THE CHURCH IN CONNEMARA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 201, 9 February 1877, Page 8

THE CHURCH IN CONNEMARA.

The Mayo 'Examiner' says: — His Grace the Archbishop of Tuam, accompanied by the Eev. R. Prendergast, arrived at Clifden on Thursday, the sth November. He was received by thousands of people on the roads thereto. Thousands from all parts of Connemara with green branches in their hands saluted the arrival of the chief pastor, who was not deterred by the long journey, about seventy miles, nor by the usual inclemency of this advanced seas jn of the year. The efficient brass band of Clifden contributed largely to make the scene in town and along the approaches interesting and honorable. The Vincentians, aided by the clergy of Connemara. had prepared the multitude of men and women, boys and girls, and very young children, too, for the holy sacrament of confirmation; but as the pressure on the confessionals was still undiminished, his Grace the Archbishop deferred confirmation for a full week, and aided in the hearing of confessions. On Tuesday, the third week of this most successful mission, his grace administered the sacrament of confirmation to over thirteen hundred of men, women, and children. This is no exaggerated fact. So great was the multitude that it was found impossible to administer the sacrament of confirmation within the walls of the old church, so all except those to receive confirmation had to be turned out into the cbapel.yard, and even then the multitude of candidates had to be divided into four batches, three of which had to be excluded until th? men and adult boys were confirmed, and the other three branches had to be taken in sparate rotation after the first batch had been removed. These are plain unvarnished facts. Where are the tens of thousands paraded by the Soupera and Jumpers? After all the lavish waste of English gold and virulent exhibition of English bigotry the old faith, if possible, is more firm and more triumphant than ever. Another fact, the old church, with its three galleries, which contains close on three thousand persons, was filled to inconvenience during the entire mission, and considerable numbers had to remain outside. The venerable prelate and the priests cf Connemara, in their grateful acknowledgments, are unanimous that a more fruitful mission was never held in the province of Connaught. It were vain to enumerate the number who were reconciled to their offended Heavenly Father. The number who went to holy communion was also incalculable. The untiring zeal and inexhaustible charity of the good fathers shrunk from any public notice ; but it would be ungrateful in the priests and people of Connemara not to retain a lasting and affectionate remembrance of their apostolic efforts. Who can enumerate their unceasing efforts during the last three weeks ? The Societies of the Sacred Heart, the Confraternities of the Scapulars and the Living Rosary, and the Conferences of St. Vincent de Paul have been re-arranged, and a fresh vitality has been communicated to the fervor of the religious but calumniated people of Connemara. Those concerned in the erection of the new church have been authorised by the zealous Vincentian Fathers to refer to them any persons wishing to aid the good work now so near completion, and, as the mission testifies, so sorely needed.