BLESSING ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH PALMERSTON.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 2, 30 October 1878, Page 2

BLESSING ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH PALMERSTON.

Sunday should rank A3 a red letter day m the Calendar of the Catholics of the Manawatu, for on that day for the first time since the settlement of the district did tha Lord Bishop of the diocese pay an official Twit to his oharge. Through the indefatigable energy of the pastor, the Rev. Father Moreau, not only, was Dr. Redwood induced to formally dedicate the new church m Palmerston to its Patron Saint, but the ceremony was to inaugurate a Mission under the auspices of the Her. Father Henneberry. As it was well known that Catholics from one end of the coast to the other would, be anxious to flock to Palmerston, not only to greet their bishop and to receive his episcopal blessing, but to onoe more listen to the eloquence of the Missionary, arrangements were made witli the Railway Department to run special trains on Sunday, from Foxtan and Wanganui. Father Kirk, of Wanganui, not only came himself to the ceremony, but , was .accompanied by his choir, who were a most valuable assistance during the Pontifical High Mass, and subsequent devotions. His • Lordship arrived by the evening train from Foxton on Saturday, m company witfj^ Father Henneberry, and was met on the; platform by Fathers Moreau and Kirk, by whom they were conveyed m a carriage to Mrs Wakefleld's whose spacious premises had been engaged for their use during their stay m Pulmerston. The night train from Wanganui brought a large number of visitors, which were augmented by those who swelled the ranks from the -wayside stations. During Saturday night the rain fell m torrents, and Sunday morning broke with alternate gleams of sunshine and smart flhowers of rain, which continued until the arrival of the train from Foxton at 9.40, bringing a goodly number, although many had bten deterred from the journey by the boisterous and inclement weather. An hour latter the Wanganui engine, having nine long carriages m its train, with the General Manager m charge, came puffing up to the station, and without delay a start wa9 made for the ohurch. Here it -was found that the building had been already taken possession of, a great number of these filling it being Maories, who came from long distances to join m a ceremony of their Church, which they were to witness for the first time. Shortly before eleven the Bishop arrived m a. oarriago, neoompained by Fathers Ilonneberry and Kirk,, and was reoatred at the entrance by a number of the Committee, and conducted to the church. After he had been robed m his vestments, with mitre on head and orozier m hand, he took his plaoe on the altar, whon the following address was read to him by Mr Bernard Newoom* j—

