ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, NASEBY, CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 419, 19 April 1877, Page 3

ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, NASEBY, CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

His Lordship Bishop Moran held a confirmation service at ftasebv on Wednesday evening. A h'fcfclo before five the candidates for confirmation were submitted to a rigid examination by the Bishop in the doctriues nnd tenets of the Church. This proving satisfactory, 23 were admitted to receive the sacrament. Fathers Larkin of Lawrence, Sheeban of Dunedin, Walsh of St. Bathans, and Royer of Naseby and Waikouaiti, took part in the service, which was attended by a large number of the St. Patrick's, congregation, friends of the children, and members of the Protectant Churches. Before administering the rite the children were addressed in a very simple and lucid manner on their Christian duties and privileges, and upon the necessity of a suitable disposition of mind in the receipt of the rito, for if their dispositions were small the results would be comparatively small also After the administration they were exhorted to be filled with gratitude, not only in words, but more especially in deeds. The confirmed person wus a soldier of Christ, from whom was cxnected fidelity to his colors and bravery. Cownrdico and betrayal jn a soldier were infamous. Idleness should be avoided, and obedience to parents be now more than ever a duty. His Lordship also addressod a few words to the congregation. He congratulated them upon their Chapel, which appeared well adapted to their lequirements, and also on account of tho residence provided for the priest. He was also pleased to receive sucli good accounts of the congregation as a whole, although he was sorry there were some exceptions. This ought not to be. It was a contradiction. " What will it profit a man if he gain tho whole world and lose his own soul ? " He exhorted them to lead holy lives, and to avail themselves of all the means of grace within their reach, so as to be able even to look death in the fuce with confidence. He also wished to congratulate them on the maintenance of the school amidst great difficulties and sacrifices. Experience had proved to him that unless we huve Catholic schools we would have no Catholic youth. Catholic schools were almost more important than the Church itself. It grieved him that there was a littl* disunion among them. This ought not to be. There seemed to le two aide*. One thought tho mnstcr,,competent, the other did not. He thbught that could be easily set at rest, tie would ask those who thought the muster incompetent to meet him that evening. Ho would give them an hour of his time, and would examine him with them and set the question at rest. There should be nothing but union and forbearance, charity and Christian silence, missionary zeul and sacrifice of private feolings for the school. "If any man have not care of his own, and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel." He was not very strong, having met with an accident, so bo would not say more to them that night. Tbo Bfrric'o was then brought, to a conclusion.