DIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 33, 13 August 1903, Page 4

DIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) August 1. Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated at Newtown on Thursday for the repose of the soul of the late Pope Rev. Father McNamara was celebrant, Yen Archdeacon Devoy deacon, and Rev. Father O'Shea subdeacon The uiurch Avas suitably draped. The solemn Gregorian music was rendered by the local and visiting clergy Father Kimbell was organist and played the Dead March at the end of the Mass. A meeting of the ladies' branch of the Sacred Heart Society in the Te Aro parish was held at St. Patrick's Mall on Thursday afternoon »to arrange for a series' of entertainments to be held m aid of the schools of' the parish. The Rev Father O'Shea presided, and Rev Father Kimbell was also present. It was decided to hold the first soiree in the Druids' Hall on August 19 the entire management of it to be left to the ladies'. An amusement and musical committee was formed to make the necessary arrangements for that part of tbe entertainment The weekly meeting of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association was held in St. Patrick's Hall on Monday evening last. Rev. Father Kimbell occupied the (hair. The subject for the evening's debate was 'Is the modern day drama a factor for good or evil ? ' Mr M. J. Crombie argued for it as a beneiit and Mr. J Mcfrowan against. A most interesting discussion followed. Upon being put to the meeting the votes tied.

The following pupils of Newtown and St. Mary's Convent were successful in passing the theoretical exami nations of the Royal Academy and Royal College of irfusic, London, held on June 6. The names appear iv their order of merit :— Local centre harmony— Senior, Jeanette Levastam ; junior, Annie Jenkins, Alice McDonald, Brenda von Dadelzen, Mary Campion. Higher school harmony—Matilda Evans (distinction), Kate Palmer (distinction), Christabel Riordan, Margaret McTavish. Rudiments of music — Local centre, Matilda Evans, Kate Palmer, Christabel Riordan, Mary Gudgeon, Sarah Campbell (Newtown), Odile Ritleng, Kate Grey ; school, Nellie Aldous, Doris Heywood, Teresa Fitzgibbon (Newtown), Nora O'Shea .(Newtown), Ethel Manning.

August 8. Mr. Hobday, organ builder of Wellington, has been instructed to build an organ at the cost of £1100 for the Church of the Sacred Heart, Thorndon. The instrument is expected to be ready in 12 months time. Sunday last was quite a red-letter day for the parish of Wellington South, the occasion being the opening of the new church and school by his Grace the Archbishop. Solemn High Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Father Keogh, the Rev. Father Moloney being deacon, and the Rev. Father O'Reilly sub-deacon. The Rev. Father Kimbell acted as master of ceremonies, and his Grace the Archbishop, together with Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, the Rev. Fathers Lewis and O'Shefa, were present in the sanctuary. After the Gospel the parish priest (Rev. Father Ainsworth) in referring to the great progress made by the parish since its formation, spoke of the splendid way in which the people had responded to his efforts both spiritually and materially. An eloquent sermon on the divine characteristics of the Blessed Sacrament, as the greatest of God's external works, was preached by his Grace to a very large congregation. His Grace also made an appeal to his listeners for contributions towards wiping off the debt on the parish occasioned by the alterations to the church building and the erection of a large school. The collection taken up during the Mass amounted to over £100. Gounod's Mass was sung by St. Joseph's choir with fine efiect. Mr. W. McLaughlin was conductor, the soloists being Miss Zara Maher and Messrs Rowe and D. Cronin.

The church as it now stands will accommodate over 500 people. The sanctuary is a very pretty one, and over the altar hangs a fine oil painting of the crucifixion, the work and gift of Mr. Philpott, a parishioner, who bids fair to become an .artist of great repute. In the afternoon in the presence of a large assemblage, his Grace delivered a forcible address on education, in which he spoke of the determination of Catholics all over the world to give their children an education in conformity with the end and purpose of human life.

The new school is a handsome two-storeyed building designed by the Rev. Father Ainsworth, and erected by Messrs, Campbell and Burke, who also made the alterations to the church. The building will accommodate nearly 400 children. It contains five class rooms— one, 40ft. by 20ft., and four others 30ft. by 20ft. Both the church and school are fitted with electric light. Great praise is due to the parish priest, Rev. Father Ainsworth, for the zeal he has so wonderfully displayed, and also to the parishioners for the generous way in which they have responded to the appeals of their pastor.

On Wednesday evening last the third social of a series was held by the parishioners of South Wellington in Victoria Hall, and proved a complete success. There were between 50 and 60 couples present. Vocal items were given between the dances by Misses M. Sullivan, Segrief, and Twohill, Mrs. Ryan, and Messrs. Twohill and Walshe. The arrangements were carried out by the following committee : Messrs. Vanay (secretary), Fitzgibbon, Rhubic (2), Philpotts, Campbell, and Sullivan.

St. Patrick's Hall, which was recently renovated throughout, now affords the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association facilities for holding their various functions in their own club rooms. The first of these was the annual dinner on Tuesday evening, which was attended by a large and representative gathering. Rev. Father O'Shea, President of the Association, was in the chair, and at either side of him sat Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, members of the local clergy, Messrs. Martin Kennedy, J. J. Devine, and L. Dwan. Several toasts were proposed and suitably responded to. During the evening the pleasant announcement of a donation of £10 10s from Mr. M. Kennedy towards the new billiard table just erected in the club rooms was made and greeted with applause, as was Father O'Shea's renerwed assurance of the hall being placed at the disposal of the young men free of charge. On receipt of the news of the new Pope's election his Grace addressed the following letter to the clergy of the diocese : ' Rev. and dear Brethren,— With great joy you have received the announcement that Almighty God,

whose arm is not shortened and whose Providence never sleeps, has given to His Church without delay a successor to Leo XIII., by the election of Cardinal Joseph Sarto, who has taken the name of Pius X. To him has been confided the trust so long and so successfully administered by the late venerated Pontiff ; on him has been conferred the authority of' representing Christ on earl* ; to him has been given the assistance of the Holy Spirit, that, in his decisions to regulate the Church in faith and morals, he may never err. He is the Vicar of Christ, and to him we continue the obedience and veneration and love, which bound us so closely to his venerable predecessor. In him Peter, the rock, continues still ; through him Peter speaks to us with the authority of Christ ; and where Peter is, there is the Church. To that centre we are all drawn, thither we turn our eyes to see the light of the watchtower of faith, our ears listan always for the trumpet which sounds thence with a never uncertain sound. And so Pius X. shall be to us another Leo, or rather he shall be to us the same Vicar of Christ, to whom we will render the same obedience, veneration, and lovfl(. We know not what lot awaits him on earth, but we are ready as affectionate, dutiful children to soften his trials by our prayers and sympathy, to rejoice with him in his consolations, but above all we are determined that he shall find us true sons of the Church, unwavering in our faith, and • persevering in our efforts to be faithful in the discharge of our duties.! 1

His Grace directed that the c Te Deum ' be sung in every church of the archdiocese after Mass and at the e\ening service on Sunday follawing the receipt of letter, that for three days five ' Our Fathers ' and five ' Hail Marys ' be said after Low Mass ; the collect, etc., ' Pro Papa ' be said, and that at least one Mass of the Holy Ghost be celebrated, and that the prayers after Mass for protection against the enemies of the Church be continued unless order to the contrary is received from Rome.