The Little Sisters of the Poor, Auckland

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 48, 1 December 1904, Page 20

The Little Sisters of the Poor, Auckland

(From our oWn correspondent.)

On Sunday afternoon, November 20, the new large brick building, erected for the Little Sisters of the Poor, was opened by his Lordship toe Right Rev. Dr. Lemihan in the presence of a large and representative gathering ot the clergy and laity. The new portion completed is three storeys high, and comprises the eastern wing and halt the central portion of the present scheme. The women will be located in the portion just erected, afnd which cost £6000. When Anally completed it will cost £15,000. Messrs. E Mahoney and Son v\ere tfhe architects

His Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihan addressed t/hjose p:iesent, and said that the foundation of the Little Sisters of the Poor was established in Auckland by the late Bisliop Luck in 1888. These Little Sisters rented a house in Hepburn street, and had to encounter all the difficulties attendant upon the first starting of their institute. Through the good influence of Mr P. Darby, they secured the site on which this new house has been built,, and here they 'have worked quietly and nnostentoatuoiusly, filled witlh zeal in attending to their poor old charges, comforting them in Dheir last days and preparing them for their great journey to eternity. The wooden structure contented the Sisters for a time, but Auckland has increased in si/c, so also has idi-stiessing poverty shown itself, and they have found it necessary to rebuild their house to accommodate a gieater number of applicants. Nine months ago we were assembled Itie to assist at the laying of the foundation stone, ,md now we are present at the blessing of this large building to assure the Little Sisters of our appreciation of their work, to congratulate them au their successful opening and to promise them that we shall do our utmost to aid them m relieving the penury of our poor and, aged. What an, admirable work is this of the Little Sisters ?

Sixty Fdur Years Ago three Sisters founded the institute at San Servan, in Brittany, their object being to provide homes for the aged poor of both sexes, to feed them, clothe them, and minister to all their wants See how the blessing of God ihas attended this heroic charity, for in December 1903 we find that the Sisters number 5155 with 562 novices and portailatnts, waiting upon 43,000 aged inmates in 231 houses located in France, Belgium, England, Spam, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, and 65. houses in Asia, Africa, America and Australasia. The number of deceased who have had every care and attention aliown to tjiiem in their fast moments is 202,120. Can we realise this vast army ? Oh, what an infinite amiount of good has been Uo'ne by tihese ladies w.ho have left the comfort of their own homes, deprived themselves of all wiorldly pleasure to watch over and tend the stranger who, in his last days, seeks an asylum from the bufleting of a world which has no longer any joy for him. And how do they act with their charges ? We see tjhem govng about day by day moving quickly and quietly, kiternt only on their work, appealing to all for their poor, grateful f)or any kindness, gracious in amy refuslal, hoping always for some comfort tor their old peo\ple, trusting in the Providence of God and mindful of the words of Scriptu-e, ' Behold the birds of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather llnto barns, yet yonir H'eavonly Father feedeth them. Are mot yo,u of nwch more value than tibey *> ' See Hhem/ in their home in their quaint garb, always busy, bright and happy, giving the best of all to the inmates,, and being content witih the crumbs 1 that are over. In the changes lately made in their dwelling, naturally, they had to p\it up with inconvenience, but

while Uhe best places were given to the old folk, the Sisters themselves were satisfied with any place available, laughing merrily over their difficulties and ma-king light of any trouble. Look at them superintending and assisting in the garden a,nd out-door work, having a kind word for all, and ihelping and assisting the old people in every way. They act as their servants, as their nurses, comforting those who have been neglected by their own kith and km, and making their last days full ot happiness. And how do they manage to d 0d 0 this ? By thfeir . trust in Providence. Our Lord said to His Apostles, ' When 1 sent you without purse and scrip idm you w,a*nit a*nyuung ?' (Luke *xii>, 35), iagari the Applies answered ' Nothing,' so with ttie SLsters. They have embraced poverty in some of its most repugnant and Ihumiliatmg aspects ; their life is precarious, hampered, and austere, but Almighty God multiplies on then bahalf the* wonders of His grace and of IJis Fatherly love. Confidence in God is written largely over their entrance, for there is no charitable institution that seems to have grasped more thoroughly the semtimelnt of that touching phrase 'of the Psalms (lxx.) ' Cast me not oil m the tmre of old age ; whefti my strength shall fail, do thou not forsake me.' Hiow cold and gloomy is the winter of human life. Jbickness w,orks its unaccountable and painful freaks on the feeble frame, gnawing muscle and bone, pinioning it down powerless and motionless, or again working the nerves with incessant tiembhng. If with all this, poverty and lack ot shelter have to be endured, and abandonment by all 'one's relatives, what compassion does not the lot of such arouse in our hearts, and how gladly we should come to the aid of these Little Sisters and bless them for

Their Noble Work-

They discharge the humblest of duties with the smiles and forethought of filial piety and anecti'on together wmh the generous enthusiasm a,nd tine sublime selfdenial of a mother's heart. The Little Sisters never enter into religious discussions, they do not preach to their oid people. They are content with loving them and caring lor them, and thus it comes to pass that contact with suoh goodness causes even blighted hearts, and heants well nigh dead to all affection, to be quickened agam wit)h love for God and their fellow-creatures. What ahall we do to show our sympathy in this work ? Kememiber tne words in Ruth (ii., 15). Riutii the Moabitess used to go and glean tihe ears of com that escaped the hands of the reapers in order to enable her to m'aintjun her aged and ailing relative, Noemi, and 800/ the owner of the field, g,a,ve orders— ' If she would even reap vwljh you, hinder her not ; artd let fall some of your hatntlfuls of purpose.' Thes,e Little Sisters are the gleaners in yearoh of the spikes t'nat have been overlooked. Nothing comes amiss ta them, and readily they pick up anything and everything that comesr to hand. 1 ask you to be generous in your offerings to-day and say in the words of Job (iv., 8-iO), ' According to thy ability be merciful, if thou shalt have mjuch, give abundantly , it t-hou s.halt have lititle, take oarei even ao to bestow willingly a little, ior thus thou storest up to Miy.selt a good reward lor the day of necessity.' That day. of necessity is the Day of Judgment, when Our Lord will sajr, ' VVihen 1 was hungry yo\u gave Me to eat when I was thirsty y,oiu gave Me to drink,' and i,n our surprise we shall ask, ' When did we do these luiws ? ' and Our Lord will reply, ' Asi often as you did it to one oi My little, ones you did it to Me.' I cannot more htitmgly conclude rthan in the words of isaiaJi (lviii 7-ii), • Doa! tiny bread tio the hungry and hiring! the needy ami the harborless into thy house, when thou shalt see one naked, cover him, and despise not thy own flesh. Then shalt thy light break forth in the morning, and thy health shall speedily arise, a-nd thy justice slhall go before thy face, and the glory of the Lord sihall gather Uiee up. . . And the Lord will <uve thee rest contunuall) , and will nil thy soul with brightness and! deliver thy banes from the dust of the grave and thou shalt be like a watered garden and like a fountain ot waters wrfwse, waters shall not fail.' '* Mr. F. (}. Ewington spoke from personal knowledge ol the work .done by the Sisters in Auckland statin* that it was not merely the physical comfort, but also the spiritual wants of the aged that they attended to The Bislh'op said the Sisters did not preach, hut his Lordship would pardon him when he said they did for he conletoded the example they set the old people' in their pious behauour was a very m,uch better sermon tihan words.

Mr. h. fc,. Bourne, M.H.K , after extolling the Sisters for tiie benefits they were conferring on the community, sjid they should receive support from all. Shoit addresses appreciative of the work of the Sistcss were also delivered by Messrs. E. Maho.ney J Court, O. J. (Jariand, and Hon. W. Beehan ML (J after which the building was blessed by his 'Lordship the Bisittap. All were loud in their praise of the fine structure, and the Sisters were heartily complimented on their good and great undertaking.