MAKARA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 173, 21 July 1876, Page 12

MAKARA.

4-» It is not often that Makara presents any feature of novelty to newspaper literature. However, the serenity of the district was broken on Sunday, the 9th inst., by his Lordship the Right Key. Dr. Redwood, •who paid the district an episcopal visit, accompanied by the Rev. Father Maguiness and some of th 9 Christian Brothers. His Lordship and suite drove out from "Wellington at a very early hour, reaching Makara long before the inhabitants of the place had any idea that he was on the way to them, so that there were but very few to"welcome him. Shortly after 9' o'clock am. the people began to assemble at the Church, and flags and banners were waving in the breeze. After the sanctuary had been prepared for the celebration of |the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, his Lordship come to the porch, and the people stood in order all round the door while Mr. T. D. McManaway read the following address : — " To the Right Rev. Dr. Redwood, S.M., Lord Bishopjof Wellington. " May it please your Lordship — '• We, the Catholics of Makara, desire to convey our sincere thanks to your Lordship for honoring us with your presence here today, and bid you welcome with a genuine Cead millefailthe. "We desire to express our warmest approval of your Lordship's zeal in supplying your extensive diocese with young priests, whose zeal and energy are adequate to the task of taking the place of those faithful soldiers of the Cross, who .are fast succumbing to the ravage of time ; but thank God not without having left the impress of their piety, zeal, learning, and energy behind as a fitting beacon for the uidauce of the young Levites who are now taking their place. "We are glad to seeyour;Lordship's determination to stem as far as possible the current of materialism, not only by supplying priests to administer to the spiritual wants of the adult Catholics, but also by the introduction of the Christian Brothers whose zeal and success in the cause of religious education are proverbial. "We regre.t that our Holy Father the Pope continues a prisoner in the Vatican, and unhallowed persecution and spoliation of Catholic edifices and property reign supreme in many parts of Europe, and we invoke the Almighty to grant Mb Holiness and our brethren a speedy and. triumphal deliverance from their enemies.

" My Lord, it would not be becoming of us to allow this augußt occasion to pass by without thanking the priests of Wellington for their kindness in administering to our spiritual comforts, particularly theRev. Father Petitjean, who as well as his Lordship the late Bishop Viard, visited us even when they were compelled to travel through the bush and wade the rivers, and also the founder of our Church — the Rev. Father M. L. Cummins — to whose untiring zeal and activity we are indebted for the erection of this edifice which, at his departure, he presented to us free and'unincumbered. "In conclusion we again desire to thank your Lordship, and while we humbly beseech the God of all glory to bless and assist you in your mission, we. request the assistance of your prayers and episcopal blessing". His Lordship replied at length to the address from|the altar thanking the Catholics of Makara for their expressions of loyalty to himself and the priests who had ministered to them in the past which augured a continuance of that good feeling in the future. His Lordship then celebrated Mass and preached a moßt powerful, eloquent toad impressive sermon on the Gospel of the day, towards the close of which he dwelt at considerable length on the glories of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whose most powerful intercession he showed that Ireland owed the preservation of her faith. " After Mass His Lordship, F. Maguiness, and the brothers wereentertained at Mr. Igoe's by the parishioners. After the cloth was removed, His] Lordship proposed the health of the Pope. Mr. T. D» McManaway proposed the health of His Lordship, which was drunk most cordially, His Lordship responding. His Lordship proposed the health of his predecessors, in Makara, speaking kindly of Father Petitjean and Father Cummins. Mr. Prendeville proposed the health of Father Manguiness. Father Manguiness responded. His Lordship next proposed the health of the Catholics of Makara, and as the hour was getting late, the people soon after dispersed, and His Lordship drove back to Wellington."