DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 51, 20 December 1900, Page 5

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.) December 13. [gKEThree aspirants were received into the Children of Mary Society at St. Patrick's last Saturday morning. The ceremony was performed by the Eight Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly. The Hon. J. G. Ward attended Mass at St. Patrick's last Sunday accompanied by his son, and subsequently paid his respects at the presbytery to his Lordship the Bishop and Mgr. O'Reilly. The boyß of the Marist Brothers' High School are holding a picnic to day at St. Helier's Bay. The devoted Superior, Rev. Brother Basil, and Brothers Jerome and Edward accompanied the ladß who went out in brakes. His Lordship the Bishop has received the vestments, copes, and church ornaments, etc., which he secured during his recent visit to Ireland. They are all of a very high order of merit, and the ohurohes throughout the diocese will benefit largely through the Bishop's exertions and kind thoughtfulness. The church at Puhoi has, through the indefatigable exertions of Rev. Father Brodie, been considerably enlarged and improved. The Bishop, at the first favorable opportunity, will journey thither and officiate. Father Brodie, since his advent to his widely scattered parish, has devoted great attention to the improvement of the many ohurohes under his charge. ' The General,' a weekly contributor to the Herald, has disoovered that the uprising of the Irish peasantry in 1798 has a parallel in the present Boer war, though he graciously admits that the Irish had more justification. He would be a poor student of history who denied the justice of the cause of Ireland's peasant soldiery of '98. Large tracts of native lands, hitherto locked up, will soon be opened to the public in various parts of the Auokland province. Around about Kawhia, a port on the West Coast likely in the near future to be of importance, some 80,000 to 100,000 acres will be open for selection about March next. Some 4000 acres will be ready next month at Tokatoka, Kaipara, and 15,000 acres at Wharepepa, West Taupo, South Kihikihi. All this should prove tQ.be an inestimable boon up this way.-' siowr Great satisfaction was evinced by our people throughout the city and suburbs at the successful termination of the disreputable charges made against Brothers Wybertus and Kilian. The Superior, Brother Basil, and his colleagues here were the recipients of many hearty congratulations. Amongst the first of the callers upon our respected Brothers was his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihan. At St. Patrick's Cathedral last Sunday evening his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihan administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to fully 200 children. The majority of them had received a long course of regular instruction from the Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly as well as from the Sisters and Brothers in their respective schools, First Communion was given on the previous Saturday morning, when Mgr, O'Reilly delivered an appropriate address. Breakfast waß provided in St. Patrick's for the children. Next day, Sunday, the Bishop made his annual visitation to the cathedral. Rev. Father O'Carroll celebrated a Missa Cantata, Rev. Father Purton, 0.5.8., being master of ceremonies. After the first Gospel the Bishop entered the pulpit and explained the object of his annual visitation. Since his last visit many changes had taken place, which were rendered necessary by the scarcity of priests throughout the diocsse, consequently the younger priests were drafted into the country. While abroad he had not forgotten them and he had brought back many necessary and useful articles which would adorn their church. In the evening the girls for Confirmation assembled in St. Patrick's Convent Schoolß under the care of the Sißtera of Mercy, and the boys at St. Patrick's Hall under the Marist Brothers. Twenty each from St. Mary'a Orphanage, Ponsonby, and St. Leo's Academy, Devonport, also arrived under the oare of the Sisters of Mercy. The girle, all dressed in spotless white, occupied the front seats on the right, and the boys in red sashes on the left. The church was thronged. When all were seated the Bishop addressed the children in simple but very effective language, telling them they were about to be enrolled Boldiers of Jesns Christ, At the conclusion of the ceremony the Bishop again spoke to the children. They were now, he said, fortified for the battle of the Cross, and around its standard they should ever rally to defend and uphold it ; as good children of the Church they should always strive to be a credit to it and to their parents and friends, If they at all times remembered the day upon which they received their first Communion and Confirmation and the instructions and the good intentions then formed depend upon it, they would be good Catholios and good members of society. The Bishop subsequently gave Benediction, assisted by the Right Rev, Mgr. O'Reilly, Father Corcoran being deacon, Father Carroll subdeacon, and Father Purton master of ceremonies.