" To thb most Rbv. Da. Rbdwxkjd. "My Lobd— We the undersigned, on behalf of the Catholics of Manawatu, tender you a most heart; and cordial welcome on the occassion of your first official visit to this portion of your diocese. Although we do not partake of the advantages possessed by our fellow Catholics m Wellington, m having your Lordship continually amongst us, we are well aware of the sacrifices you have sustained, the struggles you have maintained, and the great efforts you have made for the spiritual welfare of your floek — 'your presence here to-day being a convincing proof of the hitter. Actuated by that love for our Holy Mother the Ohurch, and respect and veneration for her dignitaries and pastors which pervades the breast of every true Cafcholio, be th&y BCftt.terod wheresoever- they may, we have flocked hither m a body from one end of the coast to the other, to greet your Lordship aud tho zealous and eloquent Missionary by whom you are aecom.p-iu.ied. The Catholics of Manawatu are few m number, and the Church m tkis portion of your Lordship's charge is still m its. infancy, but we trust that, augmented by the impetus which will be given by the Mission about to- be opened by your reverned companion, aided by the efforts of our esteemed and honored pastor, a new era will this day be inaugurated by which those who have wandered- away may be brought back to the fold, the wavering have their minds confirmed, and the lukewarm be strengthened m grace and their faith renewed. Again tendering your Lordship and the Ray. Father Henneberry a j sincere and hearty welcome, and thanking I you for placing the blessings of the Mission withia our reach,, We are, on behalf of the Catholic community, Bbbvabd "Nhwcombb WrttrAM McDowbix G-KOBE RIOHA.BDBOX Joss Hjluws. His Lordship, then made the following reply :— Mr Beloved People— I have to thank you sincerely for your very kind address, and to congratulate you upon the very large number of persons who have mustered here at the opening of this church, showing thereby the very warm interest takea m- theholy cause of religion. Such a laudable feeling is the more necessary m. the present day, when the whole world is divided- into- two camps — those who believe m nothing, and and those who believe m the true Christianity which ha 3 been handed, down pure and unalloyed from the time of the Apostles. That religion which by carrying out ita injunctions, abiding by its teaching, and living m observance of its doctrines and practices, you hope one day to win a crown of immortal glory. It was the spirit of that holy religion which inspired you to-day to Sock to meet your bi»hop — unworthy as he is — to. receive his blessing, and the 1 abundant blessings and. graces which will be placed within your reach by means of the ! Mission. By its means you will be made the recipient of great graces, and be made th 9 partaker of blessings which have never before been presented to those m t his district. I may tell you, that although I. hare come amongst you, my visit has nothing of' an episcopal character, otherwise than to forward and endorse the labors of the Missionary, and I would conjure you- to receive and act upon the wholesome advice which will be delivered, to you, for by 90 doing you will bt laying down a tolid foundation- for a life-time of virtue. Of course your church has been opened for service betore, but to-day it is to opened man exceptional manner. The Catholic Church always introduces into her solemn services touching ceremonies which have a bearing on, and are fitting to, their particular oceaBions, but unfortunately the inclemency of the weather will prevent the ceremony of solemnly blessing the church being carried out m its entirety, inasmuch as it would be found impossible to bless tho outside of the walls. St. Paul has said that "all things mhould be blessed by prayer and the word of God," and a9 the Catholic Church teaches that Jesus Christ is renlly present at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass under the form of broad and wine, it becomes. necessary that the edifice, no matter how humble, which is devoted to so holy an object as the aboding- place of the Most High, should be kept pure and unde&ted, and converted to no other purpose, and ho blesses m an especial manner theaboda of God upon earth . I No doubt you are all aware of the solemn manner m which the Temple of Solomon was dedicated ; but the peraon who dwelt there was of a far less august diameter than he who dwells m the Catholic Church —the Spirit of God was m the Jewish tabernacle, but Jesus Christ, through the Holy Sacrifice of theMas3, becomes really present at the moment of Tran«ub3tan'iation. Therefore if the worshippers of the Old Testament set apart such temples for their warship, can anything be grand or great enough for the temple of the Most High, who becomes really present m the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Church sprinkles the walls with holy water, according to the words of Kin» David, " Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clem ; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." The ceremony is conducted m the Latin language, because the Church, being Catholic or Universal , that language his been used m all ages and m all lands, the Sacraments being performed m it, and the Holy Sacrifice offered up m it from ono end of the globe to the other. As it ha 9 been handed down to the Church by the Apostles, she requires that there should be unity m her liturgy, and that unity is to be found m tho Latin language. The Sovereign Pontiff sond9 forth a command for the bishops of the Church to assemble m Roma to disouaj affairs of the gravest moment, and from the uttermost ends of the earth flock the black,, the bronze, and the white, to deliberate upon the questions brought before them m one common language. This oould not be done, nor could the Sacraments bo administered, if the ceremonies of the Church were liable to the adulterations which time will effect, and the varying discrepancies to which living languages are subject. In the ceremony to-day the Church U3es some of I the most beautiful passages from the Liturgy, invoking the protection of the Blessed Mother of God, then Saint 9 Peter I and Paul, and the noble army of martyrs, I confessors, and virgins, to wbora we pray that by their intercession every kind of sin and calamity may be removed from U3, that we may be freed from pride 5 then we beg a blessing on the crops, and you, my people, can follow m spirit m the English language. 1 Finally we will conolude with a special prayer to the aamfc m whose ninje the ohurch will be dedicated, which will be Si. Patrick. His Lordship then sprinkled tho altar and side walls with the holy water, followed by the Litany of the Saints, and other prayers suitable to the occasion, after which he declared the church dedicated to God under the patronage of St. Patrick. High Mass was then celebrated hy the bishop, hut on account of the scarcity of priests, there was neither d-jacon nor subdeacon, Father Kirk acting as priest-atten-dant or master of ceremonies. After the Holy Sacrifice had concluded, and h'l3 Lordship retired to tho sacristy, the Rev. Father Henneberry mounted the altar and delivered a most telling address, lasting over two hours and & half. He commenced by explaining what & Mission was intended to •ffeofc, followed by an cxplod** *

tiaq-ff its value, interspersed with several exa mples which had^ come under his own experience, and concluded by showing m a most lucid manner the folly of neglecting I the evanescent things of life to the imperil- | ment of an immortal soul, and the certainty j of an eternity of misery m the life to com*. He exhorted all to join tho Mission, promising to the German, the Maori, theFrenehtnftn, and the Italian that thery could partake of the Sacrament of Penance m their own language, and winding up with a short address m the German language. Father Moreau then translated into Maori the principal features of the Mission, so, that at the conclusion of the day's proceedings the Native of New Zealand and the European, no matter from what clime ho hailed, left the ohurch fully cognisant of not only what had taken place, but perfectly aware of what was expected of them to worthily share m the blessings of the Mission.