NEW CHURCH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 219, 16 August 1937, Page 7

NEW CHURCH

HANDSOME CATHOLIC EDIFICE.

OPENED BY ARCHBISHOP.

On Sunday the new Church of St.

Columba at Ashhurst, erected to replace tho building destroyed by fire last October, was officially dedicated and opened by His Grace Archbishop

O’Shea. The ceremony was attended by a large gathering, including numerous visitors from Palmerston North and elsewhere. Also present were Right. Rev. Monsignor Connolly (Wellington), Rev. Rather Yenning, S.M. (Otaki), and Rev. Fathers Herlihy and Jansen (Palmerston North).

The new church is Gothic in design, with a short Norman tower set at the rear. It is constructed of reinforced concrete and brick, and heavily buttressed. The interior woodwork of

specially selected timbers and the beautifully coloured lead-light windows give the interior a pleasing and attractive finish. The ceremonies of blessing and opening the church were followed by Holy Mass, celebrated by Rev. Father Jansen. The Gregorian music of the

Mass was rendered by members of the Holy Name Men’s Choir from Palmerston North, under the conductorship of Father Herlihy. At the conclusion of the Mass Father Herlihy welcomed the Archbishop and the visiting priests and people, and referred to the absence of Monsignor MacManus, whose thoughts had been constantly occupied with the progress of the building operations. He had sent a cable of congratulations from Ireland, which was read to the assembly. . GENEROSITY OF CONGREGATION. Few could have imagined, said Fr. Herlihy, as they tvatched their little church devoured by flames on the night of the 22nd of October last, that within 10 months this beautiful house of God would have arisen to replace it. This had been made possible through the generosity of a congregation who, undaunted by their loss, had immediately decided to rebuild in permanent material and conceived the hope of opening the new church, if possible, free of debt —truly a generous resolve for a small congregation numbering less than 100. Especially worthy of note was that the expense of erecting the tower had been borne by one parishioner. ' The new church would remain to future generations as an example of generosity towards Almighty God and a zeal for His honour that would have few equals in the history of churchbuilding in New Zealand. The speaker thanked the many friends in other places who had assisted the work, and 1 congratulated the congregation and the building committee on its completion. The architect, Mr Robin Hood, and the builders, Messrs Wood and Son, 't-.were complimented on the successful results of their labours and the harmonious manner in which they had co-operated with the committee. The financial statement showed the contract price of the building at £2182; additional expense of furnishings, etc., brought the total cost to £2979. Funds available totalled £2659, leaving a balance of only £320 still to be found, which, it. was anticipated, would be still further reduced that day. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea then addressed the congregation. He said he was both pleased and proud to open the church. The Ashhurst people, too, might justly take a pride in this magnificent result of their efforts, but must also be grateful to Alinighty God, by Whose grace those efforts were possible. ARCHBISHOP’S ADDRESS.

“The church is a credit, in so far as any mere building of brick and stone can be worthy to house our Blessed Lord. It has been raised to the honour of God under the auspices of that Church which has been flourishing for the past 2000 years. Here the people of Ashhurst will in future be able to assist at Mass, which is the only act of adoration really worthy of God, because it is the act of His Divine Son. Here you will receive the Sacraments instituted by our Blessed Lord, and when you are called to your true home in Heaven your mortal remains will be brought here for the last rites of the Church.

“To-day the world is faced with the greatest difficulties and problems. There is but one solution to those problems. It is in the body of Catholic truth which Jesus Christ left with His twelve Apostles and which he commissioned them to ‘teach all nations.’ The “ Catholic Church alone teaches these truths in their entirety and alone claims infallible authority to do so. “At the- present time it looks as if civilisation itself is threatened, and unless something extraordinary happens we shall go back to another dark age such as followed the fall of the Roman Umpire. Should this happen, the Catholic Church will have to come to the world’s rescue and reconstruct society, as it has already had to do in the past. Despite th«j persecution and the heresies of the past ages, the Church has triumnhed and will triumph again, for the Church of Jesus Christ is indestructible and eternal. “Civilisation is in danger of perishing bocau -e it has forsaken the law of Christ and the teaching of His Church. True freedom comes only from obedience to clear anthoritv. Only when peop'e recognise the authority of Gpd and His la.w made known to all nat'ons bv the infallible voice of His Church, will the world be brought back to prosperity and pence. Hi.s Holiness the Pope has appealed to Catholics throughout the world to take part in the work of Catholic action. Laymen and women ' have opportunities of carrying out this work which are not given to bishops and priests—opportunities of spreading among their fellow workers the knowledge of these Christia.n truths which clone can save society. Ip order to do this work effectively it is 'hecessary to know the Christian social doctrine so ,ablv and clearly expounded in the Encyclicals of the Pope. Only when you know it and live by it can you pass it on to others. “The world today is suffering from discontent. Men are discontented with bfe it.sdf, and hunger for something, they know not what. In truth, they are hungering for God. The powers of evil have robbed men of God and religion. Deluded by false teaching many have turned against that God Whom man s natural instinct is to love and serve, and have turned to Communism which is pagan material.sm. “Towards those people we must act in all charity. If we wish to destroy tlie wrong it]oas that have taken possession of"their minds we must be prepared to put something in their p ac Show them their discontent is in a sense a divine discontent a. iscon t."nt that, comes of not knowing and loving God—so that they may know where to get peace. “The early Christians practised the

virtue and it was their just and nplivht lives that made the pagan world take notice of them. It is not enough Know the truth: ve .nus pu our knowledge into practice, lo convert the world once more to Christ 'f hiuie undertaking, but with the help of the Holy Spirit even the-most callous ran be constrained to listen Above ah. the cause needs prayer. Catholics must 1h? men and women of prayer. The with prayer joined to good example wil . le We to prepare ourselves and help to prepare others for that place in Heaven which is the heritage of every man,” His Grace concluded.