ST. JOSEPH’S FESTIVAL AT TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2022, 20 March 1890, Page 3

ST. JOSEPH’S FESTIVAL AT TEMUKA.

The 19th March, the feast of St. Joseph, is always observed in a special manner in connection with St. Joseph’s Church,.this being the patron saint’s festival. In addition to the special services held at the Church, this is the fixture for the annual treat of the combined convent schools of Temuka and Kerrytown. The day’s festivities were as remarkable for their success as any of those hitherto held, and everything passed oif with great eclat. JTHE MOENIN& SEEVICE.

9 The church for the occasion was nicely decorated. r ihe handsome ornamentation was supplemented by artificial lilies, roses, etc., worked by the Sisters, and the church presented an imposing appearance. High Mass was celebrated by tbe Rev. Father Fauvel at 9 o’clock, when a very large number o£ children, as well as adults, received. Holy Communion. The girls who partook of the .Sacrament for the first time were dressed in white,'and. the boys wore a red sash. The musical portion of the service was’ very successful. The choir, under the able tuition of the Sisters, had been for some time past assiduously practising Bordese’s Mass, and the success with which it was rendered spoke volumes of praise for the careful training which had been bestowed upon the choir. The items rendered were: —Before Mass, Hymn to St, Joseph; “ Eyrie,” “ Gloria,” Dei,” Bordese’s Mass ; at the offertory, “ Ave Joseph.” An appropriate hymn was sung after the service. Miss Gaffaney presided at the harmonium. THE TEEAT. After Mass the children were marched into the schoolroom, where a bountiful spread had been prepared for them. The tables, which were about 20ft, in length, were five in

number, and they almost bent beneath the weight of the many tempting eatables, consisting of cakes, apples, lollies, etc. On the tables was also a fair amount of floral decoration, which gave the whole a pretty appearance. The children who had made their first communion had a special table, which looked very tempting indeed. The behavior of the 250 children who sat down to breakfast was worthy of note, and most creditable to the Sisters. The Rev. Father Fauvel arrived in the school at half-past ten o’clock, when grace was said, and the endless supply of good things heartily partaken of. The Sisters were assisted at the tables by Mrs O’Mara, Misses Gaffaney, Hoare, M. A. Hoare, A. Hoare, C. and M. Quinn, M. Connolly, A. and M. Brosnahan, a . Dunn, A, Fitzgerald, and D. Hoare, who were most attentive to the wants of the youthful guests. After grace had again been said, an adjournment was made into the two paddocks adjoining the schoolground, where all kinds of sports were indulged in. The principal events were:—St. Joseph’s Day Handicap, B. Horrigan 1, J. Gaffaney 2, J. Stack 3; three-legged race, Fleming and Goughian 1, Barry and Murphy 1 ; walking, P. Gaffaney 1, T. Brosnahan 2, 0. Foley 3; running high jump, H. Brosnahan 1, B, Horrigan 2, M. Demuth 3; hop, step, and jump, D._ Connell 1, B. Horrigan 2, T. Spillane 3 ; wrestling, B. Horrigan 1, J. Carr 2, C. Foley 3 ; all-fours race, B. Horrigan 1, M. Demuth 2, E. Lavery 3; wheelbarrow race, E. Lavery and T. Brosnahan 1, D. Connell and B. Horrigan 2 • obstacle race, B. Horrigan 1, T. Brosnahan 2, D. Connell 8 ; small boys’ race J. Flaherty 1, P. McAuliffe 2, d! Scannell 3; hurdle race, P. Gaffaney I. R. Bourke 2, D. Connell 3; St. Patrick’s Day Handicap, T. Spillane and M. Connolly 1, J. Flaherty 2; consolation race, M. Nolan 1, 0. Foley 2, T. Spillane 3; consolation race for small boys, J. Carr 1, R. Bourke 2, J. Flaherty 3, J. Lavery 4. In addition to the above a large number of other races were ran, Messrs P. Hoare, J, Quinn, W. Fitzgerald, junr., and J. Polaschek superintending. The small boys were busily employed in racing by Mr R. Hoare, senr. All did their best to entertain the children, The girls, too, indulged in a large number of races, in the supervision of which the Sisters were assisted by Misses' Gaffaney, Brosnahan, K. Lavery, E. and C. Barrett. The choir race was won by Miss M. Connolly, with Miss E. Wareing second, and Miss Gaffaney third. The sports throughout were well contested, and the prizes almost in endless supply. Those procured by the Sisters were supplemented by kind contributions from the Rev. Father Fauvel, Mesdames Doyle, Twomey, Beri, Cunnard, Carr, Polaschek, and Miss M. Gaffaney. During the afternoon the children were treated to cake, apples, etc. There was a large number of parents present,. who,j too, seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. At a quarter to four the children were drawn into line, and marched into church, where

BENEDICTION was held at four o’clock, After the singing of the hymn “ Holy Patron,” and the recitation of St. Joseph’s Litany, the choir rendered the Gregorian Benediction service in an excellent manner, Miss Gaffaney again presiding at the harmonium. The singing of the hymn “ With Grateful Hearts,” brought the day’s festivities to a close, and the large gathering began to disperse, all seeming to have enjoyed themselves to their hearts’ content.