ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 37, 10 September 1903, Page 6

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(Prom our own correspondent.) September 5. Rev. Father Servajean was in Wellington this week in connection with the plans for the erection of a high school for the Sisters of Mercy, which is to be built in Blenheim shortly. Rev. Father Marnane passed through Wellington this week on his return from Australia, where he had been on a holiday for the benefit of his health. His Grace Archbishop Redwood is attending the Rhodes Scholarship Conference, which is now sitting in Wellington in the interests of New Zealand students. The half-yearly meeting of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association was held in St. Patrick's Hall on Monday evening last. A large attendance of members was present. The report and balance showed the Association to be in a sound condition. A new billiard table had been procured, the debt on which had been reduced to less than half the cost during the half year. It was decided that the Association would in future be known as the ' Catholic Young Men's Club. The officers remain the same as for the last half-year. The ' At Home ' given in me Druid's Hall on Friday evening in aid of the organ fund by the members of St. Mary of the Angels' choir, was a most enjoyable function. The hall was nicely decorated for the occasion. During the evening a vocal quartette was contributed by Messrs. Ross, Farr, Kenny, and Oakes, and solos were given by Messrs. G. Farr and Duff. Messrs. Ross, Kenny, Seivers, and Tabor acted as M.C's. Mr. A. McDonald made an efficient secretary. Sister M. Vincent Lane, who dieti on the Feast of St. Augustine at St. Mary's Convent, Hill street, was born in Mallow, County Cork, in 1858. She left Ireland for New Zealand in 1880, with the intention of laboring for the good cause by becoming a Sister of Mercy. Accordingly, upon her arrival Miss- Lane entered the above convent, where she was professed in 1882. In 1891 her health began to fail, yet she worked with unflagging energy in all scholastic duties until her appointment as Mother Bursar in 1898. In this capacity Mother Vincent was noted for her charity, patience, and sympathy, as well as for a delicate thoughtfulness which displayed itself in a thousand ways. During the past three years her constitutional delicacy increased so much that life must have been to her a perfect martyrdom, and yet she was present at every duty. The dear departed never spoke of her own sufferings, not a. murmur of complaint was ever known to escape her, though her heart would melt in tender sympathy with the lesser sorrows of those around her. But it was especially during those last sad days that her virtues shone forth, and then only, did the Sisters fully realise the depth of piety in the treasure whose bright example they were about to lose. How often during life did she not long and long for that ' eternal rest ' towards which we hope we are all hastening ! And now that she felt that she was at last about to bid farewell to her painful exile no pen can depict, no words describe, the radiance that settled on her countenance. So through what we call ' this last sad passage,' her gentle spirit passed peacefully, nay triumphantly, away to claim ' the crown of eternal life promised to those who have been faithful unto death.' , On Saturday a Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated in the convent chapel of the Sisters of Mercy for the repose of the soul of the late Mother Mary Vincent. The Very Rev. Father Keogh, rector of St. Patrick's College, was celebrant ; the Very Rev. Father McNamara deacon ; the Rev. Father O'Shea, sub-deacon ; and the Very Rev. Father Lewis, master of ceremonies. The requiem was chanted by the priests present in the choir. On Sunday the remains were borne to the Sacred Heart Church, the pall-bearers being four members of the Hibernian Society, while the Sisters of the community followed in processional order. The burial service was recited by the Rev. Father Lewis, who also preached a short panegyric on the deceased nun. At 3 p.m. the funeral took place to Karori Cemetery, the chief mourner

being Very Rev. Father Lane, P.P., Lower Hutt, brother of the deceased lady. About 30 of the Sisters of Mercy attended the last obsequies, in addition to a large number of clergy. Amongst those present at the interment were the Premier, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, several members of the Legislature, and a representative concourse of the public.