ARRIVAL AND RECEPTION OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5473, 11 October 1878, Page 7

ARRIVAL AND RECEPTION OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY.

It has been at all times for us a work of pleasure to record any movement that farthers the great cause of education, and it is! therefore with feelings of satisfaction that we announce the arrival in the colony of several highly accomplished Sisters of Mercy, who have left their homes and their dear native laud, and cherished friends and fond relations, for the noble work of impartin'; to the female youth at Hokitika everything necessary for their education and improvement. They arrived here yesterday by the steamer Albion, cn loute for the West Coast, and were met at the wharf by the Rev. Mother Superioress and some sisters of the Wellington Convent, the Kev. Father Kerrigan and other friends —“Carriages being iu waiting to conduct them to the Convent, Hill-street. On the arrival of the carriages at Hill-street, a procession was formed by the children attending the Convent Schools, some of whom wore the green ribbon aud medal of Father Matthews’s Temperance League introduced here last year by the Rev. Father Heneberry. The procession inarched to the Cathedral, where Father McGuinness delivered an address of welcome, in the absence of the Right Rev. Bishop Redwood in the Middle Island. The Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was then given by the Rev. Father Yardiu, assisted by the Rev. Fathers McGuinness and Kerrigan, after which the choir sang the “Te Deum.” After the sermon the sisters at once proceeded to the Convent, the exterior of which was beautifully decorated with evergreens, Over the Cathedral door were the words “ Welcome to Wellington,” and on the arch of the Convent gate was inscribed “Caed mille failthe,” or “ A hundred thousand welcomes,” and in tho special honor of Rev. Mother Cecilia, “ Welcome to your dear old home” was inscribed over the door of tho Convent house, and over the porch of the school-house “Welcome to New Zealand,” About two years ago the Rev, Mother Cecilia, the as-sistant-superioress x>f the Wellington Convent, went Home for the purpose of bringing out nuns for the Hokitika District, and she has been wonderfully successful iu obtaining the willing services of Rev, Mother Mary Clare and the ten si-ters who accompanied her. They will remain at the Wellington Convent for about a week, and will then proceed to the scene of their future labors at Hokitika, where a convent and commodious schools are being ; built from the designs of Mr. Charles O’Neill, C.E. aud architect, of this city. CONGRATULATORY ADDRESSES. At a public meeting of the Catholics of Wellington, held in the Boulcott-street schools on tho Cth instant, Charles O’Neill, Esq., J.F) in the chair, an address of welcome to tho newly-arrived nuns was prepared and unanimously adopted. A committee was then formed to prepare and present the address. On Monday evening a large number of ladies and gentlemen assembled in the principal schoolroom of the Convent to hear the people’s address, also addresses from tho school children and from tho young lady pupils of the Convent, and also to see performed by tho pupils the piece entitled “ Tho Martyrdom of St. Agnes.” Among those present we observed the Rev. Fathers McGuinness, Yardin, and Kerrigan, several of tho Marist Brothers, tho Hon. Dr,' Grace, Messrs. O'Neill, Collins, Davis, Trcanore, McDonald, Robinson, O’Brien, Bracken, O’Gallagan, Pagan, &c. Mesdames. Sharp. Grace, Cook, Bridgen, Treanorc, Allan, McDonald, Casey, o’C*nner, Whitaker, Cemino, Arc., Misses O’Neill. Johnstone, Smith, Whitaker, Pagan, Cemino, &c After the addresses by the children and the pupils, tho following address was read by Mr. Charles O’Neill: — Wellington, New Zealand, • Rosary Sunday, Oth October, 1878. Address of the Catholics of Wellington to tho Rev. Mother Cecilia, Assistant Superioress of .Wellington Convent; the Re\'. Mother Mary Clare, Superioress of Hokitika Convent, and the other Sisters of Mercy. Wo. the Catholics of Wellington, in public meeting assembled, earnestly thanking God for your prosperous voyage from Home, and safe arrival in this colony, bag now to express to yon our great joy in heartily welcoming you to New Zealand. We feel proud of you, Mother Cecilia, who, under the advice and with the