DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 8, 21 February 1901, Page 19

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

The annual meeting of the H.A.C B. Society (New Zealand district) wah opened in St Joseph's Hall, Dunedin, on Wednesday, when there were present delegates from nearly all parts of the Colony. The children of the East Gore Convent School held their annual picnic at Croydon Bush on Wednesday (says the local Standard). The children and parents, along with a number of friends, took advantage of the fine weather, and attended in large numbers. On Monday the prelates an i clergy, who had been on a visit to Dunjdin in connection with the laying of the foundation stone of the Convent of Mercy, South Dunedin, left for their several dioce<es. Archbishop Redwood, Bishop Grimes, Mgr. O'Reilly, ftgr. Mackay, Dean Foley, and Father Lewis left in the morning by tie north express, and the Archbishop of Melbourne and Father McCarthy left by the steamer Mokoia in the afternoon for Mel- ' ourne. All the visitors were seen off by the Bishop and clergy of Dunedin. A retreat for the women of the paiisb, and conducted by the Very Rev. Father Boyle, of Sydney, was opened at Vespers in St. Joseph* Cathedral on Sunday. The opening seimon was preached by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, who spoke on grievous nn and the injury which it did to the soul, basing his discourse on the words, ' It i'h an evil and a bitter thing for thee to have left the Lord thy God.' The Most Rev. preacher, in the course of an eloquent sermon, showed that grievous or mortal sin was a evil. In every other evil suffered by man. such as the loss of h ;alth or property, there waa some good aspect, but grievous Bin was a a act of daring or rebellion against the high majesty of God, Who is our

Creator, and to Whom we owe everything, even our very life. When the sinner conceives the idea of committing a grievous sin he practically decides to commit an act of hig-h treason in the presence of his King and Sovereign Lord. The sinner dares the God who brought him out of nothingness, and to Whom he owes everything. A.fter dwelling on the enormity of mortal pin and showing the goodness of God, Archbishop Redwood concluded by exhorting all to take advantage of this time of grace to give up sin and return to God. Pontifioal Vespers were sung by his Lordship Bishop Grime?, the Very Rev. Father Boyle being deacon and the Very Rev. Father Lewis Bubdeacon. Sermons were delivered each morning of the week at the o aud 9 o'clock Manses aud ai the eveuiug devotioue. The attendance at all the services was very good. A retreat for men will begin on next buuuay. The annual picnic of the children attending the Catholic schools of Dunedin took place on Thursday at Ontram, but unfortunately the weather was very unseasonable and consequently the outing was not as enjoyaple as it otherwise would have been. This was much to be regretted, not alone for the Bake of the children, who had been looking forward with considerable pleasure to the event for some time, but also on the part of the committee, who had worked hard and whose efforts would undoubtedly have been crowned with success were it not for the inclemency of the weather. Hopes were entertained that when the train taking the children and their friends, to the number of nearly 900, left Dunedin shortly after nine o'clock the rain would clear off, but when Outram was reached the party was doomed to disappointment, and it waa found necessary to secure shelter for the day. The Rev. Fathers Murphy, Delaney, OMalley, and the committee secured the use of two public halls which were courteously placed at their disposal by Messrs. W. Snow and J. Grant, whilst the use of rooms in the Terminus Hotel waa kindly granted by Mr. G. Magorian. During a fine hour or so the children's races were got off, and the remaining events will be run off on March 10. In addition to the clergy the following were the members of the committee in attendance • — Messrs. L. Clancy, J. Miller, J. Hill, F. Hill, M. Rodgers, J. Collins, M. Coughlan, Fulton, J. Hungerford, T. B. Conway, Brother Fogarty, and the energetic secretary, Mr. J. J. Dunne. The Caversham Industrial School Band supplied the music, which considerably enlivened the proceedings, and after a pleasant run home town was reached shortly before R p.m. Holy Crc-s College, Mosgiel, was the scene of a distinguished gathering of prelates and priests and a few of the laity on Thursday, when the Right Rev. Dr. Verdon pave a luncheon to celebrate the reopening of the Seminary after the holidays. Among the guests present were his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne, his Grace the Archbishop of Wellington, his Lordship the Bishop of Christchurch, the Right Rev. Mar O Reilly, Auckland ; Very Rev. Dean Foley, Chrirttchurch ; Very Rev. Father Lewis, VG, Wellington; Very Rev. Father Boyle, Sydney , Rev. Father Regnault, Waimate ; the Rev. Father McCarthy, Melbourne ; the diocesan clergy being represented by Ilmht Rev. Mgr. Mackay. Very Rev. Mgr. O'Leary, Very Rev. Father O'Neill (Milton), Rev. Fathers Murphy, Coffey, Lynch, McMullen, O'Neill (Winton), Cleary, Howard, M. Ryan, and Headen. The following members of the Catholic laity were also present: Messrs J. B. Callan, C. L Haughtou, F. \V. Petre, J. Murray, Col lins, M. Cou^hlan, aud Morkine. Notwithstanding the inclement weather the college and ground* looked splendid, the many visitors expressing themselves m highly eoiupl-meutary terms regarding the suitability of the building for the purpose for which it is intended and the locution, which is an ideil one for such an in titution. The chapel, which will be shortly completed, was vi^- t d aid admind. it is already roofed, tbe plasterers are at work on tie interior, and the embobi-ed zinc ceiling in being put m place so that in a short time the building will be ready for dedication. At the luncheon the Right Rev. Bishop \ erdon had on his right the Archbishop of Melbourne, and on his left the Archbishop of Wellington und the Bnhop of Christchurch After justice had been done to tbe excellent repast the Right Rev. Chairman, in terras of hi^h aud well-merited eulogy, proposed the toast or the ' Visitors.' Replies were given in very happy terms by the Archbishops of Melb mrne and Wellington, Bishop Grimes, and Monsignor O'Reilly. Tbe following toasts were also honored :—: — 'The laity of the diocese of Dunedin,' proposed by Archbibhop Redwood, and responded to by Messr«. Callan, Haughton. and Petre ; ' The bishops and clergy.' proposed by the Archbi-thop of Melbourne and responded to by the Right Rev. Dr. Verdon, Mousignors Mackay anl O'Leary. and Very liiv. Fatter ONe 11. Mr. Morkane paid a graceful tribute to the work of Father Murphy in organising the very succe.-stul reception of the visiting prelates.