion of the sermon the children approached the altar, in pairs of excellent order, to renew their baptismal vows. They recited the words in and distinct accents. 5 The" : act of ndoration to the Most Sacred Heart of J.sus, read in a masterly manner by one of the male communicants, followed bv an act of consecration.to.the Blessed Virgin, read in an equally fluent manner by one of the girls, succeeded. r The singing of choir and children aided in the impressiveuess of the rite', and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament concluded a ceremony, welt calculated to inspire the observer with reverence, and make a lasting impression on the minds of the little ones. ; •'l':'