approbation of the esteemed and beloved Rev. Mother Mary Xavier, Superioress of Wellington Convent, undertook the difficulties of .a long voyage to achieve and complete with such admirable perseverance so excellent a design as that of obtaining tho willing services of so many highly accomplished ladies as nuns for New Zealand. It gives us the greatest pleasure and satisfaction to thank you, Rev. Mother Cecilia, for your meritorious work, and you. Rev. Mother Mary Clare, and the nine good sisters who accompanied you, and those who precoded you. fur your noble and heroic zeal and sacrifices in tearing your dear native land, your homes, friends, kindred, 1 ' nil, everything, for the great and high cailsc of a vanciug til© glorious interests of rcHAm by education. • ■ In conclusion, we from our hearts say most sincerely “t'ead Mill Failthe,”'“ft hundred thousand welcomes,” and prayieg that God may bless and prosper you, we wish you every success and happiness in your future homo at Hokitika.—Chaki.es O’Neill, Chairman ; Rout. J. Collins, Hon. Secretary. The address was hand-printed with China ink ou thawing paper, beautifully illuminated in red and blue in the mediaeval stylo, and considering the short time taken to complete it—only a portion of a day—it reflected the greatest credit on tho skill of the artist. A lovely picture of the Blessed Virgin and child, a gompf German chromo-lithography in blue and gold, surmounted by a scroll, with tho inscription, Unfcrc-Licbt’/raw- Foil - Heiliystcn - Herzen, (Dear Mother of the Sacred Heart). This picture formed the top portion of the design, tho address occupying the lower portion. The whole was surrounded with a broad green border. The addresses having been presented, the Rev. Mother Cecilia made the following reply:— Dear Kev. Father and kind friends of Wellington,— How delighted I should be to rise and in person to toll you all I fool on the occasion of our happy reunion, but mindful of the words of St. Paul, and of the reserve my religious habit implies, I must bu content In a few simple words to say howl appreciate your goodness and affection, your noble endeavors to help ami comfort my dear Rev. Mother during my absence, and tlie warm welcome which greets my Irish Sisters on their arrival iu your midst. I must tell you that it is to the magnanimous spirit of our g-o.\ Bishop, the Most Rev. Dr. Redwood, that most of my succejs is due,—to his Lordship and our dear friends are the thanks duo far more than to me, and the dear departed, those who have gone to their rest and recompense—who died at since I left, -they have helped rao. too. with their prayers, add will still, for they must still love the mission that gained them their crowns, I have kept a detailed account of the receipts aud expenditure during tho last two years, and I think a few remarks on tho subject will interest you. I collected £OO6 11s. Bd., and obtained from a charitable fund £3OO, which makes a total of £I2GC 11s. Bd., of this amount £1025 was expended for passages of 16 sisters to this Convent, and tho same to and fro for myself and companion. This leaves a balance of £241115. Bd. towirds clearing our debt, &c. The Hokitika foundation is quite independent of these items. Rev. Mother Mary Clare and her community share in my feelings, and thank you dear rev. fathers and friends most gratefully for this cordial welcome you have given them. The following is a translated copy of the Benediction most cordially granted by our late belovo l and venerated Holy Father Pius IX. on the Sisters of this community, am! on all those who join our mission or help us iu our difficulties. “ Vatican I’alaco, Nov. 24,1876. “Our Holy Father Pope Pius IX., ou tho report of Monsignor the pro-Secrotary of tho Holy Congregation of the Propaganda, has deigned to give with affection tho Apostolical Benediction demanded for all those who charitably go to tho aid of the institute, schools, and other good works of New Zealand, or who help in them.” ■ The play of tho “ Martyrdom of St. Agues” was then proceeded with, aud performed in a truly creditable manner, especially the parts of Fabiola (Miss Coker) and Agnes (Miss Grace) both of whom were repeatedly applauded; while in the afterpiece tho parts performed by Miss Cemino and Miss Goulter colled forth loud applause., Tho playing and singing during tho intervals were excellently rendered.