Pontifical High Mass

Lake County Mail, Issue 46, 21 April 1948, Page 1

Pontifical High Mass

The celebrations started on Sunday, April 11, when Pontifical High Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. The church was full to overflowing. The Bishop of Dunedin, the Most Rev. Dr H. J. O’Neill, was the celebrant; Father C. Ardagh the assistant priest; Fathers A. Lynch and W. Hanrahan were deacon and sub-deacon respectively; Father J. Gavin was master of ceremonies.

Led by the cross-bearer and acolytes, the procession left the Presbytery and entered the church in the following order: —Master of Ceremonies, subdeacons, deacon, assistant priest and His Lordship, the Bishop. On entering, the choir sang “Ecce Sacerdos Magnus ” (Becker). Then followed Pontifical High Mass. Father Gavin read a letter of congratulations from Bishop Whyte, to Father Hanrahan and the parishioners of Queenstown, His letter said, “ May the jubilee celebrations bring joy and heavenly blessing to the priests and people, to the Dominican nuns and their pupils. The residents will be moved to obey the psalmist’s exhortation to ‘ praise the Lord for His Omnipotence.’ “ The holy, zealous priest, Father John O’Donnell built this church with the co-operation of faithful parishioners. Their names will be recalled and their memories honoured during the jubilee. The grand services of the Dominican sisters will not be forgotten over the 60 years they have instructed the little ones in the knowledge- of God.”

After 50 years this church still stands, a monument —to Fr O’Donnell and his parishioners whose zeal and energy made it possible —to Mr Petre the architect —to Mr Woods and his assistant builders.

The House of God To-day we celebrate the jubilee of the building of a church. This church has been for us the Gateway of Grace and the constant reminder of God’s presence with us.

You all know something of the history of the building of the church. How the parishioners helped in the quarrying of the stone, and the carting of it to the building site. You know something of the generosity of the people whose names are commemorated on the brass tablets around the church. It is not difficult to imagine the spirit of co-operation and generosity which tilled the hearts of this congregation on that great occasion 50 years ago when they gathered here to ask God to bless this work which they had completed in his name. What a fine example they left to the future generations and thanks be to God what a fine tradition has continued through the years until the present day. How grand it is to sm men and women always ready to assist by their labours the welfare of the parish and the spread of Christ’s kingdom.

The Rev. Father Gavin, who is a native of Queenstown, gave the following eloquent address:— For most of you this church of St, Joseph’s has always been a part of the landscape. There will, however, be some of you who remember the little wooden church that stood in Shurch street, just below the present Anglican church.» That was the original St. Joseph’s in Queenstown and served the needs of the Catholics of the Wakatipu for at least 20 years, the Rev. Fr MacKay and the Rev. Fr Burke being successive parish priests. I , think I am right in saying that Fr MacKay was responsible for buying the present site of the church, presbytery and school. :It is to the zeal of Bro. John Francis O’Donnell and the energy of his flock that we owe this church, the jubilee of which we celebrate to*day. 'What a day was that 29th day of May, 1898, when the Bishop and Very Eov. Dean Burke and the iJevv Fr

May that beautiful spirit continue ,in the years that lies ahead, and may it bring down on you and yours, the manifold grace of God. On this day of rejoicing let us ask God to bless abundantly all those who helped to build and preserve this church of St. Joseph’s. May this church be preserved for many years as the cherished house of God, and may the only changes be those which will add still further to the glory of God, and increase your love of Him. In the J>ast three months I have wandered through a large proportion of Australia and have visited dozens

o*Donnell blessed this sacred edifice and for the first time offered therein the Hdly Sacrifice of the Mass.

It is a tribute also to the many priests who in succeeding years occupied the place of parish priest —for example, Revs. Frs Woods, Ardagh and Martin all of whom did so much to preserve its original beauty.

and dozens of cathedrals and churches; many of them huge structures with lofty spires or enormous towers. Many of them beautiful examples of architecture and ecclesiastical art; both ancient and modern, but how few posesses that beauty of proportion and chaste design, which so inspires devotion in the minds and hearts of those who come to worship God in this lovely sanctuary midst the mountains of Wakatipu.

In many parts of that wonderful country I just mentioned I marvelled at the grandeur and beauty of the scenery bestowed by God with such a lavish hand. Travelling along the summit of the , Blue Mountains at Wentworth Falls and Katoomba you come suddenly to the edge of huge precipices—l 800 to 2000 feet high and there before you are vast tree-lined chasms whose green walls are broken only by the silvery threads of falling streams. Further south from Canberra to the east coast one passes over a mountain range 3000 feet above the level of the sea. Suddenly there appears the vast panorama of the sea coast with its beautiful bays and beaches forming a golden fringe to the great expanse of forest that ascends from the sea to the mountain summit. Although at first glance hidden from view the hills abound with coal, iron and tin, metals so necessary for man’s industry.

In face of all this beauty and potential wealth how the mind turns to the majesty of God and His infinite bounty. But in all these places never have I felt the nearness of God, never did I marvel at the majesty of God as I have done from my youth and still do on this my latest visit to this gem of God’s creation that is called “ The Wakatipu.”

In the evening the church was again filled. The preacher, the Rev. J. Fitzgibbon, took as his subject, “ St. Joseph, the patron of the Church.” This was followed by Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Bishop O’Neill was assisted by the Revs. J. Martin and A. Gavin.

During the Benediction the solemn Te Deum was sung by the choir.