DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 30, 23 July 1903, Page 5

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.)

His Lordship the Bishop has been ill for the last week, and is confined to his house with a severe attack of influenza.

Great improvements have been made during the last week in the Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby. The Very Rev. Father Benedict, 0.P., is still in charge of the parish.

Improvements upon an extensive scale are contemplated at St. Patrick's, and which, if given effect to will supply a very needful change of a permanent character.

The Rev. Bather Patterson, Adm. of the Cathedral, was entertained last Monday evening in the large room of St. Patrick's Convent School on the occasion of the anniversary of his birth. The entertainment was inaugurated by the Sisters of Mercy and was an unqualified success. The room was filled to overflowing Thn \ery Rev. Father Benedict, 0.P., in the unavoidable absense of the Bishop through illness, presided, and there were also present the «cv. Fathers Purton, OSB O' Carroll, and Holbrook, and Brothers George and Patrick, of the Marist Brothers. A varied vocal and instrumental musical programme was successfully gone through, Mr. Harry Hiscocks being accompanist. During an interval Father Benedict presented Father Patterson with a beautiful tea and dinner set, a present from the Bishap, a nicely ornamented silver serviette ring, a handsome gold watch, given by Mr. H. Kohn, jeweller, Queen street, and a silk umbrella from Master Stephen Nerheny. Rev. Father Benedict, in making the presentations, spoke in eulogistic terms of the many good qualities possessed by their genial and kind-hearted administrator. He had, since he had known him, learned to greatly admire him, and he felt sure that his devoted parishioners of St. Patrick's entertained towards Father 1 atterson exactly similar feelings. Father Benedict then called upon Mr. Sheahan to add a few words on behalf of the laity. Mr, Sheahan re-echoed the complimentary remarks of the rev. chairman, and said it was ever the* desire of Father Patterson to help not only in a spiritual, but also in a temporal manner, any member of his own parish and outside of it, and concluded by wishing Father Patterson, on behalf of the laity, ' Ad multos annos.'

Father Patterson, who was loudly cheered upon riso- gi u heartiI 5 r th anked their great-hearted and affectionate Bishop for his magnificent presents, and regretted his absence from them that night, and Mr. Kohn for his costly present, and Master Nerheny for his useful present. He thanked the good Sisters of Mercy at St. Patrick's for organising this splendid entertainment in his honor, and the performers and all present for the signal honor 'they had conferred upon him. For the complimentary remarks towards him which were made by Father Benedict and Mr. Sheahan, he felt that they were undeserved, but he thanked them very sincerely. He would ever strive to work assiduously for the honor and glory of God, and the good and kindly and generous parishioners of St. Patrick's. He had that day received congratulatory messages from many quarters of the Colony, particularly from his old parishioners in Palmerston North In conclusion, he prayed for God's blessings upon theni all, and hoped ' they would ever continue to work in

peace and harmony in the furtherance of their holy religion.

A most successful and enjoyable birthday gathering then concluded with ' God save" Ireland ' played on the piano. Father Patterson afterwards entertained the performers to a bountiful spread at the presbytery. The local branch of the H.A.C.B. Society will celebrate its anniversary by a ball on Thursday, 23rd inst , in the Hibernian Hall.

The gymnasium, in connection with the Young Men's Club, at St. Benedict's, and conducted by Professor Potter, is a great success. The young fellows roll up m large numbers, and enter with great zest into the various exercises.

A beautiful stained-glass window, the gift of Mr. Michael Walsh, is expected to arrive any day and will be placed in St. Patrick's Cathedral. The design has been shown to me, and is certainly very handsome. It was with feelings of sincere sorrow that the Catholics of Auckland received the news by the last San Francisco mail of the death of the Rev. Father Croke, which occurred at Philadelphia on his homeward journey. The deceased young priest was born in Tipperary in 1871. He was educated for the priesthood in St. Patrick's College, Thurles, where he was ordained in 1896, and arrived in Auckland in December of that year. He was subsequently placed in charge of Te Awamutu and Kihikihi parish. Here his health broke down, and, relinquishing his charge, he tooK a trip to Queensland. On his return he stayed at the Mater Misencordiae Hospital until his departure last March for Ireland via the United States. The Rev. Father Croke's mother, sister, and brother reside in BaHingarry, County Tipperary, and for them much sympathy is evinced in Auckland.' Father Croke was most energetic and zealous in the discharge of the duties of his sacred ministry, and his loss to the diocese is much felt.— R.l. P. (In another part of this issue will be found an account of the demise and burial of Father Croke, and which was in type before our correspondent's letter reached us.— Ed N.Z.T.)