DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2, 12 January 1905, Page 4

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) January 5. The annual retreat of the diocesan clergy commences on January 16. At) St.' Benedict's last Sunday the Rev. Father Clune, C.Sfe>.K., preached an admirable sermon. Key. Father Hills, S.M., of St. Patrick's College, Wellington, is. spending his holidays here, and is the guest of the Bishop. me annual retreat ot tTie Manst Brothers is to take place at the end ot this month at the College of the Sacred Heart, Ponsonby. Key. bather Wust, ot JNgaruawahia, is, 1 regret to gay, dangerously ill, and at present lies at St. Patrick's presbytery. His duties at Nga'ruawahia have been undertaken by the Rev. Father Duffy, of St. Benedict's, the Key. Father Dignan, meanwhile, tajung the place of Father Dully. At St. Patrick's last Sunday Rev. Father Hills celebrated the 11 o'clock Mass. In the evening the Bishop attended, lhe choir, on the departure of the old year, sang the ' Miserere, 1 and for th<j approach of the new year the 'Te Deum.' Key. Father Benedict, 0.P., delivered a very fine sermon which was appropriate to the season. Dhe high altar was most tastefully decorated and looked exceedingly heautitul at Benediction. ' In addition to the intenor renovation of St. Patrick's now completed, the Bishop intends to erect cm the northern and southern side ot the present mam entrance a porch through which ingress shall in tuture be made, while the present entrance shall then be used solely as a moans ot egress, 'lhe great advantages of these alterations will be highly appreciated. In cold and wet weat/her, when it was necessary to keep open the main doors, it was very disagreeable to the congregation, and Irom the street a tu!l view of the altar could be had. 'lhe new arrangements will obviate these shortcomings. At the unveiling of the Grey statue a few days ago here the committee announced that Sir George Grey's last message to the citizens of Auckland, which had been delivered into a pnonograph, and the record kept of it in the Municipal Chambers, would be redelivered through the phonograph to the assemblage around tihe statue. When tried beforehand the record had become so damaged tnat the voice of the ' old niAji eloquent ' had rea'ly vanisued. i^c Hon. J. A. Idle came to tile rescue, and, sitting beside the machine, reidelivered the message in a capital luxation of Sir George Grey's manner ot speech, the well known tremolo ot tne old h. night being done to perfection. The memorial church which had been erected at Ellersh© tio the late Very Rev. Mgr. McDonald, more popularly known as 1 Father Walter, was solemnly blessed and opened last Sunday morning by his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Leniha'n. The Bishop was assisted by the Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, who was the celebrant of the Mass, and Father's Patterson and Tormiey. A large congregation, despite the inclemency of the weather, was present. The church is centrally situated in a rising district. Father Patterston preached the sermon, taking for his text, ' Blessed are they who dwell in the house of the Lord.' lie spoke in high terms of the good work Father Walter McDonald had •done, and he said his memory would ever remain green witjh the adults and children who had known him. The preacher made an earnest appeal to all parishioners to work assiduously towards paying off the debt on the church. The church is of wood and in the Gothic style, and has a distinctly pretty appearance. The interior of the church presents a most comfortable and neat appearance, and has seating accommodation for about 150

people. Both the interior and exterior of the sacred edifice are tastefully finished. The site on which it stands cost £280, and the church, with furnishing, about £570, making a total outlay of about £85,0. The united efforts of those interested 'have realised about £350. The collection amounted to £30. Father Walter McDonald's first appointment was at Russell, Bay of Islands. He was afterwards appointed private secretary to Bishop Pompallier. He subsequently visited Europe, and returned, shortly before his Lordship Bisihop Croke, to Auckland, being accompanied by Rev. Father Golden, now of Kaikoura. During his connection with St. Patrick's Cathedral it was considerably enlarged, and the spire was built through his exertions. He was subsequently transferred to Panmure, where he died on December 31, 1899,, at the age of 70. A good choir, principally from St. Patrick's Cathedral, rendered \ery efficiently, the